I am thinkng of getting a small tractor and was wonderng how much I could tow with a gooseneck or pull type trailer. I have a 70 f250 4x4 with a 410fe, 4spd, 4.11 gears, and disk brakes up front. Thanks.

 

Use brakes on your trailer - either electric or surge. With brakes and an properly balanced trailer a F250 of these years will have no problems with 6 tons. I often tow more.

I like surge brakes.

 

That setup should tow all of the small tractors that you can get on the trailer.

John

 

I do not like surge brakes.
Makes backing up difficult, and with a big load on, I like to be able to apply trailer brakes alone on long steep hills... avoid tail wagging the dog... which I've experienced and it is no fun... down right scary.

no pro at towing, but, just what I've experienced borrowing/renting trailers.

please clear up anything I've misconstrued...

 

I have a lot of miles with heavy trucks and trailers - and, like I said, I like surge brakes and have them on all my heavy trailers.

As to backing up they have only the forward shoe installed in the drum - only the front half of a normal shoe type brake, plus there is always a catch of some sort that you can set to keep the brakes from applying when backing. You have to get out of the cab and do it manually - something I have never had to do.

In use the trailer will not stop or even slow the truck - but it will also never push the truck. You can control the speed of the rig using only the gears of the transmission.

The only panic stop I have had to make I had 4 tons of hay on the trailer and 2 tons on the pickup - the trailer tires locked up and left black marks while the truck tires didn't.

We built one trailer with electric brakes - they were high maintenance items and very susceptible to mud and slush. They also would not brake as hard as the hydraulic brakes of a surge brake system.

Mostly I like them because they are so easy - you never have to fool with them - they always are there and work - you don't have to give them a thought.

 

My dad hauled a Case 580C backhoe on a heavy duty pintle trailer behind his '77 F250 for years with no problems. Just be careful and don't get in a big hurry.

 

Do you have a trans cooler separate from the radiator? I'm no expert but I think you really need that when you're gonna do some towing. I had a buddy who went on the road and bought a trailer of some sort and burned up his tranny towing it home. He has a trans cooler in there now to go with his super expensive trailer.

 

Thanks for all the input. I have towed alot of different stuff with the truck before in the way of car trailers and rv trailers. I have a manual 4spd so the tranny cooler wouldn't do me any good. The setup I am looking at wieghs about 13,000 to 14,000 pounds (tractor and gooseneck trailer) I was told. Sounds like I will be just fine.