Towing a Tractor

How many of you regularly tow a tractor with your Tacoma? The CFO gave me the options of either buying a new truck, or buying a new compact tractor. I'm looking at a Mahindra 1533 since there is a nearby dealer and they have some pretty good trailer/tractor/implement package deals. It would mostly be used around my property for general use and my neighborhood whenever it rains and the roads need some work. Total tow weight would be around 5,500lbs.

What I'm stuck on is I can either pay a monthly payment for a new truck I would use every single day, or a monthly payment for a tractor that would only get used a few times a month but has the option of making enough money on the side to occasionally pay for itself.

 

I have towed a 1949 Ford 8N with a bush hog behind mine. As long as you are careful, and watch what you are doing, that weight is well within the tow limits of a Tacoma with a tow package.

 

As long as you don't try to drive crazy with it, you should be fine. If the truck is an automatic, remember to turn overdrive off.

 

Full size tractor, or full size truck?

At what weight point are trailer brakes necessary? The trailer that comes with the package I'm looking at has electric trailer brakes, I'd just need to get a controller for the Tacoma.

 

I'd use a ferd f250 or bigger for something that size if it was gonna be a regular operations.... be more than just one-time one trip.

 

I would definitely recommend having trailer brakes.

 

Your within the tow limit of the truck and also having weight distribution hitch along with trailer brakes you should be fine as long as you careful.

 

Make sure you include trailer weight in with the tractors weight. I pull 6500lb regularly(Mini excavator+trailer) with my f150 and feels its too small for consistent use. Too much weight behind a light truck

 

A big part of the decision is how far you might want to tow it, and how often. Short trips around the neighborhood, the Tacoma with trailer brakes should be fine. Long distances? Bigger truck.

 

You said that the tractor will be used in the neighborhood. How big is the neighborhood - why not just drive the tractor to where you need it? No need to trailer it. I grew up on a farm (3 farms, about 10 miles apart) and never transported tractors - they can get where they need to be on their own.
just wondering...

 

Agreed.

 

Our family has a farm. We have several tractors. I also owned a business for several years where I restored antique farm tractors. I hauled 'em all over the country. Still haul 'em once and a while....

I wouldn't pull ANYTHING behind my Tacoma that was anywhere near the weight capacity. Rather than invest in a trailer, a heavier truck, etc, I'd consider the cost of hiring a local towing service to move the tractor on a rollback.

You MIGHT "get away" with towing a heavy load on random occasions.....But try it on a regular basis and the odds will catch up with you. BTDT. You'll wear out transmissions/engines.....Your brakes may be enough when they're fresh and new, but how about when your brakes are near their service limit? And STOPPING a heavy load is FAR more taxing on a vehicle than STARTING it in motion.

So, from a BTDT, wore out too many trucks WAY before their time kinda guy. DON'T DO IT!

 

Around my neighborhood would be fine, but my parents live across the valley (30 miles) and I'd be letting them use it once in a while, plus the occasional odd job for extra cash.

I think I'm leaning more toward the full size truck purchase.

 

half junk f250 are a dime a dozen

 

This is around 6k total for tractor, trailer, implements. Tows fine.

 

Old rule of thumb for RV-type trailers is 80% of rated capacity, with trailer brakes and weight-distributing hitch. Have any friends with a 3/4 ton truck that you could pay to haul it for you for occasional job/to/from parents?

 

I just inherited a yanmar 1500 that weighs about 1300 pounds and I have a 16 foot trailer that weighs about 1500-1800 pounds and my 2004 3.4L Tacoma pulls it great it’s an automatic prerunner 2wd it has 4.10s as long as you don’t have a 3500 pound tractor or more with an older Tacoma you will be absolutely fine I’ve even pulled a 3500 pound tractor a short distance up hills and it still pulls it great.

 

Your problem will be stopping the trailer.
Make sure you have trailer brakes and a good brake controller. I find anything over 4,500 lbs less than enjoyable to tow. Yes, it can be done. But it’s no fun when you live in the foothills of the Smokey Mnts. 4th gear is an absolute MUST when towing.

My best advice is, get what you need.
But don’t over do it, unless have the extra funds to get a bigger truck.

 

Nice setup.

 

For occasional, short distance towing 5000-5500 lbs would be OK as long as you don't have any cargo or passengers in the truck. Wouldn't think about towing that without trailer brakes. If planning on towing that much on a regular basis, or for long distances the truck will do it. For a while at least. Working that close to the edge will prematurely wear out stuff if done a lot