questions regarding Ifor trailers and overloading

[Matthew Storrs]

am about to purchase a 2.8 ton digger with post knocker approx 350kg, the trailer weighs 720kg so gross weight is 3870kg. Overweight I know, it will be drawn by a 70hp tractor.

My dilemma is tractor does not have hydraulic trailer brakes (it has air brake adaptabilitty but costs £££ for the trailer.

So Ifors with overun brakes seem the obvious choice apart from the weight issue. I suppose the question is does a tri axle trailer have the capacity to hold more then the GW that ifor state, I recently saw an Ifor with a 5 ton tractor on it:sneaky2: and that seemed to be coping allright, but i wondered what Ifor based their gross weights on with regards to triaxle trailers. because surely the weight is dividded 3ways so you wouldn't be overloadding like you would on dual axles.

I know it may be frowned upon but it will only be towed by a tractor, so strain on the towing vehicle is minimal compared with a Landyetc.

Anyone else have this problem or do you just overload and crack on with it.

[Rich2484]

So I take it you already have the trailer. Why not just get a trailer that is built for taking the digger??? Plant trailer etc.

 

In my experience using an ifor Williams with a digger on towed by a tractor didn't work out too well. Caused all sorts of problems for me when I worked on a farm. Plus going off road just meant the trailer got bogged down.

[Matthew Storrs]

why did it cause problems? It will be mainly road use and the odd going across field. The trouble is I want to keep weight down a bit and a purpose built lowloader style trailer designed for tractors is going to be overkill for just carrying a 3ton digger, plus as i said i don't have hydraulic brakes on the tractor so wouldn't want to rely on just the tractor stopping the whole train, hence my theory behind using Ifor. agricultural trailers and equipment, jpm trailers, jpm engineering

 

I quite like the look of these trailers as you have the ability to add mesh sides which could come in handy. they look capable of carrying upto 4 ton with the tri axles But the GW of 3500kg must be there for a reason???

[Johny Walker]

go on the ifor web site see if it can be up rated,dont ifor do a 3 axle 5t trailer

[Matthew Storrs]

go on the ifor web site see if it can be up rated,dont ifor do a 3 axle 5t trailer

 

This is what I mean, I have a dual axle 3.5t ifor already and I don't feel the dual axles ever struggle so I feel a triaxle should be capable of carrying more weight. I know some of it comes down to helping weight distribution particularly on longer trailers, if so why do they offer triaxles on their dedicated plant trailers where weight distribution isn't often an issue.

[Johny Walker]

This is what I mean, I have a dual axle 3.5t ifor already and I don't feel the dual axles ever struggle so I feel a triaxle should be capable of carrying more weight. I know some of it comes down to helping weight distribution particularly on longer trailers, if so why do they offer triaxles on their dedicated plant trailers where weight distribution isn't often an issue.

 

ask them simples

[gensetsteve]

If the tractor has air brakes I assume it is a late large tractor. Would it even notice the weight behind ? . To put a simple air brake system on a light weight ag trailer I would think would be about £1500 for two axles. Otherwise a small chieftein trailer from ireland with air brakes. I bought a nice 20ft low loader used in ex con from a plant sale for £1200 sold it for 5k so they are about.

[Daniël Bos]

I'd be happier with a twin axle than a triple. I found the triple axles are much worse off road (based on experience with livestock trailers where the triple axle sits on wheels about half the size of the twin axle ones)

[Matthew Storrs]

If the tractor has air brakes I assume it is a late large tractor. Would it even notice the weight behind ? . To put a simple air brake system on a light weight ag trailer I would think would be about £1500 for two axles. Otherwise a small chieftein trailer from ireland with air brakes. I bought a nice 20ft low loader used in ex con from a plant sale for £1200 sold it for 5k so they are about.

 

Ha quite the opposite- 30year old Zetor but I believe as it has the air comressor and the coupling next to the trailer lights it can be rigged for air brakes (although havn't fully explored this avenue). As the tractor is only 70hp 4wd I don't think Id want to tow much more then 5ton behind it so I wouldn't benfit from a large trailer if Ifor types are able to fullfill my needs.

[Matthew Storrs]

I'd be happier with a twin axle than a triple. I found the triple axles are much worse off road (based on experience with livestock trailers where the triple axle sits on wheels about half the size of the twin axle ones)

 

Yes you have a good point reference handling etc, and I too would have dual over tri (less tyres to replace for one thing!) but it was more a case of if tri axles can handle more weight without overloading the axles/springs etc then they may be the only option.