Tractors on the move...

[sawdustdad]

We've completed construction and closed on the Richmond-area house, so I am moving some of the cubs over there. This house is about 95 miles away from our residence near the Chesapeake Bay, and includes a 3 car garage. (This house will be our part time residence during visits to the Richmond area.)

I spent a good bit of time and effort on my 15 year-old trailer over the summer. I added E-track, 2x6 sides, fenders, 4 new tires, mounted the spare, added a storage box to the tongue, a winch and battery for loading, and a bunch of welded D-ring tie down points.

I started a thread earlier this summer about transporting tractors to a tractor show and how best to load them and carry them safely. I got a bunch of ideas that I've built into the trailer changes. The trailer is set up to carry 6 Cubs, but here I've only loaded 4 and the dump trailer. This will be a "shake down" of sorts as the nearly 100 mile trip to the other house will prove my tie down methods.

I'm not new to moving tractors around, as I've transported my Ford 2000 (at about 5000 lbs) and my Kubota (2500 lbs +/-) numerous times, and a Cub or two from time to time, but this is the first time with such a "dense" load of tractors. One of the challenges in transporting Cubs has been how to do so without damaging the paint or otherwise messing them up in the process. So thanks to all who chimed in on that thread with suggestions.

Each cub has two or three nylon ratchet straps hooked to the underside of the tractor (usually the foot support rod) and clips in the E-track. The two front tractors have additional straps to the front of the trailer, though I don't think they are needed...just overkill really.

Note that I did stagger them a bit to avoid too much tongue weight. The trailer is rated for 7000 lbs load, and weighs about 3000 lbs empty (10,000 total). I'd estimate current load at 3500 lbs, or 6500 lbs total. Truck is rated at 10,000 lbs--a GMC 2500HD with towing package, 6 liter vortec and 4.10 rear end.

I've loaded up the 123, the 128 with the rear PTO-driven hydraulic dump trailer, the garage queen 1000 and the main grass killer, my trusty 1450. The 1450 will go with a 50A deck and the 54 inch hydraulic angle blade I set up last winter. This house is on 1.44 acres, all grass, so I'll be getting some seat time for sure.

Here's the trailer parked in front of my Bay house workshop and a pic of the epoxy drying in the garage at the Richmond house, ready for some Cubs to move in. We hit the road day after tomorrow.