There was a LT40HD come up for sale in my area recently and I procrastinated too long before I decided to take a look at it.. :( Once of the reasons was my pickup truck is a ford ranger sport. Per the manual it can pull 4800+ lbs, but I have my doubts this is enough of a truck to safely tow and stop a mill of that size.
This leads me to my question, what are you using to tow your mill.
I've towed mine with a fourwheeler, they have trailer brakes make sure you have a controller that works and shud benfine
You were minimum but OK. I only do portable sawing so 4X4 is a requirement.
As mentioned the have electric brakes . I had an "88" Ranger once man what a beast ! I pounded that thing hard . Best 500$ I ever spent .
As long as it has working brakes, the mill weighs in at about 3,900 lb, so I would say you are safely under the limit.
A heavier vehicle gives you a bit more margin, and would be better going up and down hills etc. 4 WD certainly an advantage when you need to go off-road, which is where logs tend to live.
But the Ranger should haul it OK
But then I've got a slightly lighter mill that tows just fine behind a Toyota hatchback. :D
I know you said 4,800# limit. But what engine do you have? I had a Ranger that had a 4L v6. I used it to pull my boat that was supposed to be 1,200# + the trailer and gear - so probably 2-2,400#. No (working) brakes on the trailer. That engine had a lot of torque (so it felt) and I could really move with that boat on the flats. Had it in the hills one time and it was a job.
That's where the trailer brakes and vehicle weight become important.
My little Toymotor has the same engine as a Highlander SUV with a 5,000 pound tow capacity. I'm sure I could get a LT40 up to highway speed easy enough. Stopping it heading downhill into a corner is a whole different problem. :o
Are you just moving the sawmill locally or are you driving hours away at highway speed ? Flat land or mountains ? You maybe able to pull the sawmill, but going down a big hill I worry about steering and brakes.
Quote from: ljohnsaw on April 28, 2017, 02:07:26 AM
I know you said 4,800# limit. But what engine do you have? I had a Ranger that had a 4L v6. I used it to pull my boat that was supposed to be 1,200# + the trailer and gear - so probably 2-2,400#. No (working) brakes on the trailer. That engine had a lot of torque (so it felt) and I could really move with that boat on the flats. Had it in the hills one time and it was a job.
Ranger is a 2006 Sport 4X4 automatic, 4L V6 engine... Most of my milling projects have been within a 10-60 minute drive, and yes there can be some hills to deal with.
You are good but be sure that the sawmill brakes work.
I pull an LT40 all over the north GA mountains with a 2006 Nissan Frontier 4x4, 4L V6 manual, towing capacity 6300 lbs. It does fine but a shift into 3rd and sometimes 2nd gear is often required. Keeping the trailer brakes in good working order is a must.
Having pulled a 3500 lb travel trailer with our 97 Ranger 4.0 I would say you are marginal at best. It will work on the flats but hills or a quick evasive maneuver could raise the pucker factor to a whole new level.
I hate to suggest how others might want to spend their hard earned sawmill dollars, but... an upgrade to a 1/2 or 3/4 ton truck would greatly improve your ability to transport the mill, logs on a trailer/arch, milled lumber and support equipment (tractors, skid steers, forklifts, etc.). All of which would help in productivity and maybe profitability.
I only think you need another pickup if you intend on doing portable sawing.
Buy the mill and do a few jobs to earn enough to trade up.
If you are going to saw at home you won't even need the truck you have. If you enjoy milling as much as I do and can get logs delivered and product picked up by customer you may not ever go anywhere but to the mill!
PC
If you do portable sawing watch the auctions for something like this, those side boxes work great for everything.
http://www.auctiontime.com/listings/trucks/auction-results/online/6151423/2002-chevrolet-2500... Steve
Just a side note. My friend has a class 3 tow hitch on his Dodge Caravan and insists he can tow 5,000 lbs. All I said to him was to be safe . Because he is towing his 20 ft pontoon boat 3 hours away. With a vehicle already loaded down, Air conditioning and stereo on high blast, just because he can . I also wonder if his 2 inch ball is rated for 5,000 lbs. Any machine/trailer that comes with a 2 5/16 ball should never be changed down to a 2 inch ball. Just my two cents.
Quote from: red on April 29, 2017, 08:30:44 AM
Any machine/trailer that comes with a 2 5/16 ball should never be changed down to a 2 inch ball. Just my two cents.
Some that come with a 2" should have a 2 5/16"
red, what road does he use? I want to stay off it. :o I regularly see questionable towing setups, yesterday an F-250 pulling a three axle 30+' fifth wheel went by me at somewhat over the posted limit. The worst was an old CJ-5 with a lift kit and large tires pulling a medium sized travel trailer, an accident just waiting to happen.
He starts in Pocono PA and usually goes to Lake George NY . Sad part is his two young kids and wife ride with him. If anything ever happens his cheap auto insurance will not pay. You can pay me now or pay me later , he Never pays his part.
Google say a 2" ball is rated for 3,500 lbs. to 12,000 lbs.
There are many two inch balls . First is shaft size diameter, also shaft length. Some two inch balls are made for quads and lawn tractors. My all time favorite comes apart and you can change the ball for 1 7/8 . I don't think you ever want that one.
Quote from: red on April 29, 2017, 01:45:26 PM
There are many two inch balls . First is shaft size diameter, also shaft length. Some two inch balls are made for quads and lawn tractors. My all time favorite comes apart and you can change the ball for 1 7/8 . I don't think you ever want that one.
Your so right. I have a 2" ball with a ½ bolt.
I think it's for garden tractors.
I'm only right twice a day like a Stopped Clock.
A Google search shows 3,600 to 3,700 tow rating for Grand Caravan.
Should be fine, just make sure to add a brake controller and that the mill brakes are functioning. I'd be more worried about the lifespan of that auto transmission than anything. If it's the same as in the Explorers, they were notorious for failures.
I pull stuff with our minivan all the time. Goats, mulch, feeder pigs, feed, etc. Used to be out of necessity, but now that I have a Burb and F350, it's more about saving gas.
It's rated 3500Lbs, but I limit it to about 2000 as I don't want to add a brake controller. It's for light duty stuff and I want to keep it that way. Pulled this home from Jefferson City today. About an hour drive. (If you like the image filter, it's called "worn flip phone lens". :D) Loaded, this trailer will NOT be pulled with the minivan.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/44195/Picture0429171339_1.jpg)
What's a "Burb", a big Suburban?
Yes. Suburban.
Rickcnc,
as a fellow ontario-ian, the bad news is you can't exceed 4500 kg GVW (approx 9500 lbs) .
Thats the combined weight of tow vehicle, trailer, load, and whatever you ate for breakfast. If you exceed that you need a commercial licence and a yellow sticker on your truck and trailer (annual safety) also look at the GVW capacity sticker on your drivers door, it might spoil your day with a ranger. It doesn't matter what brakes, lights, trailer ball or anything else, don't exceed 4500 kgs
I'm only saying this from a very expensive experience I had with a very young , O.P.P officer recently. >:(
Quote from: whatwas on April 30, 2017, 06:26:16 PM
Rickcnc,
as a fellow ontario-ian, the bad news is you can't exceed 4500 kg GVW (approx 9500 lbs) .
Thats the combined weight of tow vehicle, trailer, load, and whatever you ate for breakfast. If you exceed that you need a commercial licence and a yellow sticker on your truck and trailer (annual safety) also look at the GVW capacity sticker on your drivers door, it might spoil your day with a ranger. It doesn't matter what brakes, lights, trailer ball or anything else, don't exceed 4500 kgs
I'm only saying this from a very expensive experience I had with a very young , O.P.P officer recently. >:(
Yes.. The rules in Ontario are confusing; I will check the GVW on the door... What were you towing when you had your incident!
I towed my LT40 hydraulic with a 1980 1/2 ton diesel pickup. It was rated to tow 2000 pounds.
Before I bought the mill I checked with a mechanic and he told me the transmission in my truck was built like a brick --------- but it would overheat. He suggested adding the biggest auxiliary transmission cooler I could find and I'd be OK. I checked with a GM mechanic friend and he agreed. I checked with the local GM dealer and he agreed as well.
So, with electric brakes and a massive transmission cooler, I hauled that mill up and down some of BC's finest "hills" (they tend to go over the tops of mountains) and I had no problems at all. Mind you, the people that got behind me going up the hills were sure happy when we finally got to a passing lane ;D.
I can well imagine. :D Those early Dodge and GM diesels were no powerhouses.
A factory towing package comes with good stuff like trans coolers, wiring for trailers, maybe an extra leaf spring. Sometimes you still have to put bigger trans coolers or a deeper trans pan.
I mill only remote and have towed my LT40HD with an F150 a lot. I did find it was a little under powered for me and I only managed 10mpg at best pulling the mill. That and long steep downhill grades the trailer brakes better be working!!!
Now I use an F350 :) It's a breeze towing 75mph on the highway :D 8) 8) 8)
Oh and I get as much as 11.8MPG towing the mill now with the camper on the pickup! lol Have gotten 14.5mpg with no camper...ya I'm MUCH happier with the big diesel!