Don't worry so much about exceeding the truck's GVWR because it's intentionally a little understated. Buying a Weight Safe Ball is a good idea - sometimes they break down, but there is probably a lifetime warranty. You can also look for used portable scales - then you will be able to measure the weight of the trailer without driving to the scale.
We have a lot of rough roads too which doesn't help with that. I've got the weigh safe ball ordered so I can know exactly what my tongue weight is moving forward.
I had a curious thought and it may not be accurate enough, but pulling out a tape measure where the truck/trailer sits just before loading xyz tractor and measuring from the ground up to the bottom of the center of the rear truck fender, then drive the tractor on and remeasure. I don't know if there is enough movement to get an accurate enough difference but it might give a reasonable idea of being in the ball park after some experimenting with a method like that, that your getting enough weight transfer on to be safe and yet not going way over your rear GAWR. Also I wonder if this JD tractor happens to have fluid in the rear tires, that is an item which doesn't show up by eyeballing a tractor and yet can sure result in a different fore/aft center of gravity. When in doubt with a somewhat sketchy load balance ( not getting the proper weight on the truck ), driving slower, being really cautious in side winds, and going up any appreciable grade as that driving up a hill can be all it takes for a a tail heavy load combined with speed to put one into a really bad situation.
Good point on the water in the tires, didnt think of that. Dont think so though by the weight of the tracker. I would think it would put it over 8000 lbs.
@@traitorhatergetarope3163 You very well could be right that this tractor did not have water ( calcium chloride in the northern states and Canada ) but more was expressing the theme that fluid in the tires doesn't jump out at a person like steel wheel weights etc and its easy to misjudge tractor weight due to that. Having said that, perhaps most of the equipment you haul would tend not to utilize fluid.
@charlesb4267 its a good point. I honestly didn't know it was a thing until a couple of years ago. Would definitely made a big difference in the weight transfer
Great thoughts. This one does not have any fluid in the tires. That would add another 1,000lbs or so if it did. It's just a heavy machine. I did order the weigh safe ball, and I may be able to use it to start to understand how the squat relates to tongue weight. If I start measuring the squat at different tongue weight intervals, it may allow me to not need the weigh safe ball in the future (if it breaks, etc).
@@JamesonsTractor Speaking of fluid and this would not apply to small tractors you would be hauling but full sized four wheel drive agricultural tractors, fluid was used for not only weight but weight balance of the tractor ( because of power hop ) and so it could be 30% fill across all four tires in the rear as an example or anything up to 75%. Two wheel drive farm loader tractors on the other hand with singles could often be found filled to 75% to offset the weight of the loader weight it was carrying. Good point about the failure of the weigh safe failing, I did see a video some time ago where the person had a unit ( assume it was the same brand or at least the same idea ) and something had sprung in the gauge, perhaps overloaded or hit a bad bump ... in any event it turned it into a dead brick.
Don't worry so much about exceeding the truck's GVWR because it's intentionally a little understated. Buying a Weight Safe Ball is a good idea - sometimes they break down, but there is probably a lifetime warranty. You can also look for used portable scales - then you will be able to measure the weight of the trailer without driving to the scale.
Good thoughts! I have heard they aren't reliable for long periods of time so we'll just have to see what happens!
You could tell from the in cab video that the pin weight was on the low side. Looked like the ride was herky jerky.
We have a lot of rough roads too which doesn't help with that. I've got the weigh safe ball ordered so I can know exactly what my tongue weight is moving forward.
I had a curious thought and it may not be accurate enough, but pulling out a tape measure where the truck/trailer sits just before loading xyz tractor and measuring from the ground up to the bottom of the center of the rear truck fender, then drive the tractor on and remeasure. I don't know if there is enough movement to get an accurate enough difference but it might give a reasonable idea of being in the ball park after some experimenting with a method like that, that your getting enough weight transfer on to be safe and yet not going way over your rear GAWR. Also I wonder if this JD tractor happens to have fluid in the rear tires, that is an item which doesn't show up by eyeballing a tractor and yet can sure result in a different fore/aft center of gravity. When in doubt with a somewhat sketchy load balance ( not getting the proper weight on the truck ), driving slower, being really cautious in side winds, and going up any appreciable grade as that driving up a hill can be all it takes for a a tail heavy load combined with speed to put one into a really bad situation.
Good point on the water in the tires, didnt think of that. Dont think so though by the weight of the tracker. I would think it would put it over 8000 lbs.
@@traitorhatergetarope3163 You very well could be right that this tractor did not have water ( calcium chloride in the northern states and Canada ) but more was expressing the theme that fluid in the tires doesn't jump out at a person like steel wheel weights etc and its easy to misjudge tractor weight due to that. Having said that, perhaps most of the equipment you haul would tend not to utilize fluid.
@charlesb4267 its a good point. I honestly didn't know it was a thing until a couple of years ago. Would definitely made a big difference in the weight transfer
Great thoughts. This one does not have any fluid in the tires. That would add another 1,000lbs or so if it did. It's just a heavy machine. I did order the weigh safe ball, and I may be able to use it to start to understand how the squat relates to tongue weight. If I start measuring the squat at different tongue weight intervals, it may allow me to not need the weigh safe ball in the future (if it breaks, etc).
@@JamesonsTractor Speaking of fluid and this would not apply to small tractors you would be hauling but full sized four wheel drive agricultural tractors, fluid was used for not only weight but weight balance of the tractor ( because of power hop ) and so it could be 30% fill across all four tires in the rear as an example or anything up to 75%. Two wheel drive farm loader tractors on the other hand with singles could often be found filled to 75% to offset the weight of the loader weight it was carrying. Good point about the failure of the weigh safe failing, I did see a video some time ago where the person had a unit ( assume it was the same brand or at least the same idea ) and something had sprung in the gauge, perhaps overloaded or hit a bad bump ... in any event it turned it into a dead brick.
I think it would be worth having that. Especially where you’re constantly changing loads.
Agreed. I ordered it and it should arrive soon!