I am thinking about buying a backhoe in another state. I would have to pull it approximately 2,000 miles through the Colorado mountains to get it home. Is my truck up to this?

 

What's the make/model number of the backhoe?

 

I can tell you if you'll tell me the tractor size, what kind of trailer you'll be using. Without any info other then what i see the auto may not like it. I haul that kind of equipment all the time with mine

 

It will be a 86 Case 580 SE 2 wd. I would have to find a trailer but was thinking about one that has 20,000gvw, 2 axles, and a total of 8 tires (5th wheel type) About what does a backhoe weigh? I am really worried about going down hills, should I be worried? I do have an auto trans.

 

I meant "goose neck" type of trailer

 

This is from a Case discussion board:

Base weight for a 580 D without wheel weights ect. and standard hoe is about 13,500 lbs. The ol' 580's didn't have a serious weight gain until the K model.

There was a Case 580 B 4wd that weighed 17,000 #s.

Sorry, couldn't find the SE weight.

 

Your gonna need a class a liscense because with that trailer your gonna be over 26k. It might be a little heavy for you 3/4. If you keep out o/d the tranny might should hold up. i just dont like auto's for heavy towing. the motor will handle it no problem. Just keep on eye on your gauges. I would also plan the route with least amount of hils if you can. If i read it right you said 2000 miles of towing thats a long way to go for a tractor

 

According to the Dodge towing page, you can tow approx 13,000 with single rear wheel and around 16,000 with a DRW 3500.

I assume that trailer you're talking about weighs at least 9,000 lbs.

That means the combo will be roughly between 22,000 and 26,000 lbs which, according to Dodge would be too much.

As far as going down hill, if you decide to go for it.....make sure you have really good brakes on that trailer and go VERY slow with the tranny in a low gear and your flashers on.

 

My 32ft weighs 6500, and if i'm thinking right isnt that the tounge wieght they are talking about. Because if not i'm overloaded 90% of the time

 

Rich, I can't figure out how to go to the chat. Thanks for all the responses!

 

This load here (see link below) was just under 26000 pounds gross. It did real well but I wasn't in the mountains either, just a few little hills.
I have the five speed and a Jacobs and only pulled this about 250 miles though. The only thing I pulled heavier than this load was an International 686 with a front end loader and a scraper blade on the back. It pulled OK but I would not do it again.
Personally, I would be real hesitant to pull the load you're talking about but that's just me speaking here. In this case, you may be better to hire someone to move this load.
A friend of mine has pulled 32000 gross with his truck home from Tennesse but his son was driving who had the required liscense. Then there is the liscense weight thing to think about also.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...cat=500&page=4

 

If your pick-up is on the east side of the Rockies I would not try it. If its west of the Rockies, I might be tempted, provided I stayed away from Red Mountain pass. I lived on the east slope of the Rockies and have towed over most of the passes with a gasser. Going up isn't too bad, its the coming down part that makes christians out of heathens! And I wouldn't even begin to consider it during winter! Must be a helluva good buy to go 2k miles

 

With everyones responses I've decided it's a bad idea. Thanks again for all the responses

 

I know someone who has a 480 and the plate says it weighs 18000#. We pull it with a dump truck and a pretty big trailer 10 or 12 tiresand it fills the trailer up considering you have to do something with the bucket and hoe. I would'nt try it.
Just my 2 cents.

 

I`m pretty sure that the srw is good for 16,000lbs too...at least thats what it said when i bought my rig