Towed 55,000lbs with 135hp today

Not much power is needed if you are towing slow, don't need quick acceleration, and don't have grades.

On a scale similar to yours, my uncle's trucks during WW2 ran Detroit to Toledo with 40,000 to 80,000 steel loads, 85 HP Ford V-8s. Top speeds were about 45 MPH and it took a while to get there.

On a whole different scale, the tugs we used to jockey around 280,000 pound tankers and 450,000 pound bombers didn't have any more than 140 HP, most were much smaller. A 80 HP tug could do the job.

The El Camino that had to catch up with the U-2 as it landed, to catch and stabilize a wingtip, that's another story. That one needed some power for acceleration.

...snip....

Bedlam wrote:

You should have been driving an Allis Chalmers......

....snip

....right ! With Allis, we not only TOW, we pick things UP !

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Well, heck, they only give us one hp per ton at work. It worked, but woulda worked a lot better with grippy rubber tires, instead of slippery iron wheels.

I hope you locked the left/right brake pedals together when goin downhill. When I was a kid, I remembered to do that bringing a little Farmall "A" home with a single haywagen like those you show. But...

The bad thing was I wore the left brake shoe way down the day before while cultivating corn. I used the left brake to turn sharp and somehow the park brake pawl was engaged and I didn't see it. The left brake pedal stayed locked. When I got to the other end, I first noticed the rear spades were running crooked the whole pass. I pretty much took out a whole row of corn behind me and made the left brakes hot as H. Thought I smelled somethin.

Then the next day with the brakes not yet re-adjusted, when I went to slow down on a steep hill, the little tractor lurched to the right side and durn near jack-knifed me when I stabbed the brakes. I barely recovered and ended up riding down fast-n-freaky in 4th with the A way over-revved. Sometimes there's a Guardian Angel for dumb kids and tractor engines I guess.

I hadda admit my corn mistake and get help to re-adjust the brake shoe even for next time. Embarassing.

Wes
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Wow it must have a turbo, flow master exhaust, and some type of sweet diesel tuner! Lol

Bucky Badger wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

Prowler guy wrote:
Well I towed just over 55,000lbs (27tons) down the toad for about an hour today with no issues.

LOL, I would not exactly call this, "no issues:"

Prowler guy wrote:
Lol, I was calling for a replacement tractor as that one blew a hub seal on the way to the field. This is my replacement arriving.

HAHAHAHA good catch

I would say he had no issues for an hour.........

It WAS hour 2, that got him into trouble!

That first hour was JUST FINE!

Reality is, more than likely, with all things. that part was ready to go before hooking up the trailer(s)........

Marty

Prowler guy wrote:
Well I towed just over 55,000lbs (27tons) down the toad for about an hour today with no issues.

LOL, I would not exactly call this, "no issues:"

Prowler guy wrote:
Lol, I was calling for a replacement tractor as that one blew a hub seal on the way to the field. This is my replacement arriving.

Totally legal here in Ontario. 10 Metric tonnes of soybeans in each wagon. First tractor had a mechanical on the way to the field and the replacement tractor handled the weight no problem. 20mph max when loaded and 16 gears to keep the speed in check.
Drove the big boy today hauling 20 tonnes in the buggy back out of the field all day.

Prowler guy wrote:
It gets 5gallons/mile lol. Tractor weighs 11045 lbs, tires max is a whopping 31mph lol.

Would have better off with ST tires :) Could have cruised along at 65 mph.

You are reckless... next time you do that I expect you to post your location and the dates and times you will be on the road so that I can make sure I am nowhere near you! ;)

Prowler guy wrote:
Well I towed just over 55,000lbs (27tons) down the toad for about an hour today with no issues. 135hp with boost up to 167hp, 16 speed tranny sure helps. :W

l.

You see that a lot in Europe, especially on tiny lane in the country and you want to pass :(