For those of you that have experience using the bulk feed trailers with blowers to fill feeders:

I have recently found the option of renting a trailer with a blower and buying feed in bulk. I have a 1 ton dually, and I do not have a doubt in my mind that I can get to most of my feed stations with my truck and the feed trailer to fill some feeders.

However, I have some friends and other lease members that help me from time to time, and they drive half ton 4WD pickups. In order to make the most out of our time on feeder filling trips, we need to get at least 2 tons, and I would prefer to do 2.5 - 3 tons at a time.

We are in rocky country with some good size hills, but the main road going in is pretty good, and most of the spots we would hit first would be on the flats on the tops. (South of Ozona)

Have any of y'all used a half ton truck to pull these things? If so, how much feed could you safely pull, and still manage to make it up some loose rocky inclines? We would go about 70 miles on blacktop. The main gravel road to our lease is pretty good with one rocky hill to go up, and one dry riverbed that has little bit of a steep side to it.

I have seen someone pull a big fifth wheel to our camp with no problem in a 3/4 ton truck, and some smaller trailers with half ton trucks. One of the guys that helps me pulls a 16 foot double axle bumper pull trailer with a 4 seater 1,000 CC ranger and a half ton of corn on it pretty regular - with a half ton.

This is a picture of the trailers we would be using. I'm pretty sure they hold up to 4 tons total. I would not fill them up all the way.

Might be some wear and tear after many years doing this in a 1/2 ton, but most of today's V8's should have plenty of pep to get it done in the rocky terrain of west texas.

Pulled my new Ranger Crew with 2000 lbs of feed for the first time last weekend with my V6 Eco and it did fine with three rocky/steep draws to navigate.

I pull bulk feed trailer with my 1/2 ton with 3.5 tons of feed but I'm very fortunate I only have to drive about 4 miles from the feed store to my lease and I take it very easy. I would not pull it if I had to drive much further than I do.

I pull a 5 ton-er with a 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban, but don't have to drive on the highway or the gravel county road. Just around the ranch for eight protein feeders and 18 corn.

The big differency your going to notice with the 1/2 ton is suspension and hwy speed. A 1/2 ton pickup will move darn near any trailer your gonna pull with a passenger vehicle at lower speeds. Put it in 4 or 4 low and I'm sure it will make it up the hills.

one thing to keep in mind

the "issue" is generally never having enough power to move it......it is having the ability to STOP it especially if it wants to roll back on you if you can't get up an incline or going down one

it is the brakes that make the real load limit of a vehicle

I'm sure the trailers are equipped with electric brakes. And I highly doubt the brakes are what sets the limit....

but of course many half ton, 3/4 ton and even 1 ton trucks share the same engines and transmissions

the suspension might be different, but that is more of a ride quality issue unless you are getting into major weight

hell a Ford Ranger could get one of those trailers rolling fully loaded if you started slow and you could get going at a pretty good clip....then get shoved off the road as you tried to stop

look at the gvwr of these trucks Vs the engine and trans package

http://www.fedextrucksforsale.com/

it is the stopping power that is the difference between theses trucks and 1/2 ton trucks with similar hp and trans and a much lower gvwr

agree on most points that a 4x4 half ton will tow them. BUT not all half tons are equipped with proper wiring, controller and/or plug on the rear to have functioning lights OR trailer brakes (I see a lot with a flat 4 plug on back which will not actuate electric trailer brakes). If a half ton has the proper tow package with controller, wiring and connection, it should be okay towing the loaded trailer safely.

additionally, these trailers MIGHT have surge brake hitches that will function when stopping forward motion but might not stop backward motion (those usually use a flat 5 connector)

If those trailers have brakes go for it, the 1/2 ton will handle it.

I agree with what has been said. I pull a bumper pull dump trailer behind my 1/2 ton 4x4 with 3.5-4 tons on it and it does fine.When I am off road I put it in 4 low for steep hills. I would only do it if the trailer brakes are functional and the people pulling the trailer are very comfortable pulling trailers. That setup under certain conditions could sway quite a bit at highway speeds behind the lighter 1/2 ton.

I doubt I would ever want to pull something that top heavy at hwy speeds... definitely not modern 75 mph hwy speeds. Id probably let it sit on the double nickel and listen to the radio!

As long as they're not morons, a 4x4 1/2 ton should be fine.

All good info. I think we will give it a try with a couple tons.

Thanks fellas!

It would be nice if you were both going out there at the same time. Let the half ton pull it. If he has problems with it just unhook it and put it on your one ton. How long do you get the trailer for?

Somebody gets it.... I usually get blasted for a statement like this!!!

Is the place you rent these bulk feeders near Sonora or Juno?

If you don't mind me asking, whats rental on those? what are you responsible for tires, damage and so forth?

I pull a 5 ton hopper with a CJ5 with an I-6. Been doing it for about 10 years.

That would work, but I'm trying to cut out my number of trips down there in the off-season, and handing the torch to some guys to help.

They rent the trailer for $75 a day believe.

Ozona

It's $75 a day. I still haven't rented one so I'm not sure on specifics yet. We will probably end up using them at least a couple times this year.

Well Jackie, did they make it up the hill or did they roll all the way back to Buckley draw?

Lol. We still haven't tried it yet. I'll let you know how it goes when we are able to give it a shot.