Anyone moved a trailer house themselves?

[ErinP]

As in, not hiring someone to do it for you.

We recently bought a 14X70 trailer for $500 but now need to move it the 25 miles to our place. It's really solid, so I hope it'll make the trip with no structural issues.

The plan is, we're going to use one of the tractors over at the farm and just hook it on the 3pt.
Neither of us has crawled under it yet, but the owners said it still has the hitch and it's on the axles, but the wheels are gone. I think we have a line on wheels so what next?

We're going to be entirely on gravel roads except for two miles on a minimally traveled highway. We'll have a flagger front and back and there are no permits in either county. (And we're just hoping we'll go "fast" enough on the highway that no one notices. )

It's mostly flat except for two pretty big hills where we'll rise out of the river valley. Five corners, all except one of which are pretty wide and sweeping. The fifth worries me, but they got it IN there I keep thinking...


Anyway-- some advice, words of warning, thoughts....?

[agmantoo]

I have moved two. The 14 x 70 will have a LOT of tongue weight. It will take a large tractor to carry that weight and still have steering capability. Also realize you will only have tractor brakes to stop the load so connect the brakes pedals to function as a single brake. Since I had no prior experience with such a bulky load it took a while to get comfortable. The view was only forward. I suggest a two way radio from the flag car behind to the tractor operator. When you get to the destination try to get the trailer where you want it the first try if the ground is wet. If you need to move the home sideways use some old disc blades, layed flat like a sled, under the tires and connected to a chain and just use a chain to pull the trailer sideways

[ErinP]

It will take a large tractor to carry that weight and still have steering capability.

Yeah, and that's why I'm kind of worried about those two big hills (going up)...

We have several tractors available, right up to a huge dualled wheel field tractor (of course we don't want that one though because it won't maneuver around as well!)

[Sawmill Jim]

Well i found out on turning if you use a tractor with duels it will hit the front corners . Can't turn much at all . Also a 2.5/16 ball is a must . Ours was out of pocket at the time we used a 2''ball and on turning got into the duels an dropped that joker in the road . Main road that is .

Carry extra tires and wheels with plenty of air in them

[deaconjim]

I've set up several, and move a few around on the same property with a tractor. I'd recommend checking around to get a few prices on someone just doing the actual hauling, and do the setup yourself. The price of hauling might be less than the wear and tear on your tractor.

[VERN in IL]

Originally Posted by deaconjim

I've set up several, and move a few around on the same property with a tractor. I'd recommend checking around to get a few prices on someone just doing the actual hauling, and do the setup yourself. The price of hauling might be less than the wear and tear on your tractor.

A trailer moving service around here wanted $950 to move a double wide two miles with NO SETUP. (YIKES)

My dad got a farmer friend to move it with his tractor for pennies on the dollar.

[deaconjim]

Originally Posted by VERN in IL

A trailer moving service around here wanted $950 to move a double wide two miles with NO SETUP. (YIKES)

My dad got a farmer friend to move it with his tractor for pennies on the dollar.

It depends a lot on how hungry the service is. Shop around, some will give you a ridiculous price, and others will be more reasonable just to get the business. Of course, it may well be that a tractor is the best way to go.

[barnyardgal]

A couple years ago my neighbor up the road moved a 12 by 65 with his 4 wheel drive pick-up about 7 miles and never had any trouble he said..he had to go up and down a couple hills and even through town and a couple pretty good curves....can't offer ya any help though...

[chewie]

what about a haysled?

[fantasymaker]

We have moved them with a one ton truck its really not so bad. My recomendation is a one ton for the first part and a tractor for the last mile.
Or better yet look for someone witha trailer ball on a semi and offer them $200
What ever you move it with be sure to rig yourself some mirrors!

[ErinP]

I guess we hadn't thought about using one of the semis. That might be an option, too...

[Common Tator]

Are there phone or power lines to contend with that you need to go under? If so, I think you need the utility company to help.

[ErinP]

Nope. Besides, it's just a single-wide trailer house. I know it sits lower than a cattle pot and those drive these roads all the time!

[arabian knight]

How about permits? Do you need them? We would in WI. Anything 12 foot wide or wider HAS to have permits to be moved on a roadway.

[gone-a-milkin]

Also remember to check for tree limbs at the turns, preferably before you start the haul.

[ErinP]

Nope. Like I said in my first post, no permits in either of the counties we'll be traveling in. We're probably supposed to permit for the 2 miles of highway, but we're just going to go for it.
Shoot, people routinely haul drills, chisels, etc. without permits. You just expect to see that kind of thing in this part of the world.

[poppy]

Originally Posted by ErinP

Nope. Like I said in my first post, no permits in either of the counties we'll be traveling in. We're probably supposed to permit for the 2 miles of highway, but we're just going to go for it.
Shoot, people routinely haul drills, chisels, etc. without permits. You just expect to see that kind of thing in this part of the world.

Watch the highway. A friend of mine moved one through the country a few years ago. He only went 3 miles on the highway and did it at 2AM to avoid any traffic. State cops caught him and it cost him over $1700.00.

[Molly Mckee]

We moved one about 2 miles for a neighbor with our Ford 5600 diesel- dirt roads, hills and curves without any problems.

[Jackie]

Ya! We bought a 14 x 76 trailer and moved it 10 miles ourselves. We were able to get insurance for the whole thing. We used our tractor but I don't know what kind.

Now where I live you CAN"T move them on their own wheels. We just bought a mobile home last year that had brand new wheels and axles under it and they had to just cut them off. Cost us $3500 to get it home. It was something like $2000 just to move it, and then so much a mile after that. Up here to legally move a mobile you need an insured company that moves it as if it was a ready-to-move home.

[Old Vet]

I have moved one with a Semi that we put a hitch on. It is not easy and would have cost less to hire somebody to do it.