Hey Scooter, I hauled my ton dually panel home 600 miles on a 16 foot flat bed real similar to the pictures in the thread 46 in progress is sending you to. It was almost too small. The panel's front bumper was past the front of the trailer body and the rear hung out over two feet. The rear wheels were just up on the rear of the trailer. I pulled it with my 1/2 ton '89 Suburban, and it worked it pretty hard, so I took it REAL easy.
Suggestions:
Measure, Measure, Measure! Make sure you get a big enough trailer.
Make sure you get a heavy duty hauler. If it weren't for the load leveler hitch on my trailer, I would have been in trouble for sure with that 1/2 ton.
A load equalizing hitch is a real good thing. It will help keep things under control.
There are many companies that will haul it for you. I think I was quoted $1 per mile a year ago. They probably have a minimum charge too. If you or your husband don't have much towing experience this is your best bet.
Do not consider towing it by a tow-bar and without a trailer unless your tow vehicle is heavier by a pretty fair margin. If the towed vehicle is heavier than the tow vehicle, you will have trouble stopping and cornering. The load will tend to push you and cause you to jackknife.
If I had to go get something as big as yours I would first find out how well it runs and how roadworthy it is. If it is up to the trip, that would be an adventure. (But I'm pretty mechanical and I haul a lot of tools around.) I'd scope out some secondary roads and make a vacation of it with my boys. One of them would follow with the Suburban to make sure we have wheels if we have a breakdown and need a part.
If I had to tow it, I'm thinking MINIMUM 18 foot (bed length... longer including hitch) tandem or three axle trailer, and a HD 3/4 or preferably ton dually to tow it with. Trailer brakes very highly desireable. And no cheap tie downs, heavy chain types preferred. And when you get the loadbinders clamped, duct tape or wire them so they can't pop open.
Add up the weight ratings of the tires on the trailer before you agree to use it and make sure they add up to something like the weight of the trailer plus the weight of the load plus a thousand pounds or so for safety margin. (While you're down there reading the tire ratings, check the condition of the tires too. Weatherchecked sidewalls are risky under heavy load. Poor tread is risky in marginal conditions, like rain, wind, curves, fast stops.)
Hope this helps. How far away is the truck from home?
Brad
