Farm Equipment Hauling

Farm Equipment Hauling Services

R&RM LLC has been transporting agricultural equipment since 2011. Farm equipment presents a unique set of transport challenges that general freight carriers aren't equipped to handle: wide headers that exceed legal highway widths, heavy combines that push or exceed the 80,000-lb federal weight limit, and folding planters that look deceptively small until you try to load them onto a flatbed.

We specialize in farm equipment hauling because it requires knowledge that goes beyond just having a trailer. You need to understand how to secure a header — or whether to remove it — which combines need blade removal versus fold-in-place configuration, and how seasonal timing affects permit processing in agricultural states like Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. We've handled these considerations across all 48 continental states since 2011.

Types of Farm Equipment We Transport

Large Tractors and Row-Crop Tractors

Modern large-frame row-crop tractors from John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, AGCO, and Challenger can weigh 40,000 to 60,000 lbs depending on ballast, front weights, and dual-tire configuration. Most large tractors transport legally on a standard flatbed or step-deck without overweight permits, but dual rear tires and front weights affect transport width and may trigger oversize routing.

• John Deere 8 and 9 Series: 8R, 8RT, 9R, 9RT — narrow front or front dual applications. The 9R Series with front duals typically requires oversize width permits.
• Case IH Magnum and Steiger: Magnum 340–400 and Steiger 470–620 row-crop and articulated tractors. Steiger articulated 4WD tractors are wide and heavy and often require oversize routing.
• New Holland T8 and T9 Series: T8 row-crop and T9 articulated 4WD. Similar transport considerations to Case IH equivalent models.
• AGCO Challenger and Fendt: Challenger MT800 series tracked tractors and Fendt 1000 Vario — both can exceed standard width limits with dual front configurations.
• Kubota M7 and M8 Series: Mid-size tractors that typically transport without oversize permits but require proper RGN or step-deck loading for self-propelled moves.

Combine Harvesters

Combines are among the most challenging farm equipment to transport because of their weight, height, and the header situation. A large modern combine like the John Deere X9, Case IH AFS Connect 9250, or New Holland CR10.90 can weigh 65,000 to 75,000+ lbs without the header — and headers add significant weight and width depending on size and crop type.

Transport procedures for combines typically involve:

• Header removal and separate transport: For large grain headers (30+ feet), the header is loaded separately on a flatbed or header trailer. Wide corn headers may require oversize permits even when removed from the machine.
• Header adapter and feeder house: The feeder house can stay attached for most transport scenarios; the adapter typically stores in the cab or grain tank for transit.
• Unloading auger position: The unloading auger must be folded and secured. Some models have swing-out augers that must be pinned before transport.
• Grain tank covers and residue management components: Chaff spreaders and straw spreaders must be removed or folded to reduce height for highway clearances.
• Overweight permits: Combines over 80,000 lbs require overweight permits in every state crossed, with appropriate axle spacing on the trailer to comply with state per-axle weight limits.

Planters and Air Seeders

Row planters and air seeders have become increasingly wide as row counts have grown. A 48-row John Deere ExactEmerge or 24-row Case IH EarlyRiser planter can exceed 60 feet folded width in some configurations — far beyond anything that fits on a standard highway lane.

Planter transport requires understanding the fold sequence: most modern planters have hydraulic wing folding, but the transport sequence must be followed exactly to get the unit down to minimum transport width. Even properly folded, large planters often require oversize permits for width, which means routing through state permit offices, travel time restrictions, and sometimes escort vehicles in states with wide-load requirements.

We also transport:

• Air cart and air seeder combinations (often two separate loads — cart and toolbar separate)
• Strip-till units and row unit assemblies
• Precision placement planters with individual row shutoffs and liquid fertilizer systems

Sprayers and Application Equipment

Modern high-clearance self-propelled sprayers from John Deere (R4030, R4038, R4044, R4060), Case IH (Patriot), New Holland (Guardian), and AGCO Challenger (RoGator) are tall, wide, and heavy enough to require careful transport planning.

• Boom removal: Long boom sections are removed and transported separately or on a boom trailer alongside the sprayer chassis. Booms up to 120 feet are common on modern large-frame sprayers.
• Transport height: Self-propelled sprayers sit tall — high-clearance models have significant frame height, and with the cab roof and antenna, many models require height permit review in states with 13'6" maximum height restrictions.
• Liquid load: Sprayers must be delivered with tanks empty. Full tanks add thousands of pounds in unregistered dynamic weight — a compliance and safety issue on highway transport.

Tillage Equipment

Large tillage tools — vertical tillage units, chisel plows, disc rippers, and primary tillage rigs — transport on flatbed or step-deck trailers and can be straightforward when properly prepared. However, wing sections on large units may need to be folded or pinned in specific positions, and toolbar assemblies sometimes exceed legal width even folded.

• Vertical tillage: Salford, Horsch Joker, Great Plains Turbo-Till
• Chisel plows: John Deere 2700, Case IH Ecolo-Tiger, Sunflower
• Disk harrows: Krause, Landoll, Case IH RMX, John Deere 2660VT
• Strip-till toolbars: Dawn, Orthman, Yetter, Kuhn Krause

Grain Carts and Harvest Support Equipment

Large grain carts (1,000- to 2,000-bushel capacity) from Brent, Unverferth, and Kinze are wide and can weigh 30,000+ lbs when loaded. For transport purposes they move empty, but width and tire spacing must be confirmed against state oversize limits. Grain cart transport is typically a step-deck move with proper tire securement.

Farm Equipment Transport Trailers

The right trailer for agricultural equipment depends on the machine's ground clearance, weight, and dimensions:

• RGN (Removable Gooseneck): Best for self-propelled equipment — combines, large tractors, and sprayers that need to drive on and off the trailer. The detachable neck drops to ground level for drive-on loading, eliminating the need for a loading ramp or crane.
• Step-Deck (Drop-Deck): Good for planters, tillage equipment, and smaller self-propelled machines. The 10-inch step provides additional deck height clearance under overpasses when combined with low-profile tires.
• Standard Flatbed: Used for smaller tractors and equipment that doesn't exceed standard legal dimensions and weight. Fast, affordable, and widely available.
• Lowboy: For extremely heavy combines, large articulated 4WD tractors with heavy ballast, or other agricultural equipment that approaches or exceeds 80,000 lbs.
• Header Trailers: Specialized trailers purpose-built to carry grain and corn headers securely during transport, often running alongside the combine or as a separate move.

Agricultural Equipment Permit Requirements

Farm equipment transport is heavily influenced by oversize and overweight permitting rules, which vary by state and — in agricultural states — by season. Key factors:

• Width permits: Loads wider than 8'6" (or 8' in some states) require oversize permits. Many modern planters, sprayers, and combines exceed this even when folded.
• Weight permits: Loads over 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight require overweight permits. Large combines and heavily ballasted articulated tractors routinely fall into this category.
• Seasonal load limits: Many agricultural states impose spring weight restrictions (typically February through April) when thawing roads are more vulnerable to damage. These restrictions can lower the allowable weight significantly and affect routing options.
• Travel time restrictions: Oversize loads in many states are restricted to daylight hours only (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset). Some states prohibit oversize movement on Sundays or holidays.
• Harvest season demand: Permit offices in major farm states are extremely busy during fall harvest season (September through November). Combine and harvester transport requests spike dramatically during this period, and permit processing times can increase. We recommend booking harvest-season transport moves well in advance.

R&RM LLC coordinates all oversize and overweight permits for agricultural equipment moves. We handle multi-state permit packages as a single service — you provide the origin, destination, and equipment specs, and we manage the permit coordination from start to finish.

Common Farm Equipment Transport Scenarios

• Dealer-to-dealer transfers: Equipment moving between dealership locations for inventory balancing or customer pre-delivery. Often regional moves within a single state or across adjacent states.
• New equipment delivery from distributors: Factory-fresh combines, tractors, and planters delivered from distribution centers or rail yards to the dealer or directly to the farm.
• Auction and private sale transport: Equipment purchased at auction or private sale needs to move from the seller's location to the buyer's farm or storage yard.
• Winter storage transport: Equipment moved from the field to covered storage yards at the end of the season, then returned to the farm before planting or harvest.
• Repair shop transport: Large equipment requiring specialized repair (engine overhaul, cab replacement, structural repair) may need transport to and from a dealership service center.
• Farm consolidation: When farming operations expand, consolidate, or relocate, entire equipment inventories may need to move between locations.

Why Agricultural Equipment Needs Specialized Haulers

General freight carriers with flatbeds can sometimes move smaller farm equipment, but large combines, modern planters, and wide self-propelled sprayers need haulers who understand agricultural equipment specifically:

• Loading sequence matters: Combines, high-clearance sprayers, and large tractors have specific drive-on sequences for RGN loading. Incorrect loading angles can damage hydraulic lines, exhaust systems, or cab steps.
• Tire securement: Agricultural tires with large cleated lugs require different tie-down placement than construction equipment. Chain placement on lug tires can damage tire sidewalls if positioned incorrectly.
• Header handling: Combine headers require careful placement on header trailers or flatbeds with proper support points. Flex headers have fragile cutting edges and canvas-style decks that damage easily if improperly supported.
• Harvest season timing: Delivering a combine late during harvest season can cost a farming operation tens of thousands of dollars in lost harvest days. We understand the urgency and work our scheduling around your operational windows.

Get a Farm Equipment Transport Quote

For an accurate quote, provide: equipment make, model, and year; approximate weight; whether headers or booms will be included; pickup city and state; delivery city and state; and your required delivery date or window. We'll review permit requirements, route options, and trailer selection and get back to you with a complete quote.