How do you tie down tractors when hauling on a trailer?

[moored4]

16ft tandem trailer; JD 3038e; 6ft flail mower; 5ft tiller; fuel cans; weed eater; cooler of adult refreshments and chainsaw in the metal box. 600 lbs of weight on the tongue.

Ready for work.
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I zoomed in on you tractor and can not figure out what is ?hanging? from your steering column? It looks like some kind of bag! Ifso what do you keep in it? Please share! And thanks!

 

[JB4310]

Makes sense in your case, but on a Kubota (like OrangeToys who I replied to has) the brush guard is different. This is the one on our L3830 which is similar to his:
View attachment 247315
That (IMO) is strong enough to fasten the tractor to.

Aaron Z

I agree, it looks structural.

JB

 

[rasimmo]

moored4
That looks like one of those collapsable coolers.

 

[dstig1]

I do mine very similar to Willl, but I don't have the shackles on the front grill guard. I hook a grab hook directly on the side rail of the grill guard down low (where the paint is scuffed in aczlan's pic). One on each side. They slide on there very easily and hold very secure. I use 2 chains (G70 - 3/8" I think). One at each front corner of the front grill to stake pockets, then 2 connected to a shackle in the drawbar, one going to each corner D-ring at that end of the trailer. I haven't put anything over the loader so far, though I know I really should, based on reading here. If I had to travel real far, I would probably throw a strap over it.

 

[PILOON]

A nylon strap under a significant load will cut very easily when it rubs on a metal edge. For that reason I only use chains.

My answer for that is to use some sleeves that I fashioned from some 2 inch fire hose.
I installed 2 ea12 inch long sleeves on each of my nylon straps.
The hose that I had on hand was rubber lined so the sleeves don't slip either.

 

[mjncad]

I zoomed in on you tractor and can not figure out what is ?hanging? from your steering column? It looks like some kind of bag! Ifso what do you keep in it? Please share! And thanks!

That's his beer cooler.

 

[clee4020]

I have thought about welding a heavy duty D-ring or G70 hook or an eye for shackle on the sides of my customized brush gaurd. This would make it eaier to tie down with 2 chains on the front. Any negatives to doing that as long as I make good penatrating welds?

 

[JB4310]

I have thought about welding a heavy duty D-ring or G70 hook or an eye for shackle on the sides of my customized brush gaurd. This would make it eaier to tie down with 2 chains on the front. Any negatives to doing that as long as I make good penatrating welds?

You might consider using that receiver tube like the guys that are using the draw bars in the back.

I would prefer 2 points out near the corner like you mentioned. A good weld on a structural member becomes part of that structure, like a D-ring on a trailer frame.

I wouldn't go up to far on that brush guard, but maybe where that bolt goes thru, you could find some kind of ring that you could put under that bolt?
Or drill a hole to install clevis shackles.

JB

 

[Johnp33]

What I did was weld a grab hook on both sides of my bucket, I have a loader, small one 1/2 yard bucket. I normally use my dump trailer to transport it. A 14 ft PJ, I put a bolt threw the front corners with 3/8 chain welded to it and 3/8 plate 4 inch square backers to attach the bolt to the bottom corners, It has steel sides so I just tie it forward.
When I put it on a flat deck, I strap it threw the rear hitch, to the back with a big shackle, and to the bucket with two chains to the welded on grab hooks. I use nylon straps to go sideways across the front of the lift cylinders, with protectors to protect the straps. I can if I want put one threw the clevis. I chain the front, then pull it back with the rear chain, and cinch it there.
I have been stopped by the MOT and he was OK with it.

 

[grsthegreat]

You know what... this post is getting me all confused. I think next time i haul im simply not going to tie anything down. Just cover it with a tarp. The law says tarps only need to be tied down with string . that will save lots of time :laughing:

 

[moored4]

I have got all kinds of used hay string laying around!:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Now what thread count on a tarp will maintain a 6000# load! :laughing:

 

[grsthegreat]

I have got all kinds of used hay string laying around!:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Now what thread count on a tarp will maintain a 6000# load! :laughing:

Some good Hefty bags should do that.

 

[dstig1]

I found some shots of my front hooks if you are curious. Those are just 3/8" (I think...) grab hooks. They fit perfectly on the 3130 grill guard frame. Yes it scratches the paint slightly, but it is a tractor that works in the woods, and I am not 4shorts :laughing:

 

[nunyabinis]

I zoomed in on you tractor and can not figure out what is ?hanging? from your steering column? It looks like some kind of bag! Ifso what do you keep in it? Please share! And thanks!

As another poster noted, that's my small beer cooler.


You'll notice the large beer cooler sitting just behind the tiller against the trailer tail gate. The contents of the large cooler go into the small cooler hanging on the steering wheel. Empty. Refill. Repeat.


Let the Safety Police chew on THAT one!!! Hah!!!


.

 

[nunyabinis]

True Story Time:

One of my trailer tires had a slow leak that leaked just fast enough to be annoying. I decided that I'd take it to a tire dealer and have them patch it. I was VERY specific about the need to have the best repair possible since I put a LOT of weight on that trailer. I emphasized the importance of having a quality repair SEVERAL times. I even explained to the manager exactly what kind of equipment I carried 100 miles one way. He said he understood and would put his Best Guy on it.

Well, the trip to the Hunt Club last October went alright but about half way back home... BOOM!!!.... the tire blew and the trailer went boogety, boogety, boogety down the highway. Rubber was flying all over the place. It took me some time to get it pulled over because I didn't want to make any sudden movements. The tire was totally shredded. I changed the tire and put the spare on without removing anything from the trailer. Took about 30 minutes.

The equipment on the trailer didn't move an inch.


.

 

[mjncad]

BOOM!!!.... the tire blew and the trailer went boogety, boogety, boogety down the highway.

The boogety, boogety, boogety is the best part of the story. :laughing:

 

[4shorts]

. Yes it scratches the paint slightly, but it is a tractor that works in the woods, and I am not 4shorts :laughing:

See I'd just have to repaint it or just trade it :laughing:

 

[JB4310]

I found some shots of my front hooks if you are curious. Those are just 3/8" (I think...) grab hooks. They fit perfectly on the 3130 grill guard frame. Yes it scratches the paint slightly, but it is a tractor that works in the woods, and I am not 4shorts :laughing:

The hook is captured in the corner there, can't move up, can't move back, so I think it's good.

Just wonder if it would be any better coming up from behind and hooking that way, with open side facing out.
The reason I mention it, is cause that's how I do mine, not sure it would be any better, but just seems it would pull down straighter on the hook, so less strain on the hook. But then the chain would have stress point under the frame's edge??

JB

 

[dstig1]

See I'd just have to repaint it or just trade it :laughing:

Sorry, 4shorts, I couldn't resist Given that I have to trailer this every weekend I use it, I'd be repainting constantly. Plus I bought it used and it isn't pristine in any case, though it's not real rough either. It does what I need it to for the most part. Let's just say it is a "good first tractor" for me...

The hook is captured in the corner there, can't move up, can't move back, so I think it's good.

Just wonder if it would be any better coming up from behind and hooking that way, with open side facing out.
The reason I mention it, is cause that's how I do mine, not sure it would be any better, but just seems it would pull down straighter on the hook, so less strain on the hook. But then the chain would have stress point under the frame's edge??

JB

Yeah the hook never moves at all. What I do with these chains is hook them onto the grill guard as shown, then I loop the other end through a stake pocket and use the grab hook to hook back onto the chain. Then I drive the tractor back a few inches to snug it up and use ratchet binders on the back two corners to get everything tight.

You could hook from the inside too, for sure. It would scratch more paint on the the inside, I think. What isn't shown in those pics was that I added an expanded metal guard to the front of that grill guard frame, so access to the inside is very difficult now. Like so (before paint):

 

[4shorts]

Sorry, 4shorts, I couldn't resist Given that I have to trailer this every weekend I use it, I'd be repainting constantly. Plus I bought it used and it isn't pristine in any case, though it's not real rough either. It does what I need it to for the most part. Let's just say it is a "good first tractor" for me...

Ah don't mind me. I understand. I'm just yanking your chain :laughing: