Aluminum equipment trailers.

[Jstpssng]

We do during harvest season. On the other hand, knowing how to drive a stick with a high-low two-speed and hit the red and yellow air brakes is sort of a litmus test in its own right.

Locals make $30+ an hour during harvest season.

Farms here are exempt.

I had an uncle who drove short haul from Boston when I was growing up. 50 years without an accident. He saw a lot, and my comments about RVs reflect his opinions as a tractor trailer operator.


If we had to take the test and maintain our licenses, which a CDL driver has to take there would be a lot fewer drivers on the road. How many people can't even back into a parking spot?

 

[Hersheyfarm]

We do during harvest season. On the other hand, knowing how to drive a stick with a high-low two-speed and hit the red and yellow air brakes is sort of a litmus test in its own right.

Locals make $30+ an hour during harvest season.

So during harvest there is a no limit? How does that work? Is it just for ag? In ky farm plates up your gvw limit to 38k, but that doesn’t get you behind the wheel of loaded grain semi.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

How many people can't even back into a parking spot?

With or without bourbon?

 

[Jstpssng]

With or without bourbon?

That would depend on if you set the bottle down first.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

So during harvest there is a no limit? How does that work? Is it just for ag? In ky farm plates up your gvw limit to 38k, but that doesn’t get you behind the wheel of loaded grain semi.

You fill out this form, and *poof* you're blessed with arcane truck-driving powers.

https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/forms-documents/Documents/SeasonalFarmCDLWaiver.pdf

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Ok, so thats for class b and c. Basically a dump truck license. Wonder why they didnt include the class a.

 

[ddbackhoe]

Is that a bad thing?

Maybe not for Ca standards but what is a non-commercial commercial drivers license?

 

[ddbackhoe]

Lol. Counterpoint, Do you think that retiring 65 year old city dwellers who have never piloted any heavy equipment before in their life should be allowed to hop in a 20 ton+ RV and just go for it with no training, education or certifications?

5 Scary Motorhome Accidents You'll Be Glad You Avoided

You can never be too safe when driving your motorhome or RV. Stay alert and watch out for the other guy. See examples of motorhome accidents here.

www.doityourselfrv.com

helluve lot safer than letting the 20somethings . Im one of the ones that didnt grow up in the city. I had to ”cut my teeth“ with a sears riding mower and a Farmall A (when I started elementary school had to earn my keep) before I was allowed to use the JD730. Training was dont break nothing or hit anything. Was driving everything on the farm before high school but wasnt allowed on the blacktop. Breaking the rules didnt get you in time out either. Still not sure which was worse, getting the ruler from the nuns or waiting til dad got word of what Id done this time.

 

[deezler]

Haha very true. At least the 20-somethings can't afford an RV, let alone a car these days. Heck half of them don't even want to get a driver's license anymore.

I also had to learn my way on a Farmall A. Super-A, to be exact, so we had fancy hydraulic lift for the snow plow and rear hitch. Plus my folks would let me cruise their manual-trans Cherokee down the dirt roads sometimes once I was 13 or 14. My son, and my neighbors son are 9 and 12 respectively, and almost getting tall enough to reach pedals with confidence, so their time of learning is approaching.

 

[Jstpssng]

When I took driver’s Ed the instructor said that the best drivers were those who were allowed to ride their tricycles inside when they were young.

 

[nyone]

At least a RV is built to such crap standards that they blow up like there made from balsa wood when they touch anything.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

so i bought the suretrac 20’er. After all taxes it was $13k. I want the 22’ they offer but there is a back order of 8” channel and they cannot build anymore aluminum trailers for a good wile. There is only a handful of these 20’ trailers left within a 1000 miles, so i went ahead and jumped. When they start building again, and if i still feel 2’ would benefit me i may order one and sell this one. as you can expect, this large 2000lb trailer pulled like a dream on my 2 hour trip home. Zero vibration or bounce, or anything. Cant feel it back there. The adjustable trailer coupler had 5/8 bolts and was just too sloppy. The trailer bracket has 3/4 holes, i had to drill the cast coupler out 1/8” and it was not fun. Cast does not drill easy. But I now have 3/4 grade 8 bolts and it has very little play. I blame the trailer dealer for this one. I was super anxious about its placement so i pulled the mini x up on there and got my tongue weight at 1400lb.(tongue scale, worth every penny) and this is where it will ride. Trailer is front high cause its not on truck, had it loose to use scale.

Today we got iced out so i still haven’t pulled it loaded to see how it does. So far it seems built well And i can live with the ugly bland unpainted aluminum, especially with 12005lb payload. Got nice aluminum rims Too. It came with 4 of these tie down things, no way i can use them but they have a 6000lb rating. Kinda worthless to me.

Need better weather. To get hitch height set and take for a trip. Will update.
oh yea, the fenders come off easy, just one hand knob and it comes right off. Good thing, there is only 3” of room on each side of the tracks to fender. All its going to take is one morning I’m in a hurry unloading…they are stiff and you can walk on them, but wont take a track pushing into them.

 

[crashz]

Nice looking trailer! And Excavator!

I agree on the tie-down points. The hardware might be rated to 6K, but they would pull out of the aluminum panels before that. With the rain and ice, did you feel that the deck was slippery?

 

[Hersheyfarm]

There is like 10” square plates under those tie down points fyi.
Ice? It’s basically unloadable. I had all day off and didnt feel like chipping and beating on it so i could load up and start to get my tie down plan figured out. Wood deck would be the same but use a hammer or something and you could bust ice off. This deck is weird, its not a sheet, its extruded and has crevices the ice really attaches to.

 

[two_bit_score]

Nice trailer and it looks like the Mini-Ex fits it just right!

I'm sure you will be enjoying it for a long time!

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Let’s hope. I should be able to pull it today loaded. Last time I had this short of a trailer it wiggled. I refuse to fight a trailer going down the road. My trailer I just got rid of pulled like a dream. The center of its axles were 175” from front of deck. This one is 139”. Fingers crossed. Will update.

 

[two_bit_score]

Let’s hope. I should be able to pull it today loaded. Last time I had this short of a trailer it wiggled. I refuse to fight a trailer going down the road. My trailer I just got rid of pulled like a dream. The center of its axles were 175” from front of deck. This one is 139”. Fingers crossed. Will update.

We will be awaiting your report.

 

[9973720wb19]

i use an aluminum trailer for cars but use steel "equipment trailer" for SS, mowers, etc. I don't think you'll be happy with Aluminum for heavy equipment

 

[Hersheyfarm]

i use an aluminum trailer for cars but use steel "equipment trailer" for SS, mowers, etc. I don't think you'll be happy with Aluminum for heavy equipment

Really? majority of semi trailers are aluminum. If it wasnt for cost i would expect more people would go aluminu.

but those some people probably dont need aluminu, like concrete guys. I see them on the jobsite with fenders hanging off, holes in the deck, mismatched wheels…

thats not me.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

So here is the bolts the dealer sent me home with. my last diamond c trailer was the same. The adjustable rail on the trailers are for 3/4 bolts but the couplers are sent with 5/8.

the coupler is a curt and are sent with 5/8, dealers just put them on. I drill them out, basically opening up the holes 1/16(1/8” total). This vid is after and with the 3/4 bolts. Now once it’s shimmed (I cut shims for each side to fill gap) and torqued to 150ftlb there will be zero movement. Never count on dealers.

(Added in edit) lol. My first edited video i combined the 2 with subtitle….I’m so video illiterate. also these bolts get torqued to 150ftlb.