Broke cab windshield

[radman1]

I don't have a trailer yet, but this incident tends to make me me think about an enclosed trailer, maybe a car hauler.

My tractor sits fairly far back on my 24' trailer and the truck has mud flaps. The rock could have come from the truck but I think it more likely came from an oncoming car since they had recently graveled/oiled this highway. But I can't tell for certain. I have cracked other car windshields on highways treated like that.
Most enclosed trailers probably won't be tall enough.

 

[CATMAN]

Kude; One thing about enclosed car trailers, the rear door/ramp section might not be able to handle the weight of a tractor/loader/3 pt implement. I spoke with a Featherlite salesperson last year and that is one of the things that they would have to research.

They thought that because of the short wheelbase of a small tractor, "all the weight" would be on the door/ramp at one time during load/unload procedure.​

I think I have seen some specs for a enclosed trailer rear ramp was 4400 lbs, but I can't remember the exact manufacturer.

 

[kude]

radman1, catman,

The enclosed trailers seemed too short to fit the tractor at 6"6" in heights. Plywood floors always don't seem like a good idea. I didn't look at ramp construction, but that's a big factor. A custom would probably be too expensive.

While sitting in the reastaurant watching the construction equipment go by, most seemed to have their equipment facing rearward on the trailer. Maybe a rear window is cheaper than a front one.

Maybe a very thick framed mesh screen sitting on the three point hitched and held in place might be a quick protection for the rear window.

Maybe there's a headache rack for tractors out there?

 

[radman1]

Got the windshield fixed a month ago. FYI, the total bill was just under $1,100. Windshield was about $370 and the rest labor. They had to remove the top of the cab to replace the windshield. Insurance covered all but $100 deductible. Be careful with those cab windshields! I now only haul it backwards on the trailer. Rear windshield is easy to replace compared to the front.

 

[Nuru]

I guess it would pay any cab owners that are planning on trailering their tractors to take some kind of preventive measures to insure that the glass doesn't get broken. If I were going to trailer mine any at all I would cut pieces of indoor-outdoor carpet to each individual glass size and devise a way to hold them in place while the tracotor is in transport.

Sincerely,Dirt

I think it also pays to cover even a non-cab tractor if you are going down the road a bit.

 

[CATMAN]

I bet you're glad you had insurance for that bill. Have you tried your cab heater yet? If they had to lift the roof, maybe they disturbed that seal area that you had the previous problem with for lack of cab heat. Just a thought.

 

[sandman2234]

I was going to suggest loading it backwards, but somebody beat me to it. I don't have a cab, and don't transport my tractors, but it seemed like a good idea, provided the back glass is flat? If your going to use carpet, make sure it isn't used, as that contains a lot of sand which will scratch the windshield. Cut a slot a couple inches in to run the bungee cord thru, to keep it from sliding out from under the bungee cord. Make sure the ends aren't near anything with paint on it that you want to keep painted, as they will strip the paint off during movement.
David from jax

 

[radman1]

I bet you're glad you had insurance for that bill. Have you tried your cab heater yet? If they had to lift the roof, maybe they disturbed that seal area that you had the previous problem with for lack of cab heat. Just a thought.

Used heater today. Worked fine. Good memory on your part!

 

[radman1]

I was going to suggest loading it backwards, but somebody beat me to it. I don't have a cab, and don't transport my tractors, but it seemed like a good idea, provided the back glass is flat? If your going to use carpet, make sure it isn't used, as that contains a lot of sand which will scratch the windshield. Cut a slot a couple inches in to run the bungee cord thru, to keep it from sliding out from under the bungee cord. Make sure the ends aren't near anything with paint on it that you want to keep painted, as they will strip the paint off during movement.
David from jax

The back glass is not flat but curved like the front. However it opens and is held in place by two hinges at the top. Not glued in place like the front. Nor does it extend into the top like the front and it does not have the wiper poking through like the front. I will probably use the carpet idea.