Can't load my tractor!

Mike Costello · Nov 19, 2009

I'm in the replace the trailer camp. It seems to me all the solutions needed to load your tractor & hoe are a major pain in the ... Looking at your tractor on your trailer picture--the first thing that comes to mind is too small a trailer and overweight. A safety cop might think the same thing even if you are legal in all respects. Do you want to be hassled every time you move your tractor? Surely, there are trailers out there (think good used) that would solve this issue in all respects. And, selling your current trailer would help offset the cost. Mike.

Steve C · Nov 19, 2009

gboudreau said:
Use a set of vehicle ramps like you would use to dive up on to change your oil. Place them behind or in front of your rear wheels and drive up on them therefore lowering the rear of the trailer. That with some long ramps should work. Just make sure to block under the rear of the trailer so the weight does nto lift up the rear tires of the ramps.

That is a great and enexpensive idea.

Since he is only going to move it a couple times a year. His ramps that are on the trailer already have the blocking built in. The trailer is short enough that the ramps under his truck wheels is probably all he needs. They will raise the front of his trailer 14" -16" that will put the rear of the trailer almost on the ground...problem solved. If you had to use it every day it would be a pain in the rear, but for only a couple times a year or even once a week it is the solution that I would uses.

powerstroke444e · Nov 19, 2009

If your only going to move it a few times a year take the ramps off the trailer and back in a ditch or over the curb. If you can't do that use the backhoe. DO NOT try the car ramps and rear truck tire thing or we will be reading this in the safety section.
When you get time/money sell your trailer and buy one that fits your needs.

Have fun and be safe

Jay4200 · Nov 19, 2009

two_bit_score said:
With your current trailer as a trade wouldn't you be better off in the long run to just get a trailer that will work best for your tractor?

Sure - but I need to move it in two days, so I need a solution now, and I'm not willing to run out to the trailer store and drop $3k to save a day of frustration.

JayC

Jay4200 · Nov 19, 2009

Steve C said:
This might just work.
I have an adjustable trailer hitch on my truck, I think it is a Reece. I paid about 30 dollars for it on clearance at Wal-Mart.

I was just discussing this gizmo with a friend yesterday - it IS a great solution, and I might just end up there - although price might be a problem, unless I find one on clearance at WalMart

.

JayC

Steve C · Nov 19, 2009

powerstroke444e said:
If your only going to move it a few times a year take the ramps off the trailer and back in a ditch or over the curb. If you can't do that use the backhoe. DO NOT try the car ramps and rear truck tire thing or we will be reading this in the safety section.
When you get time/money sell your trailer and buy one that fits your needs.

Have fun and be safe

What is wrong with the ramps under the truck idea? If the rear of the trailer is blocked so it can't drop and lift the truck what else could happen?

I have used ramps under my front wheels of my truck to drop the rear and load large motorcycles in the back without having them become high centered where the ramp meets the truck bed.

Jay4200 · Nov 19, 2009

Mike Costello said:
I'm in the replace the trailer camp. It seems to me all the solutions needed to load your tractor & hoe are a major pain in the ... Looking at your tractor on your trailer picture--the first thing that comes to mind is too small a trailer and overweight. A safety cop might think the same thing even if you are legal in all respects. Do you want to be hassled every time you move your tractor? Surely, there are trailers out there (think good used) that would solve this issue in all respects. And, selling your current trailer would help offset the cost. Mike.

It is a little short, but far from overweight - its a 10,000# trailer and a 6000# tractor. However, a better trailer would, of course, be the best final solution. I'm working with what I have, at the moment...

JayC

Jay4200 · Nov 19, 2009

gboudreau said:
Use a set of vehicle ramps like you would use to dive up on to change your oil. Place them behind or in front of your rear wheels and drive up on them therefore lowering the rear of the trailer. That with some long ramps should work. Just make sure to block under the rear of the trailer so the weight does nto lift up the rear tires of the ramps.

That's a good idea. I'll call that one "plan C".

JayC

Steve C · Nov 19, 2009

Jay4200 said:
It is a little short, but far from overweight - its a 10,000# trailer and a 6000# tractor.

JayC

It is a great looking trailer...I wish I had one!

Steve C · Nov 19, 2009

Jay4200 said:
That's a good idea. I'll call that one "plan C".

JayC

I would go with plan "c" I have 3 pair of those portable steel ramps and they hold up well and are cheap and have many uses. I have had them for about 30 years.

Diamondpilot · Nov 19, 2009

I still say a hour with me and my welder and I could make the ramps that are on it work by adding 3' to each of them. Cost you very little and will be a final solution to all your trailer problems both today and in the future for loading other equipment like cars.

Chris

powerstroke444e · Nov 19, 2009

Steve C said:
What is wrong with the ramps under the truck idea? If the rear of the trailer is blocked so it can't drop and lift the truck what else could happen?
.

I don't even know where to start ????

It would be a great idea that ends with hold my beer and watch this.

Steve C · Nov 19, 2009

Jay4200 said:
I was just discussing this gizmo with a friend yesterday - it IS a great solution, and I might just end up there - although price might be a problem, unless I find one on clearance at WalMart .

JayC

I actually have 2 of them, one is a harbor freight model that was very inexpensive. The only thing wrong with it is it is only rated for 7,500# probably right at what your tractor and trailer weigh. I think it was around $20 on sale, $30 regular price. It has a 20" range of adjustment but you would have to remove the ball and re-mount it on the other side to get the full range or just mount one on both top and bottom...

Steve C · Nov 19, 2009

powerstroke444e said:
I don't even know where to start ????

It would be a great idea that ends with hold my beer and watch this.

please start....my truck weighs 7,600 lbs. My ramps have supported it just fine. I can't learn anything if nobody explains it to me....I am 60 years old, I don't have enough time left to make all my own mistakes....

Steve C · Nov 19, 2009

Diamondpilot said:
I still say a hour with me and my welder and I could make the ramps that are on it work by adding 3' to each of them. Cost you very little and will be a final solution to all your trailer problems both today and in the future for loading other equipment like cars.

Chris

That is the best long term solution, along with raising his hitch a little to get the front of the trailer level , but

he only has a couple of days and I don't know if he has any fabricating equipment at his disposal.

Egon · Nov 19, 2009

Had to load and unload mine today. just some scraps of wood managed to get me off and on.

Diamondpilot · Nov 19, 2009

Steve C said:
That is the best long term solution, along with raising his hitch a little to get the front of the trailer level , but he only has a couple of days and I don't know if he has any fabricating equipment at his disposal.

Any welding shop in my area could do that job in about 1 hour. Just tote the trailer over there and get-r -done. We have wasted a week just talking about it.

Chris

F250DSLPWR · Nov 19, 2009

We load a backhoe like this all the time without ramps. Just use the FEL bucket to lift the front end on to the trailer drive up as far as you can and then use the backhoe bucket to lift the tractors back end and push it onto the trailer. I roll the bucket to push the tractors back end onto the trailer. When unloading just do it in reverse. Try searching U tube for loading backhoe. Hope this helps.