Forward or Backward

[MESSMAKER]

Which way do you load your tractor? I have done it both ways and I have about decided It is easier to drive it on and back it off. My O.M. recommends backwards but does not say why.

 

[whistlepig]

Which ever way loads the truck and the trailer best. Too much weight on the truck is hard on the truck. Not enough weight on the truck (tongue) is dangerous.

 

[JESSE1]

Which way do you load your tractor? I have done it both ways and I have about decided It is easier to drive it on and back it off. My O.M. recommends backwards but does not say why.

Driving forward onto the trailer, there's always the possibility of the tractor flipping over backward if the trailer ramp is steep. The first few times you load can be unnerving, a lot of operators may get scared and let the tractor roll backwards and pop the clutch or engage the forward pedal and cause the tractor to rear up and fall backwards. Also could happen if the tractor has a loader and it's left up too high. It's not going to happen going in reverse. The worst thing to happen is you won't have as good traction backing up the ramp as going forward.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Driving forward onto the trailer, there's always the possibility of the tractor flipping over backward if the trailer ramp is steep. The first few times you load can be unnerving, a lot of operators may get scared and let the tractor roll backwards and pop the clutch or engage the forward pedal and cause the tractor to rear up and fall backwards. Also could happen if the tractor has a loader and it's left up too high. It's not going to happen going in reverse. The worst thing to happen is you won't have as good traction backing up the ramp as going forward.

I agree on this 100%. Especially if loading old iron like a John Deer A where your rear end is hanging behind the rear axle. Another issue with my current tractor is the canopy. It takes the wind much better when towing if loaded backwards.

Chris

 

[Thomas]

I always like loading forward..balance trailer..more so w/rear attachments.

 

[bigtiller]

I like backing on. I have a cab and I think the rear window would be easier and cheaper to replace if hit by a rock at 50 MPH.

 

[Bird]

Either way works; just that one may be better than the other in particular circumstances. The important thing is to have the weight distribution right. It so happened that I always drove my Kubotas forward onto the trailer and backed off, but I can certainly understand circumstances that would make the reverse desirable.

 

[BTDT2]

proper weight distribution is key, while safety is paramount:thumbsup:

 

[kebo]

For me, it depends on which implement attached to the tractor. This is because the tandem axles are offset more to the rear (which is how many tandem axle trailers are built). If the bush hog, PHD, or the disc harrow is attached, I will have to back onto the trailer. When I do it this way, usually the tailwheel on the BH, or the auger bit on the PHD will rest forward of the front wall on the trailer. Also, I usually have to raise the FEL, close the drive on ramp, then gently lower the bucket so it rests on top of the ramp so it will all fit on the trailer. That's a drawback of having a 16ft trailer. I could solve that with an 18ft trailer, but I really don't see a need to upgrade just for that one issue.

If I have the boxblade attached, I will drive it on. My trailer has a 4ft drive on tailgate, and the trailer deck is only about 20" above the ground so my ramp is not steep at all and I'm at a very minimal risk of flipping it over backwards during loading/unloading.

Either way I load it, I get the main weight mass (the tractor) centered just slightly forward of the balance point.

One tip a friend taught me is to measure the distance from your rear bumper to the ground before you hook up the trailer. Once you have the trailer hooked up and fully loaded, re-measure the bumper to ground distance again. Typically you want it to drop about 2-4 inches but that varies depending on if you have a 1/2T or 3/4T truck because they have different suspension rates. For most trucks about 200-400 lbs of tongue weight on the rear hitch is good for a bumper pull trailer, that means the trailer & its load are fairly balanced. For GN's this is irrelevant since the GN hitches are bed mounted and designed to handle lots of weight from the GN hitch.

Here's a picture of my towing setup with the bush hog attached:

PS- Don't worry, there's no trains running on that track!! The switch out on the main line was removed a long time ago!! I'm parked in an old wood yard where they loaded tree's onto rail cars, but it's now just an vacant 12 acre lot.

 

[deputy11]

kebo,
Do you happen to know what your tractor and FEL weigh? I have a trailer looks like yours with same ramp style but am very leery of trying to use it with new tractor. The trailer would handle it just fine, it's the ramp that may not. Thanks!

 

[kebo]

Tractor is 2200 lbs give or take a few, and my tires are unloaded. The BH is about 580lbs. Not sure what the FEL weighs, but I will guess 650lbs at the most. Probably a bit less than that but I figure it's safer to overestimate rather than underestimate. The Diamond "C" Road Clipper trailer I have is rated only for 5000lbs, even though it has two 3500lb axles. The 5k weight rating is enough for my hauling needs and totes it around just fine.

Sounds like you may need to stiffen up your ramp with some bracing. This picture shows the "ladder" style bracing on my drive on gate, it's plenty sturdy. Without going outside to measure, I think it has 2"x2" ladder bars welded in place.

 

[Hematite]

proper weight distribution is key, while safety is paramount:thumbsup:

Exactly, this is the most important factor for me. Loading going forward gave me the exact weight distribution that I wanted.
Buy and use a Sherline tongue weight scale and be safe, not sorry.
Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scales

 

[deputy11]

Thanks kebo. I best follow the professional welder's advice and upgrade my trailer. He would have been happy to have the work of beefing up my current trailer if he thought it was the right thing to do but a different trailer is much less $$$$ than repairing a bent up (almost) new tractor. As to loading frontwards or backwards, my daughter brought up a good point. If facing front and a cab door was not latched tight, couldn't it fly open?

 

[RobertN]

My understanding was it was more a hemispherical application. In the norther hemisphere trators were loaded forward, in the southern hemisphere they are loaded backwards. Just like water twirls down the drain backwards. And, like in "Oz, people drive on the wrong side of the road.

Maybe one of our TBN members from Austrailia could clarify this?

 

[bdeboer]

I was taught to drive onto the trailer until you feel the weight transfer from the rear of the trailer to the front. Whether forward or backward is dependant on axle location and implement. Tow vehicle capacity should also be considered. I typically load my 18' rear facing as the axles are close to the dovetail.