DavesTractor
Elite Member
CDL rules differ by state. In California, if your equipment trailer is 10k or over GVWR, you need a CDL. So it's a good idea to check your individual state rules.
I tow daily delivering tractors and have a 22' deck bumper pull and a 32' deck goose. Often I am delivering to narrow driveways or at the end of some goat trail that the customer calls a road. People developing properties like that need a tractor, and we are happy to get one to them, but narrow and steep gravel or dirt roads aren't rare for many deliveries. My 22' deck bumper pull is way better for tight roads and driveways where I am turning into a narrow drive from a narrow road. But it had a short tongue, and even going forward you could make bumper contact in a very tight turn. I recently added a GenY torsion coupler which lengthens the tongue 9.5", and makes it ride better. It would be difficult to jackknife the trailer into the bumper now. You would have to back up turning sharp and really be asleep at the wheel.
The goose pulls great and I use it for double drops, but it requires some pre-trip planning and I can't always get into a property. If I can get close, I drive the tractor the rest of the way.
The idea of a crane trailer has merit. If you plan to back into driveways and unload on the pad in front of the garage, you might just make that the entirety of your delivery service. If on concrete, you could use a pallet jack as you mentioned to move the wood into the garage. If they need it hauled around back or something, they can deal with that themselves. Hauling a tractor or forklift and the bags is a lot more difficult as you need a larger heavier trailer, a larger heavier truck, and you will spend time chaining down and unloading your tractor at each stop. By eliminating the offer to move the bags anywhere off concrete, you are now fine with a 3/4 ton truck, no CDL, shorter trailer to back into tighter spots, etc.
I have a crane trailer that you should copy. I'll pm you as to not muddy up this thread.
I tow daily delivering tractors and have a 22' deck bumper pull and a 32' deck goose. Often I am delivering to narrow driveways or at the end of some goat trail that the customer calls a road. People developing properties like that need a tractor, and we are happy to get one to them, but narrow and steep gravel or dirt roads aren't rare for many deliveries. My 22' deck bumper pull is way better for tight roads and driveways where I am turning into a narrow drive from a narrow road. But it had a short tongue, and even going forward you could make bumper contact in a very tight turn. I recently added a GenY torsion coupler which lengthens the tongue 9.5", and makes it ride better. It would be difficult to jackknife the trailer into the bumper now. You would have to back up turning sharp and really be asleep at the wheel.
The goose pulls great and I use it for double drops, but it requires some pre-trip planning and I can't always get into a property. If I can get close, I drive the tractor the rest of the way.
The idea of a crane trailer has merit. If you plan to back into driveways and unload on the pad in front of the garage, you might just make that the entirety of your delivery service. If on concrete, you could use a pallet jack as you mentioned to move the wood into the garage. If they need it hauled around back or something, they can deal with that themselves. Hauling a tractor or forklift and the bags is a lot more difficult as you need a larger heavier trailer, a larger heavier truck, and you will spend time chaining down and unloading your tractor at each stop. By eliminating the offer to move the bags anywhere off concrete, you are now fine with a 3/4 ton truck, no CDL, shorter trailer to back into tighter spots, etc.
I have a crane trailer that you should copy. I'll pm you as to not muddy up this thread.
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