How to load a cargo container on trailer?

stumpfield · Sep 22, 2006

I plan to buy a 20' cargo container from someone's backyard. I need to figure out a way to load it on my flat bed trailer. Anyone done this before? Any sugguestions? I've seen the pro's do it with a tilt bed and pull it up with a winch but I don't have that kind of setup.
My initial thought was to drag it out in the open. Jack it up and back the trailer under it. Sounds straight forward but then I start thinking a little more and found a few problems. How do I jack it up in such a way it will clear on both side for the trailer to slide under. The container is 8' wide. The trailer deck is also 8' wide. That means I can't jack from underneath. I need at least 6" of clearance on each side... may be a little more as my trailer backing skill wasn't that great. Thanks for you help.

1bush2hog · Sep 22, 2006

Probably not the answer you are looking for, but have you priced having someone with the proper equipment move this for you? It may be your best bet overall.

If you want to move on your own trailer you could jack one end of the container up and place (perpendicular to the length of the cont.) some heavy timbers or steel beams that are appx. 10ft long under the end of the container and then use jacks under the ends of the beams to raise the container, thus allowing your 8ft interior clearance. The 20ft dry van container will weigh appx. 5000-6500lbs empty so make sure your cross beams and jacks can handle that weight.

Also, you might want to check the CA DOT regs to make sure you will be legal transporting the container in this manner.

How will you unload it?

goaliedad · Sep 22, 2006

to jack it up you could use some beams under it to give you the clearance needed- not sure of the weight involved- I beams or heavy wood= 6x6?
could you use pipe or logs as rollers to pull it up onto the trailer? use a come-along instead of a winch? push with a tractor/fel?

I was writing this as the other post was also- so I may have duplicated some of his info!

Jarrett · Sep 22, 2006

Check with a couple towing companies that have a roll-back wrecker. We moved a 14' x 28' portable building that way.

RayH · Sep 22, 2006

I have to go with the Jarrett on this one. You could spend all weekend sweating and straining with jacks and beams OR pick up the phone and have a rollback come out and do it while you stand and drink a cup of coffee.

knute_m · Sep 22, 2006

I too agree with the rollback. A couple of years ago our community organization was given a 20-foot container. It took no time at all to move it about a mile. I think it cost us $65.

stumpfield · Sep 22, 2006

RayH said:
I have to go with the Jarrett on this one. You could spend all weekend sweating and straining with jacks and beams OR pick up the phone and have a rollback come out and do it while you stand and drink a cup of coffee.

That would be nice if I can find someone to do it....The quote I got to have a delivery co. do the job was $1100. (haul it 300 miles from LA to my rural property). Also, they don't go on dirt road. The $1100 was to drop the container off at the end of the county maintained road. I have 2.6 miles of narrow dirt road to go. I still have to deal with transfering it to my trailer and unloading it. I've had lots problem finding anyone willing to go down that road. Not just for the container but everything else too. That's why I got myself a flat bed trailer and haul everything myself. For some reason, no one wants to go down that road. A while back, I bought a 27' 5th wheel trailer and want to have it deliver there. The dealer said no problem. After he finds about the road, he wouldn't do it. I had a tough time finding someone to do it so I drag it there myself. End up a lot easier than it looks. I could bring a 30+ foot trailer on that road.

I think I can handle unloading it. I can jack it up and place a few pipes underneath. Tie it to a tree of something solid then pull the trailer forward and let it slide off the trailer slowly. Someone on another thread sugguest using a come-a-long and pull it up slowly instead of dealing with jacks. I thought that was a good idea. I'm going to try that and see...

Bob_Skurka · Sep 22, 2006

I have 4 of the 40' containers. There are special roll back tailers that are used to pick these off the ground and to deliver them to ground level. The trailers have a winch on them to pull them up, and a ratchet system to push them off.

For a 20' container, a wrecker with a tilt bed trailer could probably pull one up, you'd have to have some way to anchor it while it is unloaded so the tilt truck can simply drive away from it. You might want to check the weight of the container before calling the towing companies, they will have to make sure their tilt bed can not only handle the weight, but can pull it up the tilt bed.

Otherwise there are companies that you can hire to move these containers, they have the correct trucks to pick-up & deliver them. I think it cost me about $265 to have my containers moved this summer, they travelled about 35 miles.

EddieWalker · Sep 22, 2006

I'd sure try every possibility to find somebody else to do it first.

If you really have to do it yourself, than I'd build a dirt ramp. Make it with a shallow aproach and tall enough to clear your trailer. Then push it up the ramp and right on to the trailer.

It should be fairly simple if you have something to build the ramp with and enough power to push the container.

To unload it, just pull it off until it drops.

Eddie