load tractor with chain fall

joeu235 · Oct 15, 2018

I bought a Ford 5600 from an auction. Tractor doesn't start and I need to load it on a dove tail trailer later this week. Anyone every use a big chain fall to winch a tractor onto a trailer?

newbury · Oct 15, 2018

joeu235 said:
I bought a Ford 5600 from an auction. Tractor doesn't start and I need to load it on a dove tail trailer later this week. Anyone every use a big chain fall to wench a tractor onto a trailer?

I've never wenched a tractor. I have winched things on to my trailer (18' Hudson w/ 2/ dovetail and ramps) using my $50 HF 2,500 lb rated winch.
I've only used my chainfalls for lifting.
It should work though.
HF has their 12K rated winch on sale for $300 w/ coupon

AWSubie · Oct 15, 2018

I agree with newbury the chain fall will work. I've used a $20 come-along with no issues but the process is slow, and as always remember to brake and chock the wheels if you need to adjust whatever you use to winch the tractor.

Stimw · Oct 15, 2018

I loaded these logs by picking with engine hoist then pulling them onto trailer with cable com-along.
Took time but worked well.
You can still see the chain around the fat one.

Oldoak · Oct 15, 2018

When using a chain fall in the horizontal position it is always helpful to have a helper guiding the chain. Sometimes it can get hung up at the head end of the chain fall.

fried1765 · Oct 15, 2018

newbury said:
I've never wenched a tractor. I have winched things on to my trailer (18' Hudson w/ 2/ dovetail and ramps) using my $50 HF 2,500 lb rated winch.
I've only used my chainfalls for lifting.
It should work though.
HF has their 12K rated winch on sale for $300 w/ coupon

If I needed a chainfall for a wench on a trailer, I would look far and wide, until I found a much lighter wench!

joeu235 · Oct 15, 2018

fried1765 said:
If I needed a chainfall for a wench on a trailer, I would look far and wide, until I found a much lighter wench!

I could lie and say English is my second language :laughing:

blue9249 · Oct 16, 2018

Two of the big ratchet straps will pull a pickup up a trailer but then having two people is nice then

bcp · Oct 16, 2018

Before electric winches were common, I used to see lots of 2500lb pull boat winches on trailers.

Bruce

4570Man · Oct 16, 2018

blue9249 said:
Two of the big ratchet straps will pull a pickup up a trailer but then having two people is nice then

I’ve done that before on an uphill grade with a truck that had disconnected steering linkage. It worked but I’d look far and wide to avoid that method.

farm boy00 · Oct 19, 2018

Go for it. I have done it many times and works fine. Just make sure to keep it from rolling if you have to rehook

CobyRupert · Oct 19, 2018

So either block the tractor on your rehooks, or

block the trailer, disconnect trailer, and pull tractor up on trailer with your pull truck? (Put a jack or blocks under tail of trailer so trailer tongue doesn't pop up when loading

)

With second method, you can also anchor a snatch block at the front of the trailer and the pull truck is behind (and off to side of tractor), if the trailer height is such that the pull cable would scrape if pulled from the front. Be advised that you're now pulling the trailer backwards as much as you're pulling the tractor forward. Block accordingly.

4570Man · Oct 19, 2018

CobyRupert said:
So either block the tractor on your rehooks, or

block the trailer, disconnect trailer, and pull tractor up on trailer with your pull truck? (Put a jack or blocks under tail of trailer so trailer tongue doesn't pop up when loading )

With second method, you can also anchor a snatch block at the front of the trailer and the pull truck is behind (and off to side of tractor), if the trailer height is such that the pull cable would scrape if pulled from the front. Be advised that you're now pulling the trailer backwards as much as you're pulling the tractor forward. Block accordingly.

The block and tackle method works well and is way faster. If you’re using something that can’t pull far enough like ratchet straps or a chain binder I use 2 separate chains or straps.

standup616 · Oct 20, 2018

Get second vehicle to pull the tractor onto trailer while trailer stays attached to tow vehicle and have someone steer tractor and brake as well. Ive done block tackle as well with cable attached to tree base. OR snatch block attached to the trailer and other cable end on vehicle and moving trailer with tow vehicle pulling the disabled vehicle onto trailer. Used posts many times by one of my roll up doors to move broken down things onto my pad by myself that i didnt want to damage trying to push with loader.
One of the handiest things Ive found is my GoPro camera and ipad as a video monitor (slight delay) to use as temporary backup camera for gooseneck and regular trailers, watching for clearance on a ramp on trailer or loading ramp, speed bump clearance for my boat trailer and friends enclosed trailer

jaxs · Oct 20, 2018

My 2 ton come-a-longs are indespensible and once you own one you will say the same. Northern Tool has a 5 ton that will do the job much easier than a chain fall. You can buy a 2 ton and do as I do,use a second cable and snatch block to double 2 tons to 4 tons.

Xfaxman · Oct 21, 2018

joeu235 said:
I bought a Ford 5600 from an auction. Tractor doesn't start and I need to load it on a dove tail trailer later this week. Anyone every use a big chain fall to winch a tractor onto a trailer?

Update, please. Did you get it loaded?

A hi-lift jack is also good for pulling:

joeu235 · Oct 23, 2018

I did get it loaded. The auction company rep told me that it didn't start. I was unwinding the hoist when a maintenance guy drove buy and said it would start if jumped. He drove up next to the tractor, hooked up the jumpers, and it cranked on the first revolution. I drove it right on the trailer.

I guess its my fault for believing the auction rep knew what he was doing.