Low cost trailer modifications.

[Alan W.]

Like what you have done.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Thanks. I better stay away from Sandusky's metal supply for now.

 

[flyerdan]

We built a Bobcat trailer at work, the triangle section at the front was boxed in with a lid for chains and binders. Probably not as important on a trailer that isn't shared or used by crews, when I wired it I put a weatherproof box at the front of the binder bin. The trailer wiring was ran inside the frame rails down the sides, and I had a barrier strip in the box so if the plug end didn't get disconnected or drug down the highway, or snagged by a forklift when moving in the yard, the worst damage would be to replace a five foot or so section at the plug end.

 

[hayden]

I thought that I would share some simple but effective modifications I have made to my 10k equipment trailer that I mostly use to haul a load of hay for our horses. These mods are also helpful for other uses.

I usually load 100 bales of hay. On the flat side, I can get five layers, twenty bales each. This load was loaded with a grapple. My hay supplier uses an accumulator to gather his small bales then picks them up with the grapple. He cannot get them into his hay barn which I will explain later but he does easily load them onto wagons to get the bales out of the weather until his customers can pick them up. The grapple picks up eight bales at a time. Two "drops" leaves room for four more bales plus a little extra so on this load, I placed the last two on the flat to just about touch the ramps. My guy only had 94 bales on hand and the last one was a "starter" bale, ie; the first one baled and a bit loose so I ran the rear two straps in an "x" pattern to ensure that it stayed put.View attachment 877494

With the narrow trailer, loading on the side makes for a tall load hence I use plenty of straps to secure the load.

How heavy is a load of hay like that?

 

[QRTRHRS]

How heavy is a load of hay like that?

The alfalfa/orchard grass square bales that I usually buy are maybe 50-70 pounds apiece depending on the blend and/or density of the field. So, doing the math, 100 x 70 would be 7000lbs. The trailer is rated 10,400lbs and weighs in around 2k- 2.5k. Even with the extra's that I added to it, I am not over.