Ramps for loading tractor on truck bed

[Bikewanderer]

I am looking for some advice here. I have a f350 dually with 12' flatbed. I would like to be able to move my tractor occasionally, but do not want to own a trailer. I have enough load capacity and room on the truck bed that I have little use for a trailer except for this. The tractor is a l3400 kubota. The truck weighs 7000# empty and has a 13000# gvwr.

My buddy pointed me towards some pin on ramps, they look pretty safe. Pricey, but I definitely want to be safe. Looks like it will run close to $1500 to get them shipped and installed on my truck bed. Does anybody move tractors this way that can offer any advice?

 

[Shaneard]

Find a welding shop nearby and have them quote you some, $1,500 sounds high to me.

 

[nybirdman]

I don't know how you could fit an L3400 on a 12ft.bed.NO FEL?maybe.

 

[Bikewanderer]

I though about that, not sure I'd be able to pick them up in steel!

 

[Bikewanderer]

I don't know how you could fit an L3400 on a 12ft.bed.NO FEL?maybe.

It's about 12' long. Could put the bucket up on the headache rack or hang Off the back a little.

 

[Diamondpilot]

No way you are going to get a 12' tractor with a FEL on that size bed safely. You need some angle to the chains to secure properly.

For the money you are going to spend you could put $500 more towards it and have a trailer that's good for a million uses vs a set of ramps that are good for one.

To boot the ramps will have no resale. All three trailers I have owned i have sold for more 10 years down the road.

Chris

 

[PILOON]

LOL, when I had my 3/4 HD GMC pu I used to load my MT180D in the PU box.
Was, however, kinda 'top heavy'.
Still have the home made ramps and I now use them with my 5 X 10 dully trailer.
What I have seen was using the FEL to 'latch onto' a truck bed and the front wheels raised off of the ground thus towing a tractor on its rear wheels sort of a la trailer, maybe OK if suitable chains and lights were used but I sure would not want to go far.

Bit off topic, but I used to tow my ATV behind my CUT when working a fair distance away as the CUT only had a ground speed of about 6MPH and going home for lunch took longer than eating it.

 

[Bikewanderer]

I think at this point that owning a trailer is out of the question. I am unwilling to devote the time and money to property taxes, insurance, and maintenance on one more set of wheels. If necessary, I guess I would rent a trailer when I need it, or would be willing to transport it without the front end loader. at the current moment, I have no need to transport it whatsoever. I do transport my John Deere 455 riding mower in this way and it works quite well. I just don't want to be in a position where someday I will need to take it to the dealer for repairs or do some box blading at a rental property and will not have the ability to move it. It did occur to me after posting that I do have a 5 x 8 high side equipment trailer with a 5000 pound axle on it. This might be able to move the tractor if I can put the front end loader down on the tongue.

I'm sure some of you can relate. I am coming out of a period of time where I just bought too much stuff. Anything that I only used a couple times a year I am selling and will be renting in the future. The stuff I do use I am repairing or replacing such that it is in very good condition.

 

[sdef]

I am also in the trailer camp and have two. Trailer rental, as you mention, would be a viable option if seldom used. Around my area a trailer of the type I would need for my larger tractor is a hard rental to find, as the rental yards use them for their equipment rental. I think your bed is too short to properly chain the tractor down and have a safe ride, which is the reason I recently upgraded a 10' utility trailer to 16' length to carry a new UTV. I would also think your rig will be top heavy. YMMV.

 

[Deere Dude]

Trying to get a JD X740 garden tractor onto a high trailer which is about the same height as a 4x4 truck using ramps is scary. Slip off there is nothing to do but lay down and die under the thing. I stopped transporting my garden tractor because of that. But I have a monster gooseneck trailer for an emergency. No ramps for me.