Towing a tractor with the loader up

queen of spades · Jul 15, 2008

One of the trailer dealers said that I could lift my bucket a foot to make extra room in the front. I've seen the utility companies haul their tractors this way once in a while. But is it safe to drive with the loader up one or two feet in the air? Same for attachments in the back - is it safe to leave them up?

Eagleview · Jul 15, 2008

It's better to have the implements lowered to stop the tractor moving around on the tyres . I have just bought another truck to carry my tractor on , it is shorter than my previous truck . The tractor was very stable on the first truck as the tray was long enough to have the loader on the deck . This new truck has a shorter deck so i have to travel with the bucket over the cab . It's white knuckle driving all the way as the tractor sways on the front axle pivot and squirms around on the back tyres . I'm going to try using 2 straps on the top heavy loader to stop it influencing the tractor on corners . My example is exagerated compared to yours but given the size of your setup to mine may give similar handling issues .

RollTideRam · Jul 15, 2008

I have done it when I had a 14' trailer and needed to take my bush hog. I don't prefer to do it. I actually had the bucket about 6' up because it would slowly leak down and I did not want it hit my truck on the 8 mile trip. JC

Soundguy · Jul 17, 2008

To the original poster, Are you talking about having.. say.. a box blade set at the front of the trailer an dthe loder bucket 'up' resting on the box? Or perhaps having the bucket resting on the front toungue of the trailer? or just 'up'.

Just 'up' and free floating would be my last choice of the three... especially since it is against DOT rules..

soundguy

KeithInSpace · Jul 17, 2008

I had to do a variety of things to make my Kubota BX with FEL and BH attached on my 5' x 10' trailer I previously owned. Among them was having the BH and FEL bucket "drape" over the stakesides and cheese-grater gate (front and rear respectively).

But I never considered having the FEL bucket hover in the air...it was strapped to the stakeside, for whatever good that did. And the BH was pinned up. It will eventually bleed down and you have to make sure it is still safe once that occurs. If it is, put it there from the get-go.

If you're talking about resting the FEL bucket on the rail instead of the deck, I don't think that's a problem. I'd strap or chain it down, though.