Trailer Modification

[BobRip]

I have a trailer that I use for hauling my PT and some attachments around. The main problem is that I can only haul about two attachments.

Does anyone have pictures of the attachment mounts on the PT trailer? PT's pictures do not show this well.

Also are there any suggestions on how to modify a trailer for this? I will try to attach a trailer picture tomorrow.

Is it OK for an attachment to hang over the side and past the fenders? This seems a little dangerous, but would allow a pretty easy addition of at least two attachments.

 

[Marks481]

this is a great topic. I have a 12' landscape trailer, and one PT is all it holds. I can throw a couple buckets in sideways.

A way to mount buckets and other gear on the sides would be nice.

When I moved 600 miles, I had to keep retightening the straps to keep the buckets from shifting around... those cheap $20 ratcheting straps from HD or walmart just aren't real reliable.... they nylon slides too easily in the buckle. I hit some major potholes in NJ, and started praying that I wasn't about to bounce everything off onto the street.

 

[Rivco]

It's a little hard to see from the picture...but I mounted my York rake, Mini hoe and both buckets on the trailer sides, but I kept them all within the width of the trailer..they did not extend beyond the fenders. I built a V-nose on the trailer front so I could also carry the brush mower. The trailer was a 5' x 10' before I added the v-nose.

Next time I'll buy a larger flat bed trailer so I can mount attachments on the bed instead of on top of the side rails.

 

[BobRip]

this is a great topic. I have a 12' landscape trailer, and one PT is all it holds. I can throw a couple buckets in sideways.

I agree. I don't think we have addressed this here to any great extent. So how have other people stored attachments on their trailer? Let's get some pictures and drawings.

 

[BobRip]

It's a little hard to see from the picture...but I mounted my York rake, Mini hoe and both buckets on the trailer sides, but I kept them all within the width of the trailer..they did not extend beyond the fenders. I built a V-nose on the trailer front so I could also carry the brush mower. The trailer was a 5' x 10' before I added the v-nose.

Next time I'll buy a larger flat bed trailer so I can mount attachments on the bed instead of on top of the side rails.

Thanks for the picture, but we need more. Can you get some closeups and pictures of the hold downs and mouting brackets? My trailer is similar to yours.

 

[aczlan]

those cheap $20 ratcheting straps from HD or walmart just aren't real reliable.... they nylon slides too easily in the buckle.

in my (50k+ miles of load hauling, with trucks, cars, vans and trailers) I have never had a ratcheting strap slip, so I am wondering what type of strap were you using???

here are the 3 kinds I have seen:
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Type 1: locking but non ratcheting

push to release cam, will hold relatively well as long as you don't put much of a load on it or have a bouncing load and you tie the tail end of the strap back onto itself. (Junk IMHO)
(there is a variation on this one where you pull the load tight then flip a cam (sort of like a chain load binder) and it locks)

personal experience: last year we helped a friend move 50mi, they have a 5x8 folding harbor freight special trailer that they haul their dirt bikes on, while I was following them when they had a bike on the trailer (behind their car) held on with 4 of these straps which were tied back onto themselves. after ~15 miles I could see the bike wobbling back and forth. the straps had come loose and they almost lost the bike. we stopped and a put a big strap (see Type 3) on the bike, problem solved.
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Type 2: lightweight ratcheting

this is the type I use most, I have NEVER had the strap in one of these slip if it was ratcheted more than once. (rated for #200-1k depending on the strap)
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Type 3: heavy ratcheting

I have a few of these, they are like Type 2 but heavier (rated for #10k)

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I would NEVER use a Type 1 strap for anything that could come loose, at Trugreen Landcare where I worked last summer we could not use a Type 1 on anything but a tarp, a weed eater or a gas can,
I was told that for the DOT Type 1 straps do not qualify as tiedowns, and if we were pulled over and found to be using them as tiedowns we could be ticketed for having a unsecured load just as if we didn't have anything.

HTH

Aaron Z

 

[BobRip]

Your signature comes from "Star Ship Troopers". Heinlein is my favorite author.

I use the type 3 hold down straps for my PT and would use it for attachments.

I would like to see what kind of supports people put under the attachments. I am thinking that angle iron would be good. Form a frame the size and shape of the bottom of the attachment. I am thinking that I would like to put the 4 in 1 bucket on one side and the grappling bucket on the other.
I keep my trailer on a small carport. If I could store attachments on the sides then I could possibly leave them on the trailer most of the time.

 

[3238dpw]

Well what if we all post some pics of other brands. Maybe it will spark some ideas

 

[MossRoad]

Bob.
We have an 18' dual axle car hauler. I chain the PT down because I have a tendancy to knick the web straps and cut them. When I go out "to play" I usually put the forks in the small bucket, the small bucket in the large bucket, and put that at the front of the trailer. Then I hook up my brush hog to the PT and back onto the trailer until my rear PT hitch touches the buckets. I then run a large chain from the two front tie down points on the trailer to the hitch on the PT. The chain goes over the buckets in a V pattern and pins them down. I drive forward until the tires spin, then set the brake. I chain the front down from the two rear tie down spots to a hook that I have welded onto the front of the PT. This forms a V over the brush hog. I put that one on as tight as I can, then take the brake off the tractor. I use a load binder to snug up one of the chains. This forces the tractor to roll forward or backwards and squat on the tires and tighten the other chain in the process. Reset the brake just in case and off I go.

I have thought about mounting the buckets from the side, but since the trailer is so long, I have no need, yet. If I wanted, I could put some racks over the fenders. I would put a couple lips on the rack to slip the leading edge of the bucket under, and some tie down straps to hold it in place. For the mowers, I would but some wheel wells into the trailer deck so it would not roll, and some tie down strap anchors. For the forks, you could make a rack UNDER the deck from the side so that you could just slip the forks into the rack and then secure it with a tie strap. Lots of options available. The hard part is designing the best layout so you can carry the most toys and have the most used toys being the easiest to access.

I think a Swiss Army Trailer would be the best description!

 

[Marks481]

Type 2: lightweight ratcheting

this is the type I use most, I have NEVER had the strap in one of these slip if it was ratcheted more than once. (rated for #200-1k depending on the strap)

I used a bunch of these, and frequently had them slip. I think the cheap nylon webbing was just too slick.

I have used what you showed as #3 to hold down a 3000 and 5000# boat, and have never had one budge over 7 cross country (coast to coast) trips.

Kind of disappointed in the cheap ones above; guess it pays to NOT buy cheap, especially when a 300# bucket could make mincemeat out of the car behind you one the freeway.