Trailer without stake pockets

[mike35549]

See most people on here strapping tractor down using stake pockets. I have am 18' trailer that has rails and no stake pockets. I came new with 6 tie down points not really a d-rings more like a piece of steel bent in a triangle and welded to the rail. 2 on front corners 2 on rear corners and 2 just in front of wheel well. They just seem like they would not be as strong as stake holders but maybe they are. I would guess they would be rated to at least hold the weight of what the trailer is rated for. For other people that have trailers like this have you ever had any issues chaining or strapping down to these.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Can you post some pictures for us? I kind of understand what you are discribing but I don't know that it's something I have ever seen.

 

[bubbacuse77]

Easy enough to weld some on. They are only a couple bucks a piece.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I had those on my old trailer. I used them with no incident.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If they are large enough so you can get your chain hooks thru them, they should be OK. I like to drop my chain thru from the top and then bring it back up and hook it to the top of the stake pocket. I think this is the recommended way. For straps, I do a little different, just drop the hook thru and hook it at the bottom to avoid the strap being on a sharp edge. I also got 4 D rings and welded them on to the frame sides about half way between the fenders front an rear. I use these most of the time if the location is appropriate.

 

[mike35549]

Here are some pictures of them.

 

[bdog]

No way I would secure a tractor to those. They look like the were intended to secure a lawn mower or something else small with light weight ratchet straps.

 

[Citydude]

They look like tarp tie downs and not equipment tie down points.

 

[2458n]

That is the correct way. Drop hook threw and bring up and hook to the top on outside. Have hauled heavy equipment this way for years,with chain and binders.

 

[mike35549]

Those are the only tie downs on the trailer. Why would someone build a 7,000lb trailer and weld tie downs on it that are not strong enough to hold a load the trailer is rated to haul. The only other option would be to go around the rail which I don't like to do either.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I hook chain onto the trailer frame, my stake pockets have stakes in them.

 

[bdog]

Those are the only tie downs on the trailer. Why would someone build a 7,000lb trailer and weld tie downs on it that are not strong enough to hold a load the trailer is rated to haul. The only other option would be to go around the rail which I don't like to do either.

Look how tiny the welds are holding those things on. No way I would trust them. That trailer is not an equipment trailer. It has sides and is designed to hold miscellaneous stuff. Those were not built with the thought of securing a heavy tractor.

 

[mike35549]

The trailer was sold as a package with a new tractor I bought a few weeks ago. If you look on Craigslist or just search tractor packages they sale these type trailers in those packages everyday. I know in my area every dealer around sales compact tractors with these identical 7,000lb 18' trailers.

 

[bdog]

No offense meant but they find the cheapest trailers they can to go with those packages as they are targeted towards a low price point.

 

[bcp]

Weld on some D-rings.

I would also look under the trailer. The crossmembers may be 2 inch angle every 3 feet. Some of these trailers are built to carry their weight limit spread evenly, not on only 4 spots on the floor.

Bruce

 

[bdog]

Weld on some D-rings.

I would also look under the trailer. The crossmembers may be 2 inch angle every 3 feet. Some of these trailers are built to carry their weight limit spread evenly, not on only 4 spots on the floor.

Bruce

The difficulty is weld them where? Certainly not on the top rail maybe in the outer frame rail if it is heavy enough but it may be lightweight angle as well. And yes check the crossmembers. My gooseneck deckover has 3" channel iron crossmembers on 12" spacing. Keep in mind on a gooseneck deckover the crossmembers are not spanning nearly as large of a distance as they are on a normal trailer with the main frame on the outside. My crossmembers sit on the ibeams which are maybe five feet apart.

 

[mike35549]

Weld on some D-rings.

I would also look under the trailer. The crossmembers may be 2 inch angle every 3 feet. Some of these trailers are built to carry their weight limit spread evenly, not on only 4 spots on the floor.

Bruce

The cross members are what looks like 3" angle every 24". The only place you could weld drings would be on the front and back or on the rails somewhere. I didn't buy this trailer for another purpose then decide to haul a tractor on it. It was sold to me from dealer specifically to haul the tractor he sold me. They sale 100s of these around here to haul CUT's. I wish I had payed closer attention when I bought it and I would have got a 20' equipment trailer. I guess I just trusted that they were selling me the proper trailer for the tractor I got. And maybe they did but it sure don't seem like it. I am going to call the trailer manufacturer tomorrow. I am a little pissed about the whole situation at the moment.

 

[Midniteoyl]

So, how was the CUT tied down when you bought it and brought it home?

 

[bdog]

Is that a Lawrimore trailer? I found one that looked similar to yours on their website in the utility trailer section. They do make equipment trailers. A utility trailer will work in many cases to haul small tractors but you have to be careful.

 

[mike35549]

I know they just had it tied down with two straps when they delivered it how they had them hooked I don't know I wasn't there. Yes it is a Lawrimore I looked at there web site also. I know it is considered a utility trailer. And maybe that is the trailer I need for my tractor.Tractor with FEL and depending which attachment is on rear will weigh somewhere between 4,500 and 5,000 lbs. But I wish I had got a 20' equipment trailer instead. I am not a trailer expert but I did expect the people selling them to be competent and sell me the correct equipment. I do find it odd that they sell these type trailers all over the country for CUT's and this had not come up before. Maybe I am just being overly cautious. Maybe just get four straps and some axel straps hook it to the corner post on the rails and let it ride.