Unloading hangup (literally)

Propjob · May 31, 2009

Hi all:
Has any one experienced your attachments scraping the ground when unloading your tractor from your trailer? My 2305 with IMatch and Ballast box hits the ground when unloading from my Big Tex trailer. The ramps that are provided are approximately 4 ft. I've raised the front of the trailer to decrease the angle but this doesn't help. I cannot get longer ramps. I've thought of making a wooden runout from the ramp, but would rather not carry extra stuff when I use the trailer. Any ideas or thoughts??
JIM

bigtiller · May 31, 2009

Shorten the top link. If that doesn't work then buy a top link that is 4 inches shorter than the one you have now. That is what I did, the one that came with my 2305 has been laying on the shelf since it was new.

Redbug · May 31, 2009

I am not familiar with your tractor model, but mine did the same thing with some of the implements dragging. Even after shortening the top link. On my tractor, the lower lift arms have several holes, (positions), with which to adjust the arm heights. If you re-pin to one of the holes closer in to the tractor, your arms will lift higher and also drop lower. That's what I did.

sandman2234 · May 31, 2009

Another way would be to add a short block of maybe 3 inches to the rear of the ramp, such as bolting a pair of two by fours as a landing pad for the ramp. Unless your talking about a tractor with a belly mower, it shouldn't effect your loading at all, and will give you a little longer ramp effect, which is what you need. Just make sure you don't over do it to a point where the tractor won't climb the step in the ramp. I can use railroad cross tie pieces for my tractor and it not affect things, but all situations are different.
David from jax

WantedWolf · May 31, 2009

My backfill blade hits the ramps every time loading or unloading.

I know you said you dont want to carry extras but wood would be the quickest, easiest, cheepest solution.

I place a 4' length of 4x6 timber with a slight angle cut on the one end, under each ramp, thats all it takes for me but I still only clear by an Inch.

Renze · Jun 2, 2009

when i read the title, "unloading hangup" i thought you meant something like my brother has when loading his tractor on a car hauler without jackstands at the back: the tractor on the back, will make the trailer lift the rear wheels of his Mondeo about a foot off the ground...

LBrown59 · Jun 2, 2009

Renze said:
when i read the title, "unloading hangup" i thought you meant something like my brother has when loading his tractor on a car hauler without jackstands at the back: the tractor on the back, will make the trailer lift the rear wheels of his Mondeo about a foot off the ground...

What is a Mondeo ?

WantedWolf · Jun 2, 2009

LBrown59 said:
What is a Mondeo ?

Mitsubishi SUV ? I thought but google says it is a ford car .

Diamondpilot · Jun 2, 2009

Yep, its a European Ford Car. About Taurus sized or even a little smaller.

Chris

WantedWolf · Jun 2, 2009

I thought about it for the last 3 hours, And hoped it was a misspelled Montero. I guess when I hear tractor I first think big. Big or small I would love to see pictures of that ford car pulling more then a lawn mower.

mjncad · Jun 3, 2009

Mondeo was a Ford, Montero was a Mitsu.

pat32rf · Jun 9, 2009

I have the same problem when I have the hoe on my JD4300. If the marks of the hoe frame are going to be a problem (pavement)I just throw a couple of 6x6 blocks under the rear of the ramp. If I am loading in a gravel driveway I just engage 4wd and let it drag.
If I'm loading a car or van which sits lower than the tractor then I use a couple of 2x10s to extend the ramps and lower the angle off the trailer.
Where possible I also park with the trailer axles in a dip or the rear axle of the truck on a hump..

Propjob · Jun 28, 2009

Thanks for your ideas. I'm sorry I have been out of touch for a bit. I am going to lift the ends of the ramps with some blocking. I have cut a 2 X12 , 38 " long and will place (2) 2X6's sideways at the end where the ramp sits. This was suggested in an earlier post I found. ========================

Howdy Propjob,

... The first few times, I noticed even when attempting to load on level ground that my ramp angle was just too deep. Instead of having extra iron to stiffen ramps. I made a couple of three inch spacer platforms to raise bottom of ramps. This worked perfectly to decrease angle height and reduce the angle making loading a breeze.

Also, I happen to load by backing the tractor aboard and driving forward off trailer. I don't know of any advantages or disadvantages to doing the opposite.

Good luck .

rimshot I am going to cut the 2X6's 18" and bolt to the top of the 2X 12 to widen that end and give a 3" lift. My ramps are 15" wide. If you have any follow ups to Rimshots suggestion or PIC's please send along.

JIM

rimshot · Jul 12, 2009

Propjob,

Sorry for the delay but I finally got some pictures. Basically, as the tractor backs up onto the ramp bases and rises 3" before the tires make contact with the ramp. As you can see by the photos, they are very simple. They are belted right down on the trailer so that when I need thm they are right there safe and sound. I need them every time I load or unload. All we are accomplishing here is to raise the bottom of the ramps 3" and this did the trick so my Kioti CK20 with loader and backhoe can go up or down the trailer ramps w/o digging in or scraping bottom. A person could even add another layer of 2 x 6 blocks to raise et even more

rimshot

Propjob · Jul 12, 2009

Thanks for the posts. Your pic's explain a lot. I did build this with a long 2X12 and the corresponding 2X6 overhangs. I see you added additional support to the sides with 2X4's which make perfect sense . I plan to add a piece of metal where the ramp sits on the skid. Thanks for your response back !!!!
JIM

PS I'll posts pic's when i have it squared!!

Oldmax · Jul 16, 2009

You might try jacking the front of trailer up while loading. But first of all the 4' ramps will have to go and get yourself a set of 5' or longer ramps. I have a set of 5' ramps and I have no trouble loading the tractor but a car is a different story. I still have to jack the front of trailer as high as it will go to load a car.