Moving a cargo container

   / Moving a cargo container #1  

avorancher

Silver Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Messages
215
Location
Deluz, CA
Tractor
Kubota B7800, RTV900
Waiting for my B7800 to come next week (new to tractoring). Any ideas on how I can slide, pull, or drag an 8x20x8 steel cargo container about 1000 feet on a smooth dirt road. Tare weight is 5225 lbs, fairly smooth bottom. I'm not sure if the little Kubota is up to the task, especially during the break-in period. My Tacoma 4wd pickup moved it about 12 inches before breaking traction (no weight in it and no lifting force applied).
 
   / Moving a cargo container #2  
Get your local towing company to pull it onto one of their rollback trucks......Most towing outfits have super duty flatbed low profile trucks these days and 5000# is very do-able on one of those. If you were in ohio and local I'd do it for less than $75 on my truck........as long as the road was decent it should be a cake job for someone with a proper truck...........TOM
 
   / Moving a cargo container #3  
I have seen the rollbacks move them and that is the way I would go as well. Not worth the effort and wear and tear on the road and my 1 ton truck to lug this thing for 1000 ft.

If I only had say 100 ft. to go I would jack the container up and roll it on top of the 8 telephone poles that I have in my yard (waiting for pole barn). But 1000 ft. would take forever swapping the poles and pulling with the truck.
 
   / Moving a cargo container
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Rollback was the way it was delivered. They had to drop it where it is because they couldn't negotiate a couple tight turns. The truck nearly tipped over once and the driver turned white and asked if he could just drop it as far as he could safely get. I had to agree after seeing how top-heavy things looked.

I'd rather keep it low. The drive where is it sitting is smooth and wide, but where I actually want to evidently get to is not so easy.

I've been thinking about 8 metal pipes and doing the pyramid thing using the tractor.
 
   / Moving a cargo container #5  
Like I said I'd do with the poles, the pipes will work. The down side is it is going to be SLOOOOOOOW.

good luck!
 
   / Moving a cargo container #7  
I'll still go with the tow company idea but suggest something a bit bigger. Get hold of a heavy duty towing and recovery outfit. These are the boys who pull rolled semi's up mountainsides after they failed to negotiate a turn and right things like tipped fire trucks. Moving your 5200 pound box would be a piece of cake for them and they can probably put it exactly where you want it with an extendable boom.

If I were you I'd make sure I emphasized that I want them to do this as "fill" work and don't really care when it's done so as to avoid as many charges as possible.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
   / Moving a cargo container
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Thanks for the tip about avoiding extra charges. I'll check out some local big-rig towing companies.

This winter, I'll have a dozer up here to push in another road and I can have them drag it to where I want it. In the shorter term, I just need to get it off my drive.
 
   / Moving a cargo container #9  
I have a couple of those containers. Run an axle thru the forklift openings on the side of the container and installed the tires. Make a tongue on the front of the container and pull it slowly with your tractor. The axle can be a heavy duty pipe with spacers to keep the tires from rubbing the container. Boat trailer tires will work. In other words, make it like a trailer.
 
   / Moving a cargo container #10  
1. Use the Tacoma, locker in 4wd low and pull in reverse.
2. Jack up the container, roll a log/utility pole underneath and drag it unil you reach the end and repeat the process, and you can do this with the Tacoma or tractor.
 
 
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