Trailer Loading Accident

[powerstroke444e]

We always chock the wheels but I did see a guy @ the rental yard the other day that didn't and he just about wrecked when he shoved the clutch and rolled off the trailer and the sales man came out with chocks and made sure to make an ***** out of the guy.

 

[JoelD]

Putting in 4 wheel drive is an excellent idea, I had never thought of it.

Joel

 

[Renze]

Putting in 4 wheel drive is an excellent idea, I had never thought of it.

Also if you have a manual, put it in gear. Parking brakes often dont have full hill holding capacity, so if it moves when the tractor is pushing up against the ramps, it has a little extra resistance.

At my former employer, we allways equipped 5th wheels with stands, as its not just safer but also better for the trailer frame: It gets quite a peak load when the full weight of the vehicle to be moved, is on the end of the trailer, instead of over the axles. Those trailers were allways air braked, so they have a full capacity parking brake.

 

[Scooby074]

He is so used to loading a 3 ton farm tractor on it, behind his Ford Mondeo,

3 ton tractor behind a Mondeo Estate Isnt their towing capacity something like 2000kg?

For us over here that would be like towing a tractor behind a Ford Contour, if you remember those.

But your right, alot of these runaway accidents could be prevented by the steps in your post. This happens all to frequently.

Heres an example. Unloading a Cat, took weight off the tractor's tires. Someones getting fired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmPOQkr6i-0

 

[2manyrocks]

TBN is a lifesaver. I never realized how dangerous it is to load a tractor on a trailer until I started reading the safety posts.

 

[DanD78]

Another thing NOT to do is unload your tractor off the trailer when it is not hooked to the truck. I tried this once unloading a 6k tractor off my 20' goose neck. It had kickers on the ramps but still took the front of the trailer in the air. I was on flat ground so it didn't try to roll away.

Dan

 

[kevinj]

I always put my trucks in 4 wheel drive. This way when you go in park you are now locking both the rear and front axle. That is in addition to the parking break.

Chris

You still have the potential to jack knive if the rear is lifted. There is no substitute for either chocking the wheels or setting the brakes.

 

[Renze]

3 ton tractor behind a Mondeo Estate Isnt their towing capacity something like 2000kg?

...No its about 1400kg...

Yes 2000kg is quite safe behind a Mondeo, even for the non-experienced driver. But these ratings have to do with manufacturers warranty on the drivetrain, rather than safety. You easily bust up the homokinetic joints of front wheel drive cars. Mercedes went to front wheel drive on their Vito van (2 ton GVW) because its cheaper to build, but in the 2nd generation they already went back to rear wheel drive because the 1st generation kept busting joints.

 

[Scooby074]

Renze: I dont think id be pulling a 3000kg tractor behind a car rated for 1400kg. Even with trailer brakes id still be worried. Our f150 which is considerably heavier than a Mondeo, with a much higher towing rating, behaves noticeably different when towing around a b26 which is only about 5500 lbs (2500kg) including trailer.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Ive had runaways before like this, especially with my 12000 pound Komatsu excavator. Alot of time at the lake all the roads are on a fairly steep grade and too far to walk a machine in from flat ground. I usually place 2 oak blocks under the sides of my trailer if Im in the gooseneck. my ramps always flex out and the trailer squats lifting my drive wheels. most of the time I still have some sliding on the really steep hills even with the ties and I just walk off the dove tail to drop my trucks tires. I know a family that shares a 310 Case dozer beween them and they have a scary setup. They had a trailer my from 1 ton single wheel axles thats low to the ground with no springs and they tow it with a little Ford ranger with a flat dump. They just pull the 310 up to where the truck has enough weight and go. The dot even watch and dont say anything. Ive pulled the trailer empty with my 1 ton dodge nd it was heck to keep in control much less with a dozer on it.