Is this trailer wide enough?

[Slippy]

Just picked up this Winston trailer and it is 97" from out side of rub rail to out side of rub rail. Anyone hauled equipment this close to the edge?

 

[farmboy12]

We've hauled almost that close, and are within 6" on a machine we haul almost regularly. If you have the option not to, don't. But, if it must be done, then I wouldn't have many problems doing so. Just make sure to overkill it when you are strapping down. And make sure the pull is even to each side. Cause if you have a chain, for example, pulling to the left with much more force than that of the right, and hit a bump, your nice machine could become a nice, deadly, little speed bump for another vehicle driving on the road.


That said, you can do it, just overkill it and measure everything right. Double check EVERYTHING.

Be safe,
Kyle

 

[Slippy]

I usually just use one chain at the back pulling to both sides. I hook it through an eyelet attached to the draw bar and then come back toward the back of the trailer to get a good pull rearward and chinch in down at that point. Any other suggestions?

 

[farmboy12]

That's what we do, but since you're over a hanging off a little, I'd say maybe try for two at the back, and two at the front. Like I said, in this situation, overkill is very good. Better safe than sorry. How far are you going with it?


Kyle

 

[radioman]

if this is your only option, why not add a couple boards of 2 by 12's and put em under the tire across the deck that sticks out past the tires. The only thing I want to add is that in NYS you can legally tow anything 8ft and under without wide load permits. not sure whats dot rules in your state.

 

[dave1949]

That said, you can do it, just overkill it and measure everything right. Double check EVERYTHING.

Be safe,
Kyle

I would add - then double check it again 10 miles down the road after your load has settled.

Dave.

 

[Slippy]

I only need to take it about 30 miles. I always check and double check the load. If I use two chains, would I run them from both sides of the axle? I never really liked that because it is pulling two different directions.

 

[Pops15]

I have a piece of equipment that is as wide as my flatbed trailer. I use 2 chains in front and 2 chains in back and I cinch them really tight. I run the chains diagonally so the equipment can't move sideways. If you run your chains lengthwise it would be much easier for your tractor to bounce off the trailer.

 

[LoneCowboy]

the widest you can go legally (feds) is 102 inches (8.5 feet) (some states are narrower)

you're only missing 5 inches from max.

I'm confused, the issue isn't that your trailer is too narrow (or you fat fingered the width), the issue is that your tractor is too wide.

BTW, you can only stick over 2" over the side of your trailer legally.

 

[Slippy]

Actually, the tractor is not hanging over the outside of the rub rail. What I thought about doing was welding some flat bar from the edge of the trailer to the outside of the rub rail. It would have the stake pockets below to provide additional support. I could even make the traile 102" which is the largest made trailer. I understand that is the width of most semi trailers. It is a little nerving loading and unloading. As you can guess, I go really slow and only on dry days.