Transporting with the loader in the air

[RayCo]

Yesterday while driving down a road, I saw someone transporting an L series Kubota tractor on a trailer. The tractor had no implement on the back and a loader up front. The loader was up in the air as high as it could go. Is it just me, or does this seem like a very insane way of transporting a tractor for many reasons?

 

[Bedlam]

Ive seen it done when there isn't clearance. But by he sounds of it you report that is isn't the problem. Could it have broken in that position? Ive seen people park them like that also, never made sense to me.I had a boss once who mowed on hillside with it fully raised..He claimed it was the safest way to see where he was going. He was the boss so.. couldn't argue.
But yes seems like a less that safe way to do it.

 

[brin]

I can think of many reasons I would not do that. It would be interesting to know why that person chose to transport it that way...

 

[LoneCowboy]

NOT LEGAL!!! check fmcsa

it has to be on a solid surface and it has to be chained (restrained) down unless it is mechanically pinned in place. (not just hydraulics)

 

[BruceWard]

It is not uncommon for tractors to be transported that way in Arkansas. Typically it is to balance the load on the trailer or because the tractor is too long for the trailer.

In my opinion it is dangerous. Especially when there is a hay spike sticking out over the bed of the truck.

 

[OlderToday]

Any chance since they failed to tie down the FEL, the air flow lifted it during transportation?

 

[Diamondpilot]

There is no way air could lift a loader bucket and associated mechanics's. Only excuse for this is its just another idiot on the road.

I see the guy a road over mowing all the time with his loader strait up. I would not do it, especially the road ditches like he does.

Chris

 

[dgl24087]

The most dangerous thing I have seen is a local who drives his tractor with the hay spike perfectly horizontal, at or slightly below the average height of a car's rear window.

 

[RayCo]

I had a boss once who mowed on hillside with it fully raised..He claimed it was the safest way to see where he was going. He was the boss so.. couldn't argue.

Speechless

 

[QRTRHRS]

NOT LEGAL!!! check fmcsa

it has to be on a solid surface and it has to be chained (restrained) down unless it is mechanically pinned in place. (not just hydraulics)

I don't know that I have ever seen a loader that would pin in place. A backhoe yes.

I have seen people keep the loader up to clear another piece of equipment on the trailer but not extended all the way up.

 

[mjncad]

I saw an idiot do that with the loader on the trailer going the other way on I-76 one day. I would have gotten cell phone camera pics; but I would have had to be an idiot too in order to get them while driving.

I see fools mow with the loader up as high as it will go around here quite frequently. The only time I put the loader up high is when I'm near the neighbor's vinyl 3-rail fence, then I immediately lower it when I get parallel to the fence.

I usually keep the bucket on while mowing out of laziness; but if I do mow the scary ditch out back as I call it, I like to have the bucket on, front edge up, and bucket lowered to just above ground level to add a little extra stability. I now let the county deal with their ditch since they have one of those nice Land Pride boom mounted mowers just for ditches.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. the implement should have a tie down on it..

soundguy

 

[BillP603]

I have seen a couple of times as well, ussually in a dump trailer that is too short to hold it with the loader down. The biggest risk would seem to be raising the center of gravity, espeically when the "deck" of a dump trailer is higher than the deck of an equipment trailer.

 

[Soundguy]

I'de be worried about low hanging obstacles.. like bridges!

soundguy

 

[WH401]

That idiot must be related to the idiot I saw last weekend that was transporting his Massey Ferguson, (at least a 1533 or larger tractor), in a dump trailer that was too short, and he too had the loader lifted high up in the air as he went down the road.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I too see it out here but most of the time there is a few implements stacked on a rack in front of the tractor and the loader rests on the top of the rack. Otherwise, it is a dumb idea. They usually chain the bucket to the rack.

 

[spruce Deere]

NOT LEGAL!!! check fmcsa

it has to be on a solid surface and it has to be chained (restrained) down unless it is mechanically pinned in place. (not just hydraulics)

+1 D.O.T here scalded our low-boy driver with a warning because the blade of the komatsu D-65 was not "chained' down because it was not mechanically "pinned" in place. Our low-boy driver could not hold himself back and told the D.O.T fella, Yep... its a real pain in the arse when a 12 foot, several thousand pounds of u-blade just "blows" off.....:thumbsup:

But a FEL reaching for the sky in transit DUH.... get a trailer or any transport item the right length and don't endanger yourself or more importantly, anybody other than you, or there property.

 

[mostly_gas]

In the last ten years, there have been two bridges hammered by TLB implements in the air. Caused quite a bit of damage to both bridges. Sometimes you have to wonder what is going on in the driver's head:confused2:

 

[brin]

I was behind a big Semi Truck one day going down a divided highway ...he was in one lane and I was in one next to him but I was about 200yrds behind him when he ran up under an overpass at about 60 MPH...sure did stop him quick and peeled the top of his trailer back like it was a tin can..I had to keep going due to traffic...but I'll bet from now on he pays attention to the clearance signs on the bridges and overpasses...LOL

 

[Soundguy]

what's wores is I've seen signs that were wrong due to pavement overlays.. now that ones scary to think about for sure!

soundguy