This Trailer is Overkill?

[Scooby074]

Folks are making a lot of "assumptions" here that may . . . or may not . . . be close to right.:laughing: I know government organizations waste a lot of money, but then a lot of other companies do, too. I think it would be interesting if the OP asked the proper city department why they have that particular kind of trailer. Sure, they could use a cheaper trailer for the ZTR, but if they have to have that kind of trailer for some other piece of equipment, why not a dual use instead of also buying a cheaper trailer for the ZTR?

adapting this style of trailer isnt a bad thing, it could very well be dual use. Yes most contractors dont use them... BUT thats because they are cheap.

These trailers are safer. Alot of large companies spare no expense when it comes to things like this that increase safety.... AND more importantly pay dividends when it comes time to renew their workers comp insurance.

Take companies that use ATVs as part of their work. Like Hydro and pipeline companies.

Where you and I might use a plank or even a trifold ramp, they have ones that are permanently attached to the truck and fold out. They are 4' wide and take the place of the tailgate.

Where a plank is free and a aluminum trifold is $300 these are $1000... But theyre safer. Ive kicked out a trifold (with safety ratchet straps no less) and ended up with a sit-on lawnmower on top of me and hurt my back pretty bad. If i did this on the job i probably would have been off. How much would that have cost the company, more than the $700 difference between the ramps for sure. A permanently attached ramp would have prevented this accident... but at a higher initial cost than the trifold. The same principal applies to the drop deck trailer. People have been killed and severely injured loading machines into the back of trucks and trailers due to ramp failure or slipping off a wet ramp.

 

[Don87]

adapting this style of trailer isnt a bad thing, it could very well be dual use. Yes most contractors dont use them... BUT thats because they are cheap.

These trailers are safer. Alot of large companies spare no expense when it comes to things like this that increase safety.... AND more importantly pay dividends when it comes time to renew their workers comp insurance.

Take companies that use ATVs as part of their work. Like Hydro and pipeline companies.

Where you and I might use a plank or even a trifold ramp, they have ones that are permanently attached to the truck and fold out. They are 4' wide and take the place of the tailgate.

Where a plank is free and a aluminum trifold is $300 these are $1000... But theyre safer. Ive kicked out a trifold (with safety ratchet straps no less) and ended up with a sit-on lawnmower on top of me and hurt my back pretty bad. If i did this on the job i probably would have been off. How much would that have cost the company, more than the $700 difference between the ramps for sure. A permanently attached ramp would have prevented this accident... but at a higher initial cost than the trifold. The same principal applies to the drop deck trailer. People have been killed and severely injured loading machines into the back of trucks and trailers due to ramp failure or slipping off a wet ramp.

I've got to ask.............


How?

I purchased a tri-fold ladder ramp at TSC, I've loaded the 4 wheelers on my pickup numerous times......and I've never had a moments problem. The straps hold securely.

 

[Scooby074]

I've got to ask.............


How?

I purchased a tri-fold ladder ramp at TSC, I've loaded the 4 wheelers on my pickup numerous times......and I've never had a moments problem. The straps hold securely.

Ive also loaded 100's of times.. Just one of those moments. Deck hung on the lip of the tailgate, wheels kicked the ramp out.

The ramp was still hanging from the still attached straps as the lawmower layed on my chest.

As best as i can figure the straps stretched under the force of the wheels when the deck hung or were a hair too loose to begin with.

Just goes to show how fast it can happen, even to someone that's experienced. It also shows why companies adopt safer alternatives when presented. This particular accident would have been impossible with a drop deck.

 

[Don87]

Spotted a new addition to our local municipality. They are using this JLG drop deck to transport a small (48-54") zero turn mower. I am pretty sure that these run around $10K. None of the private lawn service companies have anything like this so I assume that it is being used as dual purpose trailer?

Chances are that it was specifically purchased for the zero turn tractor.

And I'll end the discussion at that because of what I know about government waste at ALL levels(from personal experience)

EDIT: Maybe I won't.

An operator can take the zero turn off the top of a tractor-trailer........and never have an incident. But with the way the laws are...............government agencies must hire most any schmuck that can provide an address..................Theres the problem!

 

[ray66v]

If the guy who bought this trailer was using his own money, he would not have bought it.

The proof is in the lack of landscapers who use them.

 

[Scooby074]

The proof is in the lack of landscapers who use them.

Sort of.

Landscapers dont use them because they "take the chance" that nothing will happen and pocket the extra $5000 the drop deck would cost over a conventional.

If you could find a landscaper injured in a trailer accident, laid up and losing clients, ask him if he would then spend the extra $5k to not be in that predicament. Not to mention his hospital bills.

Just because some landscapers dont use them (some actually do, have a look on lawnsite) doesnt mean they arent a safer alternative

 

[Bird]

If the guy who bought this trailer was using his own money, he would not have bought it.

The proof is in the lack of landscapers who use them.

Of course it actually doesn't prove anything. Landscapers buy the kind of trailer they need for their job and/or what they can afford. But we don't know what the city needed that kind of trailer for, whether they needed it at all, or what else it might be used for.

 

[Will_C]

I don't know about the particulars in the case mentioned, but I feel silly sometimes hauling my ZTR or an ATV on a 7k 18' tandem axle trailer-but that's the trailer I need for my tractor. It would nice to have a smaller trailer for those lighter uses, but not nice enough to spend the money for one-at least on my budget.

My brother hauls all sorts of things-like his Kubota L, lawn tractor, etc.- on a 22' 20 ton trailer-but that's what he needs for his excavating business, and he does not want to spend the money on a lighter trailer .

Will

 

[clemsonfor]

Folks are making a lot of "assumptions" here that may . . . or may not . . . be close to right.:laughing: I know government organizations waste a lot of money, but then a lot of other companies do, too. I think it would be interesting if the OP asked the proper city department why they have that particular kind of trailer. Sure, they could use a cheaper trailer for the ZTR, but if they have to have that kind of trailer for some other piece of equipment, why not a dual use instead of also buying a cheaper trailer for the ZTR?

You your self hit the nail on the head. If it is dual purposed great for them and there doing the right thing. But because big conpanies waste money thats not a good priactice for any government. A big company makes money for itself its their own money. A government does not make money there run off tax dollars and thats all our money that there "wasting". This is the reason waste gets on peoples nerves for the government watchers and naysayers.

Yes if you own stock in a company you own some micro part of it and profit and profit sharing through dividends or increased stock value would be realized if they did not waste as much money and posted larger gains, BUT you have a choice you can opt out and sell your stock in it if your pissed about mismanagement and money mismanagement. Try and opt out financially from the city or feds by not paying your taxes and see how that goes for you.

 

[Bird]

I don't know about the particulars in the case mentioned, but I feel silly sometimes hauling my ZTR or an ATV on a 7k 18' tandem axle trailer-but that's the trailer I need for my tractor. It would nice to have a smaller trailer for those lighter uses, but not nice enough to spend the money for one-at least on my budget.

My brother hauls all sorts of things-like his Kubota L, lawn tractor, etc.- on a 22' 20 ton trailer-but that's what he needs for his excavating business, and he does not want to spend the money on a lighter trailer .

Will

This picture was NOT a government vehicle.:laughing: