Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[BigBlue1]

I was entertained by the three stooges this afternoon.

The 18 year old forklift "operator" punctured about every bag on that side of the pallet, they crushed a second pallet trying to push the first forward, and completely mangled the ramp-gate by accidentally driving the forklift on it.

When I left they appeared to be preparing to leave with the pallet where you see it.

View attachment 523147

What's that axle rated for?

Looks like a farm store or nursery type place. All they would have had to do was walk inside and buy a couple rake handles or dowels or closet poles and they could have easily solved the problem of how to roll the pallet forward. I've used small sections of closet pole to easily roll a 1100# safe around several times in the past. Work smarter, not harder.

Rob

 

[BigBlue1]

Were they folding ramps, is that why they were even there?

I believe he said 'ramp gate'. Those are usually bolted on. Not always easy to get them out of the way.

Rob

 

[Capricious]

I believe he said 'ramp gate'. Those are usually bolted on. Not always easy to get them out of the way.

Rob

The gate on my single axle 3500 lb utility trailer can be removed by sliding it to the side, off the hinge pins. Heavy but doable by one person.

I remove it all the time, as the ramp is not that strong, and I use a pair of ramps I welded up when hauling the "big" (1400 lbs) tractor.



EDITED TO ADD: If you buy a trailer with a gate that slides to one side to remove it, either tell the trailer builder to make one hinge pin longer
than the other, or (if the pins are long enough) cut one off just a bit shorter than the other. It is a whole lot easier to put the gate back on if
you only have to line up one pin at a time. Trying the line up both pins simultaneously while holding the gate by yourself is a pain.

 

[BigBlue1]

The gate on my single axle 3500 lb utility trailer can be removed by sliding it to the side, off the hinge pins. Heavy but doable by one person.

I remove it all the time, as the ramp is not that strong, and I use a pair of ramps I welded up when hauling the "big" (1400 lbs) tractor.



EDITED TO ADD: If you buy a trailer with a gate that slides to one side to remove it, either tell the trailer builder to make one hinge pin longer
than the other, or (if the pins are long enough) cut one off just a bit shorter than the other. It is a whole lot easier to put the gate back on if
you only have to line up one pin at a time. Trying the line up both pins simultaneously while holding the gate by yourself is a pain.

Well sure, I'm sure some are easily removed. But most are not, hence my answer to the other post about why it was likely "even on there".

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If the ramps weren't removable, surprised they even tried to load with the forklift.

 

[flyerdan]

A word about rolling pallets, most of them will have three stringers holding the side rails together on the bottom, so it wouldn't roll far before hitting the stops. If it's a 4 way wooden one, it can be loaded the hard way and the stringers will be aligned correctly for rollers. Plastic pallets lend themselves to rolling, as they are flat bottomed (at least the ones I have are).
Another option for a trailer with a rail is to stack up empty pallets to just above rail height so it can be side loaded, if it won't create a cg that is unsafe. Perhaps the best way to deal with this, if it's encountered a lot, would be to get a couple of those heavy ratchet straps that can be used to sling the pallet in from the side. Of course you'd need an operator that knew what they were doing and a store policy that allowed deviation from the normal loading practices.

 

[Capricious]

Well sure, I'm sure some are easily removed. But most are not, hence my answer to the other post about why it was likely "even on there".

Well, if they are "bolted on" as you mentioned, then they are removable (like bolted-on fenders on a car hauler are considered removable).

If the gate has welded on "opposed" hinges like some (most?) Carry On brand, then you have to cut off one hinge and turn it around and weld it back to make the gate removable.
So, not easily removable.

Of course, regardless of how the gate is attached, running a forklift up on it will "remove" a light-duty mesh gate !

 

[BigBlue1]

Well, if they are "bolted on" as you mentioned, then they are removable (like bolted-on fenders on a car hauler are considered removable).

If the gate has welded on "opposed" hinges like some (most?) Carry On brand, then you have to cut off one hinge and turn it around and weld it back to make the gate removable.
So, not easily removable.

Of course, regardless of how the gate is attached, running a forklift up on it will "remove" a light-duty mesh gate !

Does everything said here have to be nit-picked and contradicted?? Geez.

Yes, it likely _could_ have been removed. The fact that ramp gates are usually bolted on is why it likely wasn't removed. I said "not easily removed". Possible, perhaps, but not simple. Most people aren't going to think of that before they leave for the store and most people don't carry the tools along they would need to remove it at the store when they realize the problem. Yes, there probably are a dozen different things they could have done to deal with the ramp, but I was simply pointing out that the ramp here wasn't one of those drop on/lift off ones that are easy to avoid.

On to the next thing I've said wrong, please...

 

[Capricious]

Does everything said here have to be nit-picked and contradicted?? Geez.

Yes, it likely _could_ have been removed. The fact that ramp gates are usually bolted on is why it likely wasn't removed. I said "not easily removed". Possible, perhaps, but not simple. Most people aren't going to think of that before they leave for the store and most people don't carry the tools along they would need to remove it at the store when they realize the problem. Yes, there probably are a dozen different things they could have done to deal with the ramp, but I was simply pointing out that the ramp here wasn't one of those drop on/lift off ones that are easy to avoid.

On to the next thing I've said wrong, please...

Excuse me for ruffling your feathers

 

[hawkeye08]

I doubt that the customer had a forklift to unload it, so the best thing to do would be to unload the pallet, stacking such to properly distribute weight on trailer and tie it down. If spread out, lower center of gravity, much safer to haul. Might even be able to get forklift guy to come in from side and then you would not have to carry as far to load front. Have the forklift move several times to make it even easier..

We were hauling pellets home for our heating stove and were using pickup. The forklift guy was trying to push the pallet forward with the forks and starting to tear things up. I stopped him and said, just fetch second pallet of pellets and use it to push first one forward. It worked just fine (tailgate out of the way). He had not looked at invoice close enough to see we were getting two pallets.