Redlands Okie
Veteran Member
Nice work
40' container trailer axle placement
- Thread starter Loonshotfarm
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sandman2234
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2005
- Messages
- 6,068
- Location
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Tractor
- JD2555 and a few Allis Chalmers and now one Kubota
A little late to this discussion...
I have a 40 foot container that I have moved 3 times over the years. First time, I borrowed a 48 foot flatbed and dragged it off with a wrecker. (wouldn't slide off, truck couldn't get traction). Second time, I used a Simplex (railroad?) jack to jack it up in the front, put reinforced wooded reels on each side and a 10" I-beam across to set the front down on, then backed a 65 foot Mobile home that I cut to 40 foot (using the extra steel to reinforce it)under it as far as it would go, then jacked up the back end. (You way is a lot easier, but I was on a extremely low budget.) When I moved it the second time, it was loaded with a lot of "stuff" so basically and unknown weight. I was concerned the mobile home tires wouldn't handle the weight, so I placed them at the rear of the trailer. Turns out, I miscalculated the tongue weight. I had a local wrecker company tow it about 50 miles for me. They hooked to it, pulled forward about 10 feet and the tongue around the ball sheared itself. The driver just grabbed the nose of the trailer with his cable and off he went. I then jacked the container up, and pulled the trailer out, then jacked it back down again. The third time, I called a wrecker company with a Landoll trailer, and they winched it up the slick deck and was on their way. I do have one thing in my favor over your containers, as mine is all aluminum. The only parts not aluminum is the two end caps.
Hindsight is 20/20... but I agreed with the poster that said raise the nose of the container enough to clear the rear of your tow vehicle. Since you have pictures now, it really wouldn't have been that much. Maybe a railroad crosstie across the trailer 10 foot back would have done it. All about the angle...
I was really surprised that the jack on your ramp would pick up the container (or did it?) It just doesn't seem to be large enough for that mechanical advantage needed to pick up that nose weight.
The mention of the overhang had me wondering. Most places allow 4 foot, but a container is a little bit of a different animal, since it supports itself. My original thoughts were to use a pole trailer with the axles chained nicely to the box. However, you managed quite well.
David from jax
I have a 40 foot container that I have moved 3 times over the years. First time, I borrowed a 48 foot flatbed and dragged it off with a wrecker. (wouldn't slide off, truck couldn't get traction). Second time, I used a Simplex (railroad?) jack to jack it up in the front, put reinforced wooded reels on each side and a 10" I-beam across to set the front down on, then backed a 65 foot Mobile home that I cut to 40 foot (using the extra steel to reinforce it)under it as far as it would go, then jacked up the back end. (You way is a lot easier, but I was on a extremely low budget.) When I moved it the second time, it was loaded with a lot of "stuff" so basically and unknown weight. I was concerned the mobile home tires wouldn't handle the weight, so I placed them at the rear of the trailer. Turns out, I miscalculated the tongue weight. I had a local wrecker company tow it about 50 miles for me. They hooked to it, pulled forward about 10 feet and the tongue around the ball sheared itself. The driver just grabbed the nose of the trailer with his cable and off he went. I then jacked the container up, and pulled the trailer out, then jacked it back down again. The third time, I called a wrecker company with a Landoll trailer, and they winched it up the slick deck and was on their way. I do have one thing in my favor over your containers, as mine is all aluminum. The only parts not aluminum is the two end caps.
Hindsight is 20/20... but I agreed with the poster that said raise the nose of the container enough to clear the rear of your tow vehicle. Since you have pictures now, it really wouldn't have been that much. Maybe a railroad crosstie across the trailer 10 foot back would have done it. All about the angle...
I was really surprised that the jack on your ramp would pick up the container (or did it?) It just doesn't seem to be large enough for that mechanical advantage needed to pick up that nose weight.
The mention of the overhang had me wondering. Most places allow 4 foot, but a container is a little bit of a different animal, since it supports itself. My original thoughts were to use a pole trailer with the axles chained nicely to the box. However, you managed quite well.
David from jax
