Can't load my tractor!

[Jay4200]

I got a 16' 10k Hudson (non-beavertail) trailer with my used tractor ~4 years ago. Its a really nice trailer, but evidently the previous owner made a poor choice when he decided on this particular trailer model. The problem is that my tractor's backhoe frame (Kubota L4200 w/ 9' Woods backhoe) hangs low and sticks out several feet behind the tractor. The BH frame hits the ground long before the tractor can make the top of the trailer. When I originally brought the tractor home, I had to drag it off of the trailer with the backhoe, and never loaded it again. Now I have to move the tractor to a new house, so I spent all day yesterday trying to figure out a system...but failed.

I built ~5' long sub-ramps (3 stacked 2x planks) that lie on the ground behind the trailer ramps, to lift the rear tires just before the BH frame hits - which almost worked, but the frame was still low enough that it ended up hitting the sub-ramps way before the rear wheels hit the trailer ramps. I could possibly add more planks to the sub-ramps to gain additional clearance, but I don't want to go much higher primarily due to the weight as I want to keep them attached together - I'm not driving up a pile of loose planks.

I can probably put on a higher hitch, which will drop the rear end of the trailer somewhat, which would obviously help. The back of the trailer is up pretty high (close to 2') and the ramp stops are at least 6-8" off of the ground when the ramps are flopped down.

Another option (which I almost tried but chickened out) is to unhook the trailer from my truck, then drive the tractor onto the trailer. The front of the trailer would fly up in the air, the back would drop onto the ramp stops. I could probably drive the tractor right on that way, or maybe still need my sub-ramps, but I think it would probably work. I don't know how violent the dropping of the front end would be once I drove up enough to make the trailer tip, or (possibly even worse) what would happen once I pulled back off the trailer ramps when it falls back down empty. Seemed like something that would end badly, so that's why I chickened out.

I'm open for ideas.

JayC

 

[beenthere]

Can you find a sloped bank where you can back the trailer into, that will take out some of the sharpness of that angle giving you fits?

Or find a place to dig holes to back the trailer wheels into, that would do a similar thing for loading?

 

[Jay4200]

Can you find a sloped bank where you can back the trailer into, that will take out some of the sharpness of that angle giving you fits?

Or find a place to dig holes to back the trailer wheels into, that would do a similar thing for loading?

Tried it. That's how I got it off in the first place, but it still dug a hole. I'm looking for a solution that will allow me to load/unload easily, so I can start doing some mobile projects.

Basically, the wheels are ~6' apart. The backhoe frame sticks out ~3'. As a result, the back end drops half the distance the front goes up. When the front wheels are going the 2' up the ramps, the back of the BH frame has to drop a foot. Unfortunately, it sits about 6" off of the ground (ignore the collapsed tent - I've had better days):

JayC

 

[manganos]

Have you tried to "back" up into the trailer. Sometimes the departure angle is just enough off to get you off and on.

 

[Steve C]

I got a 16' 10k Hudson (non-beavertail) trailer with my used tractor ~4 years ago. Its a really nice trailer, but evidently the previous owner made a poor choice when he decided on this particular trailer model. The problem is that my tractor's backhoe frame (Kubota L4200 w/ 9' Woods backhoe) hangs low and sticks out several feet behind the tractor. The BH frame hits the ground long before the tractor can make the top of the trailer. When I originally brought the tractor home, I had to drag it off of the trailer with the backhoe, and never loaded it again. Now I have to move the tractor to a new house, so I spent all day yesterday trying to figure out a system...but failed.

I built ~5' long sub-ramps (3 stacked 2x planks) that lie on the ground behind the trailer ramps, to lift the rear tires just before the BH frame hits - which almost worked, but the frame was still low enough that it ended up hitting the sub-ramps way before the rear wheels hit the trailer ramps. I could possibly add more planks to the sub-ramps to gain additional clearance, but I don't want to go much higher primarily due to the weight as I want to keep them attached together - I'm not driving up a pile of loose planks.

I can probably put on a higher hitch, which will drop the rear end of the trailer somewhat, which would obviously help. The back of the trailer is up pretty high (close to 2') and the ramp stops are at least 6-8" off of the ground when the ramps are flopped down.

Another option (which I almost tried but chickened out) is to unhook the trailer from my truck, then drive the tractor onto the trailer. The front of the trailer would fly up in the air, the back would drop onto the ramp stops. I could probably drive the tractor right on that way, or maybe still need my sub-ramps, but I think it would probably work. I don't know how violent the dropping of the front end would be once I drove up enough to make the trailer tip, or (possibly even worse) what would happen once I pulled back off the trailer ramps when it falls back down empty. Seemed like something that would end badly, so that's why I chickened out.

I'm open for ideas.

JayC

Does the trailer have a ball couplet or a pintle hitch ring?

 

[beenthere]

Appears those small turf tires might be the problem.
For a hoe, seems Industrial tires and larger diameter would be better for the weight of the hoe and for getting more height to the hoe. Just a thought.

Hope that snow wasn't this week.

 

[zzvyb6]

There are some videos on Youtube showing an operator raising the rear of the tractor up with the backhoe once the front loader and front tires are on the trailer. Then use the controls to push the unit forward onto the trailer. Unload the same way.

 

[teg]

Got a photo of the back of the trailer? actually, truck and trailer would help too. We had a cotton picker that was hard to load with short ramps. We made a longer ramp by using 4x4's about 4 feet long, and set the regular ramps on top of it.

How much $$$ you want to throw at this? could you modify the trailer and put a short beavertail on it?

 

[radioman]

Since you have 4 wheel drive, how about this expensive option? - build wheels to replace the skid shoes on your out riggers and drive drive on with front wheel pulling you until the back tires touch the ramps. Then you can raise the outriggers and drive the rest of the way.

 

[mattman]

One thing I can tell you is that you don't want to try to drive onto the trailer without it being hooked to the truck. There is no telling where you will end up trying that.

I would keep building up the ramps until you get the tractor high enough to climb on up the trailer.