Garden tractor flip

john4nh · Sep 15, 2002

Yesterday while unloading my Sears Garden Tractor from the back of my truck, which I have done several times. Let me first say I was using a pair of 2x12 for ramps. My truck is a 4x4 dually kinda high up. I was backing up and I think I had the back wheels going down the ramp when the deck hit and somehow knocked the ramps off. Well it went straight down with the front pointing towards the sky, then came back on top of me. I was able to somehow hold it off me and get my foot on the hood and push it off me. My son (10) help balance it while I slid out of there. I lowered it back down and sems like the only thing hurt was me and my pride. I was kinda POed so I just told my son to put it up and I havent really looked at it.

I guess Iam probally the only cheapskate that doesnt have good ramps but I will now. Thought Id share this learning experience with you all.

GaryM · Sep 15, 2002

Glad that you're alright. Good idea to get the ramps. I see some that have a way to ensure that they stay in place. Either a cabbe that's attached to the truck, or perhaps a pin that drops into a hole in the bed or tailgate.

cstocks · Sep 16, 2002

Glad to hear you are okay. Your guardian angel was sure there looking out for you, John. You say you were hurt... how bad? You are fortunate that you did not break your neck or your back! I'd say a good set of ramps would be a cheap investment compared to being permanently disabled!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

wroughtn_harv · Sep 16, 2002

Glad you're okay John.

Yesterday I watched some professionals on tv do a no no that gets people in trouble every day. They'd installed a Gale Banks kit on a new Ford diesel and to prove how strong it was they hooked up to a skid steer trailer and then loaded the bobcat on it. You always back a skid steer up on a trailer because it is butt heavy and wants to go over backwards when going up an incline.

They drove it up the ramps. Of course we didn't see them back off. It might show up later in one of those blip shows where they show what really happens.

For your garden tractor you might consider what I made for a bud. It's a piece of tubing that inserts into his reciever. Welded to that is a piece that goes off to the side and has a drop leg that goes to the ground and is pinned. There is a piece of pipe welded to the tubing and drop leg. This is the sleeve for a cherry picker frame.

He can load his four hundred pound welder all by himself easy as pie. He picks up the welder with the cherry picker behind the truck. He then swings the assembly around because it pivots in the pipe sleeve. When it's over the truck bed he releases the hydraulic jack and it's a done deal.

What makes it work so well is the weight is picked up by the drop leg. The reciever picks up the torsional forces. All bud has to do is jack it up and ...........

john4nh · Sep 16, 2002

Hurt besides pride, I think I pulled a groin muscle when I turned into stretch man to get my foot on the hood. My back is a little sore but its hurt alot worse. Definitely getting ramps, going right now to Sams. I really ought to get a small trailer, that is why I havent bought the ramps. But Iam not waiting any longer Ill get the ramps now.

Steelfan · Sep 16, 2002

Hi John,

I'm glad that you are alright. I've had two experinces with Garden Tractor flipping over. Both times I was going uphill, and the incline was too much for the tractor. Luckily both times, I stopped the tractor from roll back on me by jumping off the back. I can definitely see the danger in putting a tractor on a pickup. Even certain kinds of ramps will kick out. A trailer is a great investment if you need to move your tractor often. Good Luck, I hope you feel better.

Kent

Soundguy · Sep 16, 2002

Reminds me when I bought and picked up my first tractor, a Yanmar 1700. I'm guessing about 1800 pounds.. not real sure.. but is close. I had a ford ranger, and borrowed a buddies home made single axle trailer ( made from a truck axle.. so axle was strong enough for the load ).

Anyway.. we had no ramps.. but had a few pieces of 2x6, we set them up to be short as possible. Front wheels went up fine, rears started going up, and the 'ramp' on the left gave way. The tractor was right at that point where the rear tire was almost over the trailer. Felt real weird and tipy. From the ground, it looked ok, and there was no real danger.. but felt bad. Anyway, thank goodness it had the heavy paddle style ag tires, as one of the paddles grabbed the trailer, and pulled the tractor right upoon it.

I pulled it home... no trailer breaks.. won't be doing that again.

Unloading was even funnier... no ramps now.. so we back the trailer up to the ditch in front of the house to even it out, and just backed the tractor off. Only like a 4" drop.. again.. felt worse than it was.

Got rid of the truck a few weeks later and got a real truck,a nd a real trailer, with brakes, etc.

Soundguy

Thomas · Sep 16, 2002

Whew..that was close and glad your okay!!

I always look for a bank to load and unload our riding mower,and if no luck 2"x10" ramps and I let the tractor crawl slowly as I walk beside it while loading or unloading.

Again..glad you came out okay.

john4nh · Sep 16, 2002

Well Sams doesnt have ramps so looks like Ill go to the Massey dealer they have them for 175.

Thanks for all the well wishes, it certainly could have been worse. Just hope by sharing this it will cause someone else from doing this who may not be as lucky. I have been having a bad couple of weeks with my truck, the land we purchased and now this stupid lawn mower... I hope this is it!!!!

beenthere · Sep 16, 2002

Speaking of Sams and trailers, have you seen the trailers that Sam's are selling? I noticed them recently and they are very versitile (sp?) looking trailers, and at a good price too ($600 - 700, I think). Metal sides, wood floor, tilt bed, removable sides and ends, 12" tires, (about all I remember right now). I think they are 4x8 beds.
The idea of backing the bobcat onto a trailer would be good idea for you too, that is back the garden tractor up the ramps, and drive off frontwards. Latching the ramps (seems your 2 x 12's would be as good as anything) so they cannot slip off would have solved your flip problem.