Hauling tractor for the first time, tell me what I'm doing wrong

[vvanders]

Moving our Ford up to the new property ~200 miles away. Drive is going to be a mix of interstate and Highway 101.

This is the first time hauling our tractor any serious distance, I *think* I've got it secured pretty well but would appreciate the wisdom of the internet on what I might be missing.

Still have to crank on the binders a bit to really tighten things down before we hit the road(and securing the loose ends on the straps). One thing I'm learning is that binder placement is a bit of an art. Straps have a bit of a twist in them and other side is identical to the left.

I originally had the rear through the hubs on the wheels but wasn't really comfortable with it. I didn't have a clevis but found an opening in the draw bar so decided to go through there.

One thing I haven't quite figured out is how to keep the ratcheting binders from working loose under vibration. Is the general approach there just pin them to the deck in a way that they can't unwind?

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Looks pretty good, I'd like a little more forward angle on the front binders but that's all. Ratchet binders don't vibrate loose, the machine will "settle in" after the initial couple miles. I usually flip the ratchet in the binders so that the handle falls to the deck and the only way to pick it up is to tighten the binder.

 

[blue9249]

Same, more angle on the front binder to make them pull against each other. Can't tell from pictures but brakes locked and tractor in gear is a good thing also. A clevis could make life easier but I have always been suspect of how they would hold in a crash. On my pulling tractors I always chain front and back and then 1 in the middle where the drawbar connects to the frame pulling straight down. Could also do that on the loader or tractor frame

 

[vvanders]

Thanks, to get a bit more angle would you just go a little further back on the frame behind the loader bracket?

Good to know on the binders, most of mine are like that where they're pinned to the deck but one is free floating a bit so wanted to know if there was any other tricks to deal with it.

Brakes and in gear for sure, agree on the clevis. Dealer mentioned using one but I'm not super comfortable attaching to something that can be removed. I had a hitch pin work loose on the top of the flail mower before so I prefer to hook on fixed things.

 

[ktm250rider]

Im no pro but i put my hooks on top of the stake pockets. Run the chain through like you have it and wrap it around to hook on the top. That way, if the binder loosens, the hook will stay on the top of the stake pocket.

 

[4570Man]

I agree with hooking the chains on the top of the stake pocket. Otherwise it's a better job than I would have done.

 

[vvanders]

Im no pro but i put my hooks on top of the stake pockets. Run the chain through like you have it and wrap it around to hook on the top. That way, if the binder loosens, the hook will stay on the top of the stake pocket.

Oh man, that's an awesome idea. Would make getting the binders and straps on easier too since I had one drop out as I was getting it hooked up the first time.

Adjusted the both fronts a bit, reversed binders on the back so they sit flush and snugged it, tractor definitely is sitting squat on the trailer now.

 

[aczlan]

Looks good to me now.

Aaron Z

 

[RichM752]

A tennis ball will prevent bugs from getting in the exhaust pipe.

 

[fried1765]

Thanks, to get a bit more angle would you just go a little further back on the frame behind the loader bracket?

Good to know on the binders, most of mine are like that where they're pinned to the deck but one is free floating a bit so wanted to know if there was any other tricks to deal with it.

Brakes and in gear for sure, agree on the clevis. Dealer mentioned using one but I'm not super comfortable attaching to something that can be removed. I had a hitch pin work loose on the top of the flail mower before so I prefer to hook on fixed things.

I haul my Ford 1920 FEL using 2" nylon ratchet straps.
My 1920 with loaded tires (WWF), weighs about 4000 lbs.
The nylon ratchet straps have a load rating higher than 5/16" chain.
I use chain, when I haul my 8000 lb. Ford 3400 TLB.

 

[AWSubie]

Before you get your binders figured out make sure you have adequate tongue weight (about 500 pounds will do). With your mower on the back it doesn't look to me that you have a lot of tongue weight. I just recently had a bad experience with sway because I got in a hurry and did not make sure I had my load forward enough.

 

[vvanders]

Before you get your binders figured out make sure you have adequate tongue weight (about 500 pounds will do). With your mower on the back it doesn't look to me that you have a lot of tongue weight. I just recently had a bad experience with sway because I got in a hurry and did not make sure I had my load forward enough.

Oh yeah, totally. Used the bathroom scale trick, I initially had it much more forward(bucket just over front edge) but was showing 800lbs+ before I backed off so I wouldn't break the scale. Assuming I measured everything right I should have ~700lbs on the tongue.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Looks pretty good. I always ratchet down the binders till the tires squat some. Non-ratchet binders I wrap the bitter end of the chain around the handle to assure it doesn't open up. General principle of tying down loads is the assure the trailer and the load are one solid mass with no movement between pieces. Always put wood dunnage between metal parts to prevent sliding; especially tracked equipment.

Ron

 

[Quickster2]

You want your chains to pull more or less straight out of the pocket. As others have said drop the hook into the pocket and come up one side or the other to hook into the top of the pocket. That way you will most likely never lose contact between the chain hook and the pocket. Truck and Tow website is a good resource and has many accessories to make your trips safer.

 

[bigtiller]

Your nylon straps need some attention. If they are touching anything, they will chafe and it won't take long for them to fail. You can protect the problem area with heavy carpet strips or something similar, as long as the strap doesn't develop enough slack for the carpet to fall away. A twist in the strap is a good thing, it helps prevent the strap from vibrating in the wind.

 

[4get gto]

A twist in the strap is a good thing, it helps prevent the strap from vibrating in the wind.

Never thought of it that way.They do get flopping in the wind. Does make sense. Had twist in straps before just never on purpose!

 

[vvanders]

Happy to report that tractor made it to the new property in a completely uneventful manner.

No problems towing with the EcoDiesel(19 MPG up, 25 back w/ empty trailer!), only thing I noticed was a slight vibration, maybe ~3Hz that seemed to come and go every 2 miles or so. Thottle, uphill, downhill or turning didn't seem to change it so I'm just assuming it was road surface(there's a section of I-5 south of seattle that'll rattle your teeth if you have just the right wheelbase).

All the straps held well, checked 2-3 times along the drive at various rest stops and hubs were not overly warm, overall pretty happy with the setup. Also having undone/redone the binders many times they go on much faster now.

Cheers for all the feedback, definitely appreciated and hope it helps anyone in the future.

 

[vvanders]

Your nylon straps need some attention. If they are touching anything, they will chafe and it won't take long for them to fail. You can protect the problem area with heavy carpet strips or something similar, as long as the strap doesn't develop enough slack for the carpet to fall away. A twist in the strap is a good thing, it helps prevent the strap from vibrating in the wind.

Hard to see in the photo but we had a spare pool noodle that we cut apart and put under the straps that worked well. I made sure to have twists in the straps for sure and didn't see any vibration from looking at them in the mirrors while on the highway.

 

[AWSubie]

Good to hear your trip was safe. The new property looks beautiful.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

What mountains are in the background?