I bought a Kubota
B6100 a couple of months ago, and have been reading threads on this site since then. I find it very informative, but have not had the inclination to write anything prior to this, but this safety thread brought to mind an incident I had about two years ago that still makes me a little shaky when I thing about it.
I have an older GMC 6000 rated at 19,500 GVW. I was pulling an open UHaul trailer from NE Ohio to our new house in MI. It was loaded with my shop stuff the company wouldn't move. The evening before, I had finished loading the truck in the barn and had pulled the empty trailer in with the garden tractor. I had installed a 5" rise receiver and checked the 2 1/4" nut on the ball with a large wrench that fit the nut, with my feet against the trailer tongue, so I knew it was tight. After I hooked the trailer on, I checked to see it was security attached with the battery powered pallet stacker. I was able to lift the back of the tuck up enough to know the whole thing was securely attached. I then loaded the trailer. I used a lot of nylon ratchet straps, but used a 3/8" chain and chain binder over the mast of the pallet stacker (tall mast with a 12' lift capability). We then headed on our way with my wife following in the mini-van.
About three hours later as I was heading down Highway 2 along Lake Erie, I felt a strong jerk. I looked in the mirror and saw the 6' X 12' trailer half in the next lane. I immediately thought of my wife following me and the possibilities of the chains breaking and started pumping the brakes for all I was worth. At the same time I was cussing the guy that had welded on the trailer hitch. If I ever see him again, I own him an apology for what I was thinking. My wife didn't think about the chains braking, but said the way the truck was swaying back and forth, she was sure it was going to roll. Fortunately, one of the chains held (one broke) but the surge brakes helped and we all got stopped, with the tongue lined up with the hitch. When I look to see what let loose, the nut had come off the ball. I'll never really know what happened, but the hitch was find and the 2" ball was hanging from the tongue of the trailer. The tongue had probably 300 pounds of weight on it (the heavy stuff was over the axels) and I had to get some lumber out of the truck to pry it up and block it so I could put in a different receiver and hook the trailer back on.
Just as we were finishing, an Ohio State police officer stopped. He said he was driving by and saw we had problems and turned around. Apparently we were still so white faced, he didn't even ask for ID or registration. I had to get another extension in Toledo for the lights, and put a new S hook on the chains, but there was no other damage. I stopped about every 50 miles after that and checked the nut on the ball. Normally it is all I can do to get the nut off when I want to change, so the only thing I could think of was that the split lock washer had broken in two and with the tension gone, the nut spun off.
Before I take any long trips with a trailer again, I plan on drilling the ball shaft and putting in a pin so that I know this can't happen again. I am glad to say that I had everything tied down securely enough that nothing on the trailer shifted, although I retightened it before we took off again. I had to do something to give me time to stop shaking before I could drive again.
I would recommend always securing your load better than you think you need. The load you hold down may be the load that is not coming through your cab or your wife's car. Stop and check the ball and the tie downs regularly during the trip. I have since bought a car hauler (great price of $250) with a steel bed and ramps. No brakes. I have it over at a mechanic now doing some repairs on it and adding brakes. I'm not taking any chances with my little tractor. I chain it front and back with load binders, set the backhoe outriggers down, set the bucket down, and lock the brakes. You and never be too safe.
Thanks to everyone for the information I am picking up on my
B6100, front-end loader, and backhoe. I just bought a flail mower, but want to get more work done with the backhoe before pulling it off and trying the flail mower. My wife is happy to mow with the old Wheel Horse, so I'm in no hurry. This is the first tractor I have owned. I wouldn't mind a little bigger one, but this does most of what I want, and it fits in my barn with no problem.
Steve J.