Load Handler for 4500 long flatbed?

[piaffepony]

*Girl Question*

I have a Dodge 4500 4X4 (long wheelbase) flatbed. I LOVE that I don’t have to hook up a trailer to go get hay or shavings, but I don’t like unloading it. I usually buy 21 bale bundles and it would be awesome if I could just roll it off.

Anyone know if I could buy one that would work on my long flatbed? I’m not opposed to making my own either but at this point I’d rather pay for the convenience of not having to do it.

 

[BigBlue1]

Do you have pallet forks for your tractor? If so, you could have things loaded on pallets when you buy them and then it would be very easy to unload later. Pallet forks are quite affordable and may be the most useful tractor attachment there is. Strongly suggest getting them if you don't have them.

Rob

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Kids ?????

 

[LouNY]

Could take a 6" wide tow strap, lay it up against the headache rack put your bales on,
when ready to unload hook the strap to the tractor and just pull them off.

 

[piaffepony]

Do you have pallet forks for your tractor? If so, you could have things loaded on pallets when you buy them and then it would be very easy to unload later. Pallet forks are quite affordable and may be the most useful tractor attachment there is. Strongly suggest getting them if you don't have them.

Rob

I def have pallet forks for the tractor and I do that as much as possible... this is mainly for my hay bundles. It would also be nice to go get mulch in bulk as well (I have sides for my bed too).

 

[piaffepony]

Could take a 6" wide tow strap, lay it up against the headache rack put your bales on,
when ready to unload hook the strap to the tractor and just pull them off.

I’ve tried the ratchet straps and slipping forks under them to carry it over but it almost always falls apart. That was also with my old skid steer.. not sure my tractor loader can even pick up a bundle. I have used it to just push the bundle off the bed, but where I need to unload it is a tight squeeze and can’t do that with the tractor .

 

[tomplum]

I have the heavier load handler on a 5 x 8 wood decked trailer. If the load were more evenly distributed you would have a better chance. The key to it is overcoming the friction of the deck. Originally I fastened an aluminum sheet over the decking and it worked great, though gravel took it's toll on the edges so it wasn't reinstalled when I redid the decking. I don't know if they are made wide for your truck or not, but as you said one could be made up. If you stitched in a loop at the end and slid in say a 1 x 2 to lessen the chance of the sheet being pulled though it would help greatly.

 

[aczlan]

I’ve tried the ratchet straps and slipping forks under them to carry it over but it almost always falls apart. That was also with my old skid steer.. not sure my tractor loader can even pick up a bundle. I have used it to just push the bundle off the bed, but where I need to unload it is a tight squeeze and can’t do that with the tractor .

I think that LouNY was talking about putting the tow strap against the front of the truck before loading with it hanging out both sides so that to unload you could either attach it to something (tree, barn post, etc) and drive away (or hook it to your tractor and drive the tractor away from the truck) and it would pull on the base of the stacks making the whole stack slide off.

Personally, I am a big fan of pallets, your 24 bales of chips per pallet would be about 1200# if each bale weighs 50#, or 720# if each bale weighs 30#. That should be doable by most any of the tractors in your list.

Aaron Z

 

[4570Man]

I really doubt the load handler is good for that kind of load. I’d hook 2 tow straps to a 4x4 laid at the front of the bed and then hook on the straps and drag the load off. Or get a dump bed and make the truck like 5 times more useful.

 

[tomplum]

Dump beds are an awesome tool. I went to have one installed on a flat bed dually and the deal fell apart. Then I was miffed and sold the truck. In regards to the load handler, in really comes back to overcoming the friction and how much weight you are talking. 3000#s is about all I want to do and it takes effort. Half that is reasonably easy.