Loading and unloading a tractor that doesn't have power

lumberbean · Jun 21, 2017

I'm trying to find some help on the best way to load a tractor that doesn't have power onto a trailer and unload it afterwards. Bit of background information, the tractor I'm getting is a John Deere 755 with FEL, not sure what year. The current issue with the tractor is that the hydrostatic transmission stopped working and the previous owner took out the output drive to fix it. There's no hydraulic fluid in the tractor at the moment due to him removing the output drive and the FEL is sitting level with the ground. In the end, the previous owner ended up getting a new tractor so it wasn't fixed. My plan is to take it home and fix it.

My question is, what's the best way to load it onto a trailer? And how would I get it off? Me and the previous owner thought we could lift the 755 tractor with his new one and sort of tow it onto the trailer. Is it better to pull it from the back of the tractor or the front FEL? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thomas · Jun 21, 2017

If I,I would pull from the back hitch onto trailer slowly,if trailer well built come along or portable winch should do the job.

oldnslo · Jun 21, 2017

Be careful pulling on the loader. If loading forward i would somehow lift the FEL enough to get the chain under the bucket and hooked to the front axle. This would help hold the bucket up out of the way and provide a better point for pulling also. Portable winch or heavy come along like Thomas said would do the pulling. If careful I have seen people pull vehicles onto a trailer using another tractor driving along side. You have to have a high enough hook point on the tow vehicle so that the chain doesn't catch on the side of the trailer to do this.

sandman2234 · Jun 21, 2017

Use a block (as in block and tackle) hooked to front of trailer, and pull a cable from the front axle area or front hook. Run the cable under the bucket so that as the cable gets tight, it raises the bucket off the floor level. If the bucket gets close to hanging up, deflect the pulling cable by going over some timbers stacked near the rear of the trailer to raise the cable higher.
David from jax

lumberbean · Jun 22, 2017

Thanks for all of the advice, I think I'm going to try pulling it from the front axel and will let you know how it goes.

Renze · Jun 22, 2017

I put the trailer on the parking brake, fold down the front board of my utility trailer and pull with a long rope, or two load tie downs, over the trailer with the car. Works great with foldable stands on the back of the trailer. If i didnt have those, i couldnt load without a winch.

Xfaxman · Jun 22, 2017

I made this push/pull pole from thin wall tubing many years ago when I had a tractor. Used it to push a Oliver OC3 crawler up onto a trailer.

Have used it a lot for trucks and tractors, don't have pictures of the big stuff, but here is how it works: