loading tractor Safely

[Propjob]

Thats a good Idea, Soundguy

 

[aczlan]

if the trailer has electric brakes, it's SUPER easy to install a toggle switch on the trailer to kick power over to the brakes..

if the trailer has electric brakes it should have breakaway brakes, just pull the cable and pop out the breakaway pin, trailer brakes will lock on full. no need for an extra switch

I am told that is how the DOT enforcement officers test your brakes, they pull the pin and have you pull forward, if all braked wheels don't lockup and skid you get a ticket for badly adjusted brakes... however that is just a rumor.


Aaron Z

 

[plowking]

Went out today,did two jobs. I used two 6X6 pieces of wood stacked under back of trailer,have an inch to spare.it worked good keeping trailer level and the suspension doesn't groan as bad. Also the trailer will grab the wood to keep it from moving. Don't need anymore unloading events like yesterday. plowking

 

[burnetma]

Anybody try something like this to lock the trailer wheels?

Trailer Parts Superstore - Chock and Lock (Twin Pack)

 

[firemanpat2910]

on two or three of our big trailers there are "legs" attached to the trailer end of the ramps. They sit 6 inches or so off the ground. If you put enough weight on ramps or tailend of trailer, they support the back and keep the truck on the ground. If you are loaded extremely heavy you pull truck forwards and that realeases the weight of the legs abd lets you fold up the ramps.

 

[Soundguy]

if the trailer has electric brakes it should have breakaway brakes, just pull the cable and pop out the breakaway pin, trailer brakes will lock on full. no need for an extra switch

I am told that is how the DOT enforcement officers test your brakes, they pull the pin and have you pull forward, if all braked wheels don't lockup and skid you get a ticket for badly adjusted brakes... however that is just a rumor.


Aaron Z

Some breakaway devices are one time / replaceable deals... I know mine is... once the pin pulls out.. the 2 small retaining ears on it break.. .. Thus my sugestion for a toggle switch to bypass the breakaway switch in a non destructive way..

soundguy

 

[swines]

I had an interesting episode today. I was unloading my machine and trailer tipped enough to take pressure off back of truck,I was sliding down the hill,drove machine forward on trailer and it[truck ,trailer ,tractor] stopped before hitting a fence. I put blocks under ramps but definetly willl block the trailer with blocks,jackstands. Never happened before but truck was on an incline and parked on gravel and hottop. The neighborhood I was in was all hilly,no level spot to unload. I wish there was a way to lock the trailer and truck brakes to unload. plowking

Two words--- WHEEL CHOCKS.

I keep a pair in the trailer tool box for just such occassions http://www.chocks.com/Catalog/pdf_cat/hwc7.pdf

Light weight, don't really take up that much room.

 

[Soundguy]

Wheel chocks are not the answer... bracing the rear of the trailer is the answer.. that keeps the trailer from squatting and lifting the tow vehicle int he first place. It's better to prevent the problem, then try to mitigate it..

soundguy

 

[swines]

Wheel chocks are not the answer... bracing the rear of the trailer is the answer.. that keeps the trailer from squatting and lifting the tow vehicle int he first place. It's better to prevent the problem, then try to mitigate it..

soundguy

I don't have the squatting/lifting problem on my trailer. It has built-in rear stabilizers that are dropped for loading and unloading. Unless you've tried wheel chocks, I wouldn't be so quick to write them off. I use them whenever I'm loading or unloading on a grade - they help the trailer's stability.

Also, applying the trailer brakes isn't going to solve the squatting/lifting problem either.

 

[Soundguy]

Unless you've tried wheel chocks

I use timber wheel chocks, just because.. I keep timber blocks on the trailer to chock the tractor with once loaded, and usually throw them under the trailer back / wheels when loading / unloading.. though don't see that they do a whole lot if the trailer don't squat, and you have brakes set. With the back of the trailer braced good.. that's a great deal of friction to stick it in place, plus the tow vehicle's brakes that should be holding since the vehicle isn't lifted up.

On the flip side.. unloading / loading on a grade is never ideal.

A load / unload situation that 'depends' on wheel chocks as the make/break would uh.. frighten me. I've unloaded at plenty of jobs that I opted to unload on the road and then driv ethe machine a half mile to the site.. just so i could load / unload in a safe flat area.. etc.

soundguy