Overloaded?

fishman · Mar 26, 2004

I was coming back from a bit of business out in the country and happened upon this gentleman on the highway. He was cruising about 45 mph. The trailer was a gooseneck and the tow vehicle was a 1980's half ton Ford. Something about the angle of those axles made me want to get around him real fast! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Any possibility this was safe?

Egon · Mar 26, 2004

Ahh - those tires bend out like that anytime you go around a corner. And that machine is heavy enough it don't need chains. And he's probably going slow enough the lights won't matter but he is missing a slow moving vehicle sign.

Egon

DKinWA · Mar 26, 2004

You beat me to it Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I was noticing the same things. Around here you'd also need a license plate unless it's only for farm use.

I see this all too frequently around here and it really sets me off. I spend a lot of time on the road and I see to many rigs like this rolled over in ditches or splattered all over the highway. It still amazes me evertime I see something like this and realize that someone obviously thinks this is safe /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

755inNY · Mar 27, 2004

I see something like this and realize that someone obviously thinks this is safe


Believe me, safety is the furthest thing from their minds. These kind of guys don't think safety. They just think about getting from point A to point B the easiest, cheapest way possible.

johnday · Mar 27, 2004

I'd also bet that there are no trailer brakes either. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

755inNY · Mar 27, 2004

I'd also bet that there are no trailer brakes either 

Well of course not. This guy is no dummy. If the trailer had brakes he would need to bind the load. A trailer with brakes will decelerate much quicker then one without. Also if it had brakes then he would have to have operating brake lights on the trailer. That's just too complicated. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

frank_f15 · Mar 27, 2004

PERFECTLY SAFE, as long as it sits in the yard and not on the road. hope that guy has plenty of ins. cause some day he is going to need it.

MossRoad · Mar 27, 2004

Something about the angle of those axles made me want to get around him real fast! 

I think I'd want him out in front of me where I can keep an eye on him, not behind me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

herdfan · Mar 27, 2004

( This guy is no dummy. If the trailer had brakes he would need to bind the load. )

You know binders are $25 each at Lowes! Ya gotta cut some corners in these financially-strapped times.

Just kidding, of course /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

herdfan · Mar 27, 2004

I like how the backhoe's tires come real close to rubbing on the trailer's tires.
Ya know, I angled my kids' pinewood derby cars wheel like that (actually the tops were angled outward). It reduces wheel friction and makes for a more efficent (ie. faster) car. Maybe this guy is trying to save on fuel costs since gas prices are reaching new highs?

Chuck_Lind · Mar 28, 2004

What a way to commit suicide!!! Just slam on the brakes during an emergency stop and have a backhoe take your head off.

raynman · Mar 28, 2004

fishman,

Do you think if he got in an accident his lawyer could file a claim because the trailer didn't have any warning stickers on it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

In the Detroit area that's an accident waiting to happen!

Taylortractornut · Mar 28, 2004

Ive seen alot of these rigs to. Even built a few but i made sure they had brakes. My main concern is the no chains and the tow vehicle. I haul my hoes around with a 1 ton and a 7 ton gooseneck. Or on a home built equipment trailer thats also rated at 7 tons. But I have a chain and binder oked on the fron middle and the rear then also on holding the boom on the trailer to make up for any leak down. Alot of folks here I build the railers made out of the ruk front axles like the one in the picture are used for moving farm crawlers or small excavators across property to save under cariages usually pulled by a larger farm tractor. On my personal trailers I have lights, chains, straps, brakes, binders,DOT aproved reflactive tape and springs.

Soundguy · Mar 28, 2004

I wish i had my camera the other day. Right in front of our work, A guy in an 80's model blazer with a huge body lift/mud tires was pulling a 20' tandem axleflatbet with fold up ramps. The ramps were kinda crescent shaped. The trailer was piled high with a couple cut up oaks.. branches trunks and all. There was a rubber tired bobcat style loader pulled up on the back.. and the trailer was so full of debri, that the bobcat was actually pulled up onto the pile.. its rear even with the folded up ramps.. its front tires were setting inbetween the tandem axle... tires were splayed way out like that too.. and neary a rope or chain anywhere.. not even on the limbs. When he went over a bump, trailer neck came up and made the blazer fishtail wildely... I think the driver probably almost spilled his beer..... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Glad I wasn't on the road... ( where was DOT when ya needed them.. )

Soundguy

fishman · Mar 29, 2004

Well I thought ya'll might appreciate a look at this. I've taken to carrying my camera with me and have been surprised at how many interesting things I've been able to record. I missed out on a long haybarn the other day that was rolled up like an opened sardine can . . . no camera.

_RaT_ · Mar 30, 2004

John either you guys have narrow roads there in Texas or that load is really wide. I don't particularly care for all the debris on the hoe and trailer just waiting to commit sucide into my windshield. Rat...

fishman · Mar 31, 2004

Well, that was a fairly narrow road, but it was a wide load too.

milkman · Apr 1, 2004

With all the concern about safety expressed here, I'm suprised someone hasn't mentioned driving down the highway taking pictures!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif