Picking up the PT from Overnite

[toolz_not_toyz]

The big day is getting closer and I need some advice on trailering the PT. There is another recent thread that discusses this very same subject but my situation is a bit different. I don't own a towing-capable vehicle nor do I own a trailer or plan to buy one (since I would hardly ever use it). So I plan to rent and it looks like the best option (and perhaps one the only one around here) is Uhaul.

Having never rented from Uhaul before, I started by checking several of the local Uhaul places. Well, turns out that most of them are "licensees" for Uhaul and they basically don't keep too much of anything around and definitely don't rent out anything other than car trailers. Seems that these places are really just setup to handle one way pickups and dropoffs...which is Uhaul's cash cow. So I was directed to check with the great big Uhaul place about 40 minutes south of here. Stopped by there today to check things out.

Buf before I left I checked the Uhaul website and I more or less had in mind what might be appropriate. Here's my thinking... I'm picking up a 425 and maybe two pallets of attachments. They have a 6x12 trailer or a 5x9 trailer (both open trailers) that might work out. The thing is, the smaller trailer has a ramp while the other one does not. Here are the links:

6x12 open trailer

5x9 open trailer

The bigger trailer has a dual axle and an "automatic surge hydraulic brake." The brake system is not electronic. Instead, there's some spring mechansim that I guess will engage the brake if the trailer suddenly moves towards or away from the trailer (I assume it works both directions, I just know it's not electronic because I asked and quickly looked at it). The trailer is rated for 2640lbs.

The smaller trailer has no brakes, is single axle, but has that ramp. This trailer is rated for 1660lbs.

I'm leaning towards the small trailer because of the ramp. The strategy would be to back the PT onto the trailer since I figure the rear end is heavier than the front. But first I would use the forks to lift the implements into the truck. Oh yeah, I plan on renting a 14 foot truck to pull the trailer.

14 foot truck, towing vehicle

How heavy are the implements? I'm getting the 48" mower, tiller, 4n1, LB, minihoe, forks, Post Hole digger head and one auger. I imagine that some of these things (like the mower deck and the tiller) weigh quite a bit. I'm a little guy and heck, the 48" mower deck from my lawn tractor was a pain to move around on my own!

From the PT website I see that the 425 is 45" wide and under 90" in length (from the front wheels to the back). And it weighs less than 1400lbs. So I'm thinking this will fit on that 5x9 trailer if I put all of the attachments on the truck. Does this sound reasonable?

Also, other than the keys, will there be a manual stuck to the tractor? I'm planning on bringing gas and a battery jump starter pack just in case.

Checking progress on the shipment itself, it looks like this shipment is getting moved around a lot. It started on an Overnite truck, then may have been moved to an Overnite intermodal truck. Now it seems to be on a Tip intermodal truck. Wonder if there will be any paint left by the time it reaches me... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Picking stuff up from a freight terminal is new to me, hauling a trailer is new to me, so it's all going to be a bit of an adventure. I'm trying to remove as many of the surprises as possible.

 

[pajoube]

I also picked mine up from Overnight. Overnight will have a dock that can be raised or lowered to fit height needed. But, what I would suggest is the following. Get the larger trailer (16 foot) or truck. Break open the pallet with the forks and attach. You will then use the forks to either lift the pallet into the truck or trailer or brake down both pallets and use the forks to lift each attachment into the trailer. Most can be stacked without doing harm. From a cost standpoint, I would get a couple of 8 foot 2X8 planks and use those to drive the 425 into the trailer and off. You can always use a couple of 2x8 planks.
Yes, there will be some paint scrapped off the 425 but that is minor and can be touched up.
You are about to have a ball, enjoy and keep us posted.
PJ

 

[J_J]

Do you have any friends with a 16 ft landscape trailer. If not, then a 24 ft Ryder, U-Haul, truck will work. It will carry every thing you have, and then you back it into a small ditch, and add a few boards to back out or drive out. Check every thing out. Every driver has played with it. and may have left switches in the wrong position. Also take a rope or chain to pull the pallets of equipment out after you get the PT-425 out. If you use the truck, or trailer, tie everything down good.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

I guess what I'm puzzled about is why I would need a 16ft trailer. I could see why I would want that if I was buying one but in this case I'll have both a 14ft cube truck (box truck, or whatever you want to call it) in addition to the trailer. Are the dimensions from PT correct for the tractor. Will 9ft be a long enough trailer to haul just the 425 without an attachment?

JJ: No, I don't know anyone around here with a 16ft trailer. That would simplify things.

Pajoube: I had planned on breaking out the forks to load the truck. The problem is figuring out how to use the PT when I get there. They really should send the manual ahead of time or put it online so it could be viewed by purchasers ahead of time. But then, hey, I just found out they don't even issue formal receipts. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Why not hire a roll back truck and have them pick the PT up for you? Check around with auto body shops they have roll backs for hire. It will most likely be about the same $$ but a lot easier on both ends to load and unload. Just another option to consider.

 

[tracdoc]

Toolz,

The LOA of the 425 is around 6 ft. (wheelbase ~56") give or take a few inches. With a 9 foot open trailer bed, that leaves you roughly 1.5 feet fore and aft to secure your tie downs, assuming that there are 4 tie-down rings in the very corners of the trailer bed floor. The 1.5 ft is marginally enough distance to get a good tie-down angle (you don’t want vertical, and you don’t want near horizontal angle of pull. That’s why I think that a 12 foot trailer may be better to tow the PT. Moreover, the longer trailer has its own braking. Surge brakes are fine for your limited rental use of the trailer. It is also easier to tow and maneuver a dual-axle trailer than a single axle trailer. The latter wants to “spin” around the sole axle when you do any backing up.

To tie-down, I recommend you use nothing less than 2” ratcheting web straps. A representative example is shown {HERE} . For the REAR, you can hook two into the hole of the rear tow ring, and then into the two corners of the rear of the trailer deck. For the FRONT, I use 21" axle/wheel straps {HERE} looped around the bottom of each side of the ROPS. I then hook one end the tow strap into both D-rings of the wheel strap, and the other hook into the deck ring. This arrangement provides an excellent angle of pull, and is non-marring and avoids stressing the loader arms or other sites with tie-downs.

If you could find someone with a ¾ ton or full ton pickup with a tow hitch, you would be a LOT better off (read that as less anxiety for the ride home) than using the truck you mentioned. You could load the 12 foot trailer and the bed of the pickup and you would be able to watch your load via the rear view mirrors. You are not going to be able to see your PT on the trailer very well, if at all, behind the large box van.

The 48” mower weighs in at ~325# un-palletized. The LMB is ~200#. The mini hoe is around 125#. The 4n1 weighs more than the LMB because it is made of heavier steel and has hydraulic plumbing. The forks are in the 50-75# neighborhood.

If you have not hauled anything prior, might I suggest that you consider hiring a landscaper/contractor/auto hauler in your area, and in a mutually agreeable fee for service arrangement, have him take you to the terminal, and work with him to load up and bring your baby home safely. Or, look at the list of PT owners in your region to see if you could work out a similar arrangement with an owner who has trailer and hauls his PT regularly. Towing heavy equipment is a serious undertaking. It’s not only the security of your load, but your safety and the safety of those you share the road with. A loose or unbalanced load can be deadly.

 

[Marks481]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I had planned on breaking out the forks to load the truck. The problem is figuring out how to use the PT when I get there. They really should send the manual ahead of time or put it online so it could be viewed by purchasers ahead of time. )</font>

uhmm, the manual won't help you one bit. Trust me.

My first attempt on my PT422 was unloading the pallet with the cutting deck on it from my pickup truck with the forks. I hit lower when I meant to raise and came a split second away from dropping my mower deck on the concrete from 3' high. Whoops. Think carefully, and touch the controls lightly, cause the raise/lower will move the arms with quite a lurch.

I fit three pallets and my PT in a 1/2 ton pickup with a 8x10 trailer. Glad I went with the 10', cause the PT barely fit with a bucket attached to it. I took all the stuff off one pallet (including the bucket) and stowed it in the trailer, the other two fit in my pickup truck.

Bring lots of straps, and use them. Make sure you double check the PT parking brake when it is sitting on ther trailer, but don't rely on it. I thought the parking brake was engaged, but it wasn't... could have spelled disaster. Unfortunately, the PT doesn't come with convenient padeyes to tie it down with, so you will have to be inventive.

The 14' cube trailer would almost be enough by itself if it had a loading ramp (which it probably doesn't). I would recommend the 10' trailer. I don't think any shorter will fit, especially if you keep an attachment on front (which is convenient). A full size pickup to tow it would work just as well as the cube truck, and you will have no problems fitting two pallets in the back of a pickup truck.

Kingston, WA? I wish I had bought a house when I lived there in 1996.... it would be worth a pretty penny now. My wife nags me daily to move back there...

 

[J_J]

If your PT is 7.5 ft, and you have two pallets at 4X4, that is 15.5 ft. If you only rented the 16 ft truck, you could still get everything inside. I hope you get it home and unloaded safely, and.start playing with your toy, I mean working.

 

[pajoube]

You are going to do just fine. Your concerns are what we all had when picking up the tractor.
I had only a few minutes of actual driving a 425 when at Tazewell. When picking up the unit at the Overnight terminal I was scared to death that I would screw it up and look like a complete idiot. I even waited until I felt the dock workers would be on break so that I could drive around and get used to the tractor. All to no avail. The workers all stood around to watch me start it up and take off. Take off I did and almost drove into a pile of pallets. I found out from talking to the workers that they were really impressed with that little machine and wanted to see more if it. They guided me to an off loading ramp if I wanted to use it. I declined and broke open the pallet that had the forks and put that attachment on. Then I drove over and loaded the full pallet and down their ramp to my trailer that I had parked as far away as I could from workers eyes and the possibility of other trucks driving around. I wanted time to enjoy this experience and take my time to do it right. It all came out perfect even if I was less than a perfect 425 operator.
I used a 16 trailer ( 9 foot trailer is to short) which gave me more than enought room.
PJ

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

Thanks everyone for the continued excellent information.

tracdoc, I think you posted links to those tie down straps in the recent thread on trailering a PT. I did note that then. Just can't get them here in time, I think. I like the idea of using the wheel tie downs around the ROPS. Still find it hard to believe that PT hasn't added D-rings or something on the PT (especially the 425) when they are supposed to be selling it to landscapers. I managed to get some 2" wide tie downs from Home Depot today. They're DOT approved and rated to 10000lbs. And it appears they're made out of something other than the nylon that all of the others are made out of. For tying down attachments I have a whole pile of heavy duty ratcheting tie downs that I've used in the past.

While I have an "older" pick up, that could have a hitch, and would be a bonafide towing vehicle (a 1978 F150 4x4 with a 460), it's an ongoing project that I don't feel is up to towing anything safely right now. 1978 brake systems don't inspire the best confidence compared to what a more modern towing vehicle could offer. I will be making that truck a towing capable vehicle (with a class III hitch) in the future though.

Trying to rent a towing vehicle is pretty tough. Lot's of places rent pickup trucks but they won't rent them with a hitch. Even Uhaul (around here, at least) will only rent a truck with hitch.

While it would seem like a good idea to just get a big truck then and put everything on the truck, that is a plan doesn't fly either. Because Uhaul, for instance, won't let you transport something with gas in it on an enclosed vehicle. Makes sense to me. Something about fumes and lack of ventilation and fire or something. I wonder how the racecar drivers do it....

Also, Uhaul's car transport trailers are designed specifically so you can't haul anything but cars on them. They have this huge open space between the two tracks for the car wheels. They don't want you hauling anything other than cars.

I was curious about the roll back truck. I had thought about that too. But shrugged it off thinking: "Surely no one would want to get involved with that and if they did, it couldn't be that much less expensive than the Uhaul route."

The only thing I'm hanging on at this point is the size of the trailer. It's clear that the 425 will fit on the 5x9. It does have D-rings in each corner on the inside of the trailer. It's more the single axle vs double axle that I'm curious about. I don't have to do any or much backing up but I'm interested in the statement that it's easier to backup a two axle trailer. I had read that they handle much better and I had asked about that at Uhaul and was told it's not a big deal of differrence. But I would guess that that opinion differs among those who haul light loads and those who haul heavy loads. Let's face it though: backing up a trailer AND getting it to go where you want is arguable one of the toughest things to do.

With the longer trailer I will have to bring ramps. They have lightweight folding aluminum ramps at Home Depot ($139 per pair) but they only handle 750lbs each. Online at Home Depot they sell the same thing with a capacity of 1200lbs per ramp ($239 per pair). That's probably more appropriate for this kinda thing. Using 2x6's is an option but years ago I developed a lack of faith in using 2x6's and other types of planking for ramps when moving heavy equipment. Let's just say....the things can snap unexpectedly.

One extra thing I was thinking about doing was bringing with wheel chocks in case the PT's brake doesn't want to engage.

Anyhow. I'm sure I'll be fine pulling this off. There's a first time for everything. I just like to have as much information as possible before I dive into anything. That and...err...well, I don't want to show up with a trailer that's too short for what I'm picking up. That would be embarassing. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif