This is probably a stupid question, but...... how do you unload a heavy implement from the truck? I do not have a front end loader.

[Kansas Terri]

Thanks!

I apologize for the delay in replying: my refrigerator broke and we have spent the past 2 days sorting through food and shopping!

The new refrigerator will be delivered this afternoon.

I had no idea that there were so many choices out there. I am going to take notes on this thread, so that I know what to ask for when I buy the tiller and other heavy items. Ordering is so much simpler when you know what is commonly available. In the future I might buy a boom for the tractor, but for now since one company says that I must unload from the delivery truck then I will simply do business with a competitor.

I HAVE actually used the hill by the house to load and unload from my pickup, but I had to put the pickup in the space between 2 trees and the mail box, and I do not believe that a larger truck would fit. I would have far more flexibility if I set the tractor up to lift any heavy objects, but that would probably be an activity for the future and not for this summer.

As for my neighbors, the city has grown around where I live. I can no longer consider this area to be rural. Mostly the neighbors just wanted the large lot to live on. In my area I have seen only one other tractor in somebody's back yard as I drove past, but I have never met them.

This is life. Cities do grow and land is broken up into small lots with homes on them. I cannot complain as it does give us some financial security: this place is now worth 4 times what I paid for it. I would honestly rather that one of the kids would take over this house instead of selling it, but neither of them have any interest in it

I did offer both kids the chance to drive my tractor, but both declined. My husband has also never driven the tractor. He is perfectly happy having the tractor helping me to do any needed heavy work, as otherwise I might ask him to help me out, but other than that he has no interest in tractors.

I might try getting my grandchild on the tractor later this summer.

Tractors are kind of cool. With the tractor I can spend 15 minutes doing a job that used to take me all day. I *LIKE* this!

* Edited to add. I might have made my husband sound lazy but he is not. He has a long history of working unpaid overtime. But, he likes some jobs better than others. While he cheerfully helps me when I need it I am aware that he does not much like to do outside work.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Drive the truck into a garage, lift the tiller up from the rafters with a chain come along (or whatever), drive the truck away and lower the tiller.

That or make friends with a neighbor with a skiddy or loader.

 

[jmc]

...but for now since one company says that I must unload from the delivery truck then I will simply do business with a competitor.

I HAVE actually used the hill by the house to load and unload from my pickup, but I had to put the pickup in the space between 2 trees and the mail box, and I do not believe that a larger truck would fit.

I'd drive my pickup to a stocking retailer and have them load it in my pickup, then I could use the hill like you did before (or rig something else up if necessary) without the delivery guy breathing down my neck. No delivery charge or hanging around waiting for their delivery either.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Back pickup to delivery truck, using boards and possible pipe as rollers, it's not as dangerous as ramps to ground. Lots of options given. Good luck.

 

[not2old]

Don't forget that if it's their delivery any damage is their problem. I cancelled some appliances for a rental suite when they told me I had to arrange delivery myself. I learned this lesson the easy way.

 

[Torvy]

If the delivery includes you offloading it, they are only responsible for damage when it arrives. If you damage it during offloading, that's on you.

That's why I got pallet forks when I bought my tractor. My grapple is more useful 90% of the time, but for offloading, they are a life saver.

 

[404nouser]

Boom pole on the 3 point, gantry crane, Cherry picker/engine hoist, tree branch and chain hoist, dirt berm, ramps, ditch, friends, Mexicans from the Home Depot parking lot, borrow or rent a tractor with a loader, your options are mostly limited by your mindset.

 

[sixdogs]

When you buy the tiller it will come strapped to a pallet. Back the truck into a ditch, hitch a chain or rope to the pallet and pull it off. Worked for me.

I also lifted a dually truck bed off a trailer with a 2 ton "shop crane'. I used straps to equalize the load and not tip the bed and then rolled the shop crane back when it cleared the trailer. Worked like a charm and only took 20 minutes.

 

[Xfaxman]

I also lifted a dually truck bed off a trailer with a 2 ton "shop crane'.

I added another piece of tubing to my shop crane for more reach:

 

[BnRidge]

But, the tillers weigh over 500 pounds and I see that I might have to unload it from the truck.

One option is to have it shipped to the nearest transfer/storage facility used by trucking companies, and have them hold it until they can fork it onto yours or a friends pickup or trailer. It's easy enough to unload it at home somehow, usually for me now with the tractor loader, or in the past with simple ramps.