tilt trailers

[dodge man]

I borrowed a tilt trailer once that was really nice that you might want to consider. You trip a couple of levers on the trailer, then drive the tow vehicle forward. It sort of pulls the chasis out from under the deck and the deck tilts down. It's a very gradual, flat ramp also. Once you load the tractor, just back up, it tilts back flat, then lock the frame to the deck again. Very slick setup and I really liked it.

 

[LBrown59]

It figures they'd try such a stunt.
It's the show me state

 

[Mike Costello]

It figures they'd try such a stunt.
It's the show me state

Actually, the safe escapade occurred in So. Cal where I had my Tow Service & garage many years ago. I saw a lot of dumb things happen in those days. Like the guy I came across, talking on his CB while sitting in a 55 gallon drum...cause he wanted everyone to think he was calling from outer space!
Just another reason why I got out of California, enough is enough! Mike.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I borrowed a tilt trailer once that was really nice that you might want to consider. You trip a couple of levers on the trailer, then drive the tow vehicle forward. It sort of pulls the chasis out from under the deck and the deck tilts down. It's a very gradual, flat ramp also. Once you load the tractor, just back up, it tilts back flat, then lock the frame to the deck again. Very slick setup and I really liked it.

That sounds like a pretty slick setup. Any ideas who made it? Anyone know how to get more details on how that would work?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

That sounds like a pretty slick setup. Any ideas who made it? Anyone know how to get more details on how that would work?

Found it! Looks like a rollback trailer will fit the bill... Rollback Trailers solve your low ground clerance problems

 

[dodge man]

That's it Iplayfarmer. It's also what I would call a low trailer, not very high off the ground.

 

[George2615]

I have a large (9 ton) tri-axle, beaver tail tilt bed trailer. I really like the tilt bed when loading super heavy stuff, like the dozer I used to have. All the ramps really do is give me something to drive up which tilts the trailer. I find it easy to load a tracked vehicle as I have more room to work with than thin ramps when going up the incline while loading.

George, do you think you could post a picture of the tilting ram on your trailer. I'd like to install a manual bottle jack to tilt my trailer. I really can't get it to tilt with much less than 5000 lbs.

Thanks,
Joel

Joel,
I found a couple pics I posted here in the members section. The first is a pic of the manually pumped jack my trailer originally came with. The rest are the hydraulic cylinder I replaced it with. Last one is the manual cylinder. It is 26" eye to eye and has a 1" cylinder diameter. My hydraulic one is much larger diameter.

 

[gordyy]

going to have to give those guys a call I like that rollback will have to see the price

 

[AKwelder]

I also have the H&H tilt trailer, and use it to haul my kubota and anything else that comes around. I have had firewood, lumber, skid steers, tractors, trucks, wrecked cars, Hay, four wheelers, snowmobiles, dirt, trash, and more on the deck.

The tilt works great, the weight is good and the power tilt allows me to load several items at the same time.

I would recommend this trailer style to anyone.

 

[dodge man]

You would like a rollback. I priced one out about a year ago. It was more than I was wanting to spend. As I recall, a car hauler style, most likely rated at 7000lbs, with brakes on both axles was between $3000-$4000. Closer to $3000 as I recall but I'm not sure. What is really nice is that the trailer is very low effort to use, and the tilt is very gentle for loading. It also sits lower to the ground, so its not such a big step up. I bought a regular car hauler/utility trailer about 3 months ago, but I would rather had a rollback, but it was about $1000 more than I spent.

 

[Willl]

Love my tilt, pics are in my photobucket.

 

[gordyy]

just got back was using a friends tilt trailer nice trailer only problem I see is its real steep for me to get up and into the tractor when its tilted
going to have to see if I can find a rollback anywhere near me
looks a lot friendlier to my leg and as most of the time I will be using it is winter (after all that can be half the year we had an inch of snow yesterday ) thanks for the input all

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I've been daydreaming about rollback trailers ever since I found the link to them.

I even talked to the local trailer guy about a roll back when I went in to get a new tongue jack for my newest trailer. He said that fewer places are building them nowadays. Apparently they were very popular before the turn of this century, but the demand has tapered off in the past decade. Anyone know why?

 

[gordyy]

I done some checking the last couple of days on these
found out the texas rollback company is no more
however they are still being made by sloans kwik load
Rollback Trailers Kwikload Trailer Roll Back Trailers Kwik Load Trailer
is the place I called and their nearest dealers that stock are all at least 750 miles from me and all want at least $4750. for them
however he does have a factory direct option starting at $3895.
I figure if I have to drive 750 miles to pick one up
I might as well drive 1040 course then there is the option of putting hydralic or cable actuated ramps on my existing old trailer
decisions decisions!

 

[gordyy]

here is a video of them loading a car even a cripple like me could do that
lol

http://www.kwikload.com/videolg.htm

 

[Renze]

going to have to give those guys a call I like that rollback will have to see the price

It looks good, but the rear end of the deck wouldnt be allowed in my country: it would need a steel underride protection of at least 4 inch high.. Even though most cars that rear end one of these, will bounce on top of the deck instead of jam themself stuck under..

I do wonder about the effect of the rollback system on the road behaviour though.. i guess it would allways have a bit of slop.. Does anyone have pictures of it ?
Oh, and another possible drawback of the rollback trailer: You need to pull the bed back over the axles, from a point where the center of gravity is behind it. Can a 2WD truck do that, or does it require 4wd ???



At my former employer, we had a German dealer that made trailers with individual hydraulic suspension: you could let these trailers kneel by releasing the hydraulic system. With the deck flat on the ground, the ramp angle is an absolute minimum.
Drawbacks are the high price, and that you still cant load anything with doors that you need to get out through, when driving a vehicle on them. Those trailers are popular for commercial cleaning companies, that need to transport low clearance floor sweeps and cleaners from one office building to the other.

 

[gordyy]

well for me the 2 or 4 wheel isnt a big concern as all I pull with are 4x4
however I have used a very large 24 ton rollback before with a single axle tractor to haul an excavator and we never had trouble rolling that back up.
A time or two with fresh snow on ice had to start the load moving then hit the trailer brake and lockem up to get it started but as soon as it starts moving up the load starts addding weight to the fifth wheel

 

[radman1]

I've been daydreaming about rollback trailers ever since I found the link to them.

I even talked to the local trailer guy about a roll back when I went in to get a new tongue jack for my newest trailer. He said that fewer places are building them nowadays. Apparently they were very popular before the turn of this century, but the demand has tapered off in the past decade. Anyone know why?

With a price of $4750, you can get a better trailer with electric tilt. Manual till will save another $1000. I paid $5300 for electric tilt, 24', 14K with several other options a few years ago. Electric/manual tilt will have a higher angle but are quick and easy to use. I have a '34 Ford street rod. The front bumper is 4-5" off the ground and I can drive it on my tilt bed.

I am not big fan of steel decks. They can become really slick with a little water or oil.

 

[Renze]

well for me the 2 or 4 wheel isnt a big concern as all I pull with are 4x4
however I have used a very large 24 ton rollback before with a single axle tractor to haul an excavator and we never had trouble rolling that back up.
A time or two with fresh snow on ice had to start the load moving then hit the trailer brake and lockem up to get it started but as soon as it starts moving up the load starts addding weight to the fifth wheel

But how about the mechanism ?? is it slop free, does it crunch when it sees a little sand, does it have any effect on the ride quality or durability ??

i mean,

Apparently they were very popular before the turn of this century, but the demand has tapered off in the past decade. Anyone know why?

There must be a reason for what Iplayfarmer said ??

 

[jdhathome]

You can't beat a tilt trailer.
I've got a 20" that is the cat's meow.
No mo ramps is a real advantage.