Tractor Portability

[scruffy]

Picured is my method of moving my tractor down the road...keep in mind, only 1/2 the straps are on, for demonstration purposes only. The trailer is a 16 foot car trailer, and the strapping is 10000 lb straps with ratchets. Normally would be four all together.

 

[scruffy]

This view is a closer view of the strap down method. Pictures were taken out in front of our house on the access road (private road).

 

[glennmac]

Looks like you could squeeze an L48 on that nice trailer. Is that the infamous truck pre- or post-accident? One more thing: could you clarify where you live or where that picture is. Your profile lists two states.

Glenn

 

[scruffy]

Glenn, the trailer should handle an L48, TOO bad I don't have one! The pickup is post accident...still ain't got the bug deflector, nor the transmission cooler (they should be in this week). This property is east of Orange, CA, NorthEast of Irvine, CA, and the first canyon south of Silverado Canyon (Williams Canyon) in the Cleveland Natl. Forest. (Brush to be more accurate) We also own some acreage up in Oregon, but thats for retirement.

 

[chuckp]

Robert;
Is the block on the front of the trailer used to go under your jack skidplate when you disconnect the trailer from the truck or is it your wheel chock? /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Chuck

 

[chuckp]

Sure is a nice looking rig. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Chuck

 

[scruffy]

Chuck, the one you SEE is the one used under the tongue jack, the two on the other side that you can't see are the wheel chocks! Hey, the things were cheap (didn't cost a cent) and they work great! I hauled them things all the way from Kansas to Georgia, and back to California, laying right on the trailer as you see them! Wonder they never bounced off and creamed someone's vehicle!

 

[Harv]

Scruffy -

It definitely looks like you've got the travel gear all worked out (present truck problems aside).

Did you say a while back that you occassionaly drag that puppy to Oregon and back?

 

[scruffy]

Harv, until I get a permanent structure up that is secure, then I have no option! We are looking at building a 30X40 metal shop building, but it won't be for a year or two yet.
I can't see leaving it set out in the weather, (freezing temps, snow) without any means of security in the meantime.

P.S. - I think my immediate problems are resolved, the long term engine problems, well that I'll worry about down the road. I don't think it will be an immediate concern at this point.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by scruffy on 10/30/00 08:44 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[chuckp]

Robert,
The reason I mentioned the block is because that is exactly what I have. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I keep a piece of Cinder Block to put under the jack so it will be high enough to reach my trailer hitch the next time I hook up. I also haul it from place to place on the trailer and it has never fallen off. And, you are right, it was (cheap)inexpensive. Funny how good ideas seem to get around. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Chuck

 

[scruffy]

Chuck, one other thing I will usually carry on trips (besides tool storage box on tongue) is a 2.5 ton floor jack. I normally slide it in front of the bucket, or under a vehicle (if the wheels are too close) in the front and chain and lock to the ramp storage bracket. Beats the heck out of sliding a bottle jack under an axle if needed. I've ruined two tires via the old (pardon the word usage here) chuckholes method. Both times the front tire on the passenger side.
Yessir, I think some of us are more frugal than others!

 

[WVBill]

Scruffy:

That looks a lot like the set up I had towing my B6100 from California (Thousand Oaks) back here to West Virginia in September - down to the Dodge Ram. Mine is a 1500 with the 5.9L engine.

I bought my trailer while I was back there (Carson Trailer in Victorville). Got an excellent price on it compared with what they go for around here - I should be able to sell the trailer for a used price and make money on the deal!

Bill

 

[scruffy]

Bill, I like the truck, but you did the smart thing by getting a V8. I bought mine with the 3.9L V6, which I would advise against for anyone contemplating towing anything. Flat ground is not bad, but hills are a drag, it just doesn't have the bottom end for that, or freeway running with a load. No guts.

 

[Thomas]

Would that be corn on the front of the trailer deck. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Hope you plan it well when driving the tractor around those low branches with the muffler that high./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[scruffy]

Thomas, no corn! Yessir I am careful with that exhaust stack. When we first moved up here, I poked a hole in the right front top of a 28 foot mini motor home. One lesson, one repair is all it takes to make me learn! I trimmed all offending branches!

 

[RobertN]

Nice trucks! I want to sell my older Ford F250, and get a newer Dodge. I want a 2500 series 4x4 extracab diesel though...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[scruffy]

Robert, if you plan on doing any heavy towing, you are barking up the right alley! The V-12 is another good engine for heavy duty towing work. The V-8 is good, but the V6 is really underpowered for the size of vehicle by itself. The 24 valve 3.9L V6 I had in my Chrysler LHS would definately fly well in the RAM 1500 P/U, but I wouldn't think it would have any more bottom end to it. Probably not as much low end torque even. Stay away from the 96's though, they had nothing but tranny problems with the automatics.

 

[ERNIEB]

Scruffy, You are right about the V6. A friend of mine owns and trains a few racehorses and occasionaly hauls them to Houston or up to Lone Star Park with a two horse trailer. He had an older Dodge with the 383, and traded it in on a 99 with the V6. After 6 months he was so disgusted with it he traded it for a V8. Man, did he take a beating on that deal.
ErnieB

 

[scruffy]

Ernie, I sure wouldn't like someone to make the same mistake that I did. I thought it would be ok, in a pig's eye it is. I kept it because I didn't want to take a beating, but in reality, I would've made out ok. Only paid 13,900 for it at a dealership going out of business sale!
I kinda thought that I would replace it with a V8 when the motor died.

 

[WVBill]

Ernie/Scruffy:

I highly recommend the 5.9L V8 on the Ram 1500. Like I said, I towed my B6100, FEL, Tiller, box blade and some other stuff on my 16' trailer coast to coast. Also towed a BobCat on a construction trailer locally. The truck pulled them so well I hardly knew they were there. Went from about 14.7 mpg on the trip there down to about 12.5 mpg on the trip back with the load.

Bill