Trailer overloaded, you think??

[czechsonofagun]

In a similar case, do not depend on experience and such. Specific gravity for wood is available, for instance here. After that all it takes is measuring tape and elementary math. Even if you round it up and use Pi as 3 (bottom limit) or 4 (upper limit) it will give you much better idea, than un/qualified questimate and it can save a lot of trouble even lifes.

My $0.02 of course.

 

[studor]

If you read the comments of the guy taking the pictures he says the loader had its back wheels off the ground when it was picking the log out of the ditch. I am kinda thinking the loader guy knew that this was not going to work but probably figured he would just flatten the trailer and teach joe loghead a lesson. A log that size weighs at least 10,000lbs, even out of softwood

 

[2manyrocks]

So why didn't the hitch on the truck fail before this apparently wrecked the frame on the truck? Maybe it's good advertising for the hitch maker.

 

[Builder]

By the looks of the picture, my guess is the front axle of the trailer broke (look at the fender clearance over the front axle of the trailer) , leaving about 2/3 of the total trailer weight (~4 tons) on the hitch and that bent the frame on the truck.

No truck that size could handle 8,000lbs of tongue weight.

 

[laen64]

Well thats sort of like the olde Cliche' "The straw that broke the camel's back"

HooAh!

 

[Renze]

So why didn't the hitch on the truck fail before this apparently wrecked the frame on the truck? Maybe it's good advertising for the hitch maker.

When we drive a small tractor on a 2 ton tandem car hauler, its not unusual for an average European family car to be lifted a foot off the ground...
My brother likes the tilt bed i made for him, much better.

 

[Tig]

So why didn't the hitch on the truck fail before this apparently wrecked the frame on the truck?

I have a class V hitch on my Ranger. Not because I need it or can use it but because it was on sale cheaper than the correct sized hitch.

 

[salopez]

I had that hitch on my ranger! always laughed at the thought that I could lift my ranger up with a crane but could only pull 2500 lbs.

 

[Eagleview]

The fatal mistake was putting the forks in front of the trailer mudguard so he could get back out again . This put most of the weight forward of the axle pivot points . If they had used chains and lowered the log onto the trailer further back he probably would have made it home , very slowly .

 

[Tig]

If they had used chains and lowered the log onto the trailer further back he probably would have made it home , very slowly .

Yeah, but then they'd have to leave the tractor behind and make two trips.