Trailering broken machine

[paulyny]

How would you folks go about getting a non running machine onto a trailer? Im trying to find out how i could load a 4,000lb tractor onto a utility trailer with ramps. How about a winch mounted to trailer?

 

[shvl73]

Winch should work. You could also use a come along winch and a chain. Winch as far as you can, then chain to prevent roll back and reset winch. I've done it with cars.

 

[MrJimi]

I would use a cable winch like this, maybe better quality
Jim

 

[RobS]

With enough cable and a pulley, you could pull it up with another vehicle. Come to think of it, if your tow vehicle is angled from the trailer, you may be able to pull it straight up with a second vehicle. I suppose you could use your tow vehicle seperate from the trailer if you got the trailer very well blocked in place.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

A winch would be BEST, come-along next best, but I have pushed a tractor onto a trailer with another tractor (w/loader)

 

[Highbeam]

Just this last Friday I broke off my hydraulic filter while brushhogging at my rural property. When this happens the entire machine stops. No steering, hydraulics, 3ph lift, or HST transmission. You have about 5 seconds to move the tractor to a good winching location IF you notice the filter getting torn off.

I have done it twice now with my 4500 lb tractor onto a dove tail car hauler trailer. 5 foot ramps. One 2-ton cheapy come-a-long from walmart along with the binder chains. Thus far I have been able to get the trailer pretty close to the dead tractor but never lined up so I need to manually steer the tractor tires by actually muscling the tires in the desired direction.

Hook a chain to the tractor and then the comealong to the front of the trailer and start working it. You don't want the comealong scraping along the trailer deck. I use the tractor's parking brake to hold the machine while I reset the come-along which only has about a 5 foot pull before having to reset it.

It is not hard. You have to be smart though and work slowly. Cables can snap and tractors can roll back. It takes about an hour to do it the second time.

The two ton comealong is very capable so long as you remember to release the tractor brake when you start pulling again. Hah!

On edit: I have always fixed the tractor while still on the trailer. I don't have any experience unloading a dead tractor though I would consider it more dangerous.

 

[lug nut]

I mounted an atv winch and a car battery on the front of my trailer. That was the best money I never spent (I got them both for free). I couldn't count how many times I have used the winch, and my back thanks me every time I do.

 

[Kendall69]

I've moved them with a flat bed wrecker. Sure it will cost $50.00 - $100.00, worth it as they have the tilt bed and winch.

 

[schmism]

i pulled a full size surburban that blew transmission chunks up on a guys deck over goosneck with my truck. We hooked up my 20' tow strap and it was no problem for me to pull him up..... he had his come-along out and was going to spend like hrs trying to wench it up..... i had it pulled up in about 2 min counting the time it took to find a tow point on the front of the burb....

 

[George2615]

I have 2 trailers and a winch on each. I have an 8K on one and 9K winch on the other. I run the cable out and through a snatch block pulley then back up to the front of the trailer. The snatch block pulley increases the weight rating I can pull by reducing the cable speed as it winches in. Each winch has its own trailer mounted battery that is kept charged by the tow vehicle through a 12V hot lead with an inline circuit breaker. I have dragged dead vehicles (cars and trucks), small excavators, and a small dozer onto the trailers without any problem other than it takes time to do so. Sometimes you may have to move the hookup point so it comes on straight. A come-along will also work but will wear out your arms real fast.