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Tractor loading revisited.
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Posted by Hugh MacKay on May 20, 2004 at 19:56:42 from (64.228.11.10):
I notice a few days ago some of you guys took exception to my saying backing a tractor onto a truck or trailer is a nono. I stand by what I said, and will briefly attempt to explain why. During my years farming, I have had 3 trailers geared up for amoung other things hauling tractors. The first was a 18' deck, bumper hitch, two 3,500 lb axles, pulled either by a C-20 or C-50 Chevy. The second was a 40' deck goose neck with air brakes and pulled by a single axle highway tractor. The one I currently have is just a light tandem car hauler, and really all I ever move with that is my SA, 130 or 140. When I bought the 40' trailer 100+ hp tractors were just coming on the market thus I found as well as my own tractors, I was being called on by two dealers to do a lot of deliveries for them. This became a commercial part of my farming operation. First let me say that other than ice or snow just about the poorest place for a tractor to obtain traction is on a trailer deck. You can weld rebar, angle iron, etc on ramp portions of trailer. The deck however is something you keep smooth and free of such items. When you back a tractor up a ramp to trailer deck, at the point when your rear wheels hit that deck, the front end is still coming up the incline, thus the tractor is still pulling. In a position like this, if a tractor spins out it will most definately spin sideways. Such a drop if it happens will almost certainly result in upset. When you drive on, tractor is level when drive wheels hit the deck. I have loaded hundreds of tractors and never had one come up on the front end driving on foreward. Most of these were tractors I had driven for the first time heading for the back of the trailer. Contrary to what some of you said, you hit the back of the trailer at or near full throttle in 1st gear. Momentum is what makes the operation smooth. If a trailer deck is wet you should always use a drying agent. sand, cat litter, etc. There are exceptions to this and every case must be judged individually. Mounted equipment behind is one of them. I will give you one tip, until you treat this as I'm driving from point A to point B you will have trouble. Moving a tractor inch by inch or foot by foot, onto or off a trailer will get you in trouble quickly. One other item on truck trailer combinations, with the exception of your steering axle, all axles should carry the same weight or at least within 5%. Your driving axle should be the one 5% heavy. I don't care if that is an F-150 with a car hauler or a 10 axle, multi trailer set up hauling 140,000 lbs. If you want stability same rule applies. Safety experts today are watching driver fatigue closely. From experience I can tell you nothing will create driver fatigue any quicker than a poorly loaded truck.
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