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The Daily Bale
Natasha Post, Author
TractorTransport.com
One of the advantages of shipping farm tractors and other self-propelling machinery is that you can easily drive to load them on the shipping trailer with ease, safety, and convenience. But what happens when your farm equipment is inoperable?
How to Load an Inoperable Farm Equipment on a Trailer
If yours is a smaller UTV( utility transport vehicle), you can use auxiliary loading equipment, including cranes and forklifts, to facilitate an easy and safe cargo loading process. Just pay attention to ensure that the chain and hook assemblies of the crane match your load’s weight to avoid imbalances. The imbalance might translate to consistent shakes, unexpected slips, and falls that could lead to serious damages and losses.
If you are shipping large or oversize broken down farm equipment, you can utilize a chain and automatic or manual come-along equipment. First, tie two chains at both sides of the axle away from the radius arm. You can then link the chains together at the tractor’s front side to form a line that runs down the trailer’s center and connect them to the come-along tool. The connecting point should be safely located at a safe distance away from the machinery to avoid scraping and damaging the hood sides.
Use the come-along tool to pull the machinery up the ramps and load it onto the trailer. Ensure that it is well-positioned and evenly distributes its weight on both axles. You might want to have a driver on the tractor to control its direction and ensure that the load sits appropriately on the shipping trailer. This will save you the hassle of coming down and confirming the freight orientation after every few pulls.
Securing Your Farm Equipment on the Trailer
The weight of your broken down farm equipment will determine the type and number of tie-down straps required to secure it. As a general rule, the strength of your tie-down straps must be equal to at least 50% of the load weight. You can do this by matching the hook and chain binder grades. Confirm the number produced on the chain and compare it to the one etched on the boomer of the handle. The ultimate sum of the tie-down chain working load limit is what should match the weight of the broken down farm equipment to be shipped. That said, if you are moving a 1400lb mower, you will require two tie-downs of at least 700lbs. Here are some of the legal and fundamental requirements to consider when securing your farm equipment for transport:
- Ensure you tighten the chains well to prevent the load from wiggling and shifting during transit.
- All extra chains should be securely wrapped around the connections to keep them from loosening and impacting your safety, that of the shipping equipment, assets, and other road users.
- Fasten the tie-down straps in a linear downward style without bends, twists, and angles.
- Be sure to examine the chains and hooks and confirm that they match perfectly. Remember that even the slightest mismatch at any link might lead to the snapping of the straps.
Safety Tips to Guide You in Loading Inoperable Farm Equipment on a Trailer
Loading broken-down farm equipment such as tractors can be quite challenging and dangerous. Therefore, you must pay attention to all the safe loading procedures to ensure the utmost safety of the loading crew, your broken down farm equipment, and the shipping equipment. You must also have a vast knowledge of heavy cargo loading and securement procedures. Be sure your loading ground is flat and firm for safe loading. This is especially essential when operating in wet, muddy, and slippery conditions. Also, be sure to clean the ramps and position them perfectly to match the machinery’s wheel position.
Always read and understand your equipment’s manufacturer guide on safe loading, securing, and offloading broken down farm equipment on a trailer. You should never start moving until you have confirmed that your load is well loaded, positioned, and secured. If you do not have the knowledge and experience in handling such heavy cargo, you might want to seek the professional services of renowned hauling specialists. Remember to notify them of the inoperable state of your farm equipment for preparations.