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pull lowboy with dumptruck

Wes J

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Jan 24, 2016
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Peoria, IL
I was once told by a reputable excavator that the reason there are so many 20 ton excavators is because there is a limit on the weight of a tag along trailer. Excavator model numbers are about metric tons. Put a 20 ton excavator on a three ton trailer, some of the weight is on the hitch. Somehow the math works, 20 tons on the trailer tires?

Willie

Depends on the state. Here in IL, we only get 34,000 on a set of tandems so most guys with an excavator on a tag trailer run 3 trailer axles. I don't think you could get a 20 ton machine to "bridge" on a tandem tag.
 

gwhammy

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Nov 20, 2013
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missouri
I can legal my 963 but you have to have around 15 thousand on the pintle. That's with a three axle trailer. You would have to go up in the low 20,000 pintle weight to scale on a tandem axle I would think.

Folding neck trailers are heavy and if you don't use the fold much they will freeze. Also they are usually ground bearing and if it's soft won't lift the load so you can hookup.

What's the green handles on top of the ball?
 
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movindirt

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under a shady tree
Depends on the state. Here in IL, we only get 34,000 on a set of tandems so most guys with an excavator on a tag trailer run 3 trailer axles. I don't think you could get a 20 ton machine to "bridge" on a tandem tag.

Good thing we don't have many bridges around here so long as you stay to one side of the river or the other :D Seems there is only 2 private guys here in my / your area that run a 3 axle tag, most run the 30 or 35 ton single drop semi trailers. Always fun to see them turn a tight corner with a 210 hoe on the trailer with the whole thing leaning like crazy.
 

Queenslander

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Tones, The only reason I have a dog trailer on my wish list is because I need to keep the ringfeder to tow a tipping trailer.
Another option might be a tag trailer and a convertible ringfeder/ flying saucer hitch.
I've never seen one in the flesh, how about you?

On Edit, Looks like it is a Ringfeder/ Bartlett Ball hitch. http://www.hitchbros.com.au/GarTh_Truck_Towbar.html
 
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CM1995

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Jan 21, 2007
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Location
Alabama
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Running what I brung and taking what I win
Tones, The only reason I have a dog trailer on my wish list is because I need to keep the ringfeder to tow a tipping trailer.
Another option might be a tag trailer and a convertible ringfeder/ flying saucer hitch.
I've never seen one in the flesh, how about you?

On Edit, Looks like it is a Ringfeder/ Bartlett Ball hitch. http://www.hitchbros.com.au/GarTh_Truck_Towbar.html

I've never seen a Bartlett ball hitch before, thanks for sharing the page Queenslander.

There is a video on their site that shows how the combo hitch works if anyone else like me has never seen one.
 

Tones

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Ubique
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Ex land clearing contractor, part-time retired
Tones, The only reason I have a dog trailer on my wish list is because I need to keep the ringfeder to tow a tipping trailer.
Another option might be a tag trailer and a convertible ringfeder/ flying saucer hitch.
I've never seen one in the flesh, how about you?

On Edit, Looks like it is a Ringfeder/ Bartlett Ball hitch. http://www.hitchbros.com.au/GarTh_Truck_Towbar.html
. The internet service where i'm at the mo is bad and can't open the link. Is that the type that rolls over to which ever hitch you want? If Iv'e never seen one but have seen plenty of Bartlett balls on dog trailers.
In Melbourne many years ago there where outfits with a very high goose neck trailers that the tail door of the bin could pass under. the bin had a ball bolted to the floor . To couple just swing the tail door open, back the truck onto the coupling, connect ,close the door and go. Looked as ugly as sin but guess it worked well. All the air and hydraulics where the same as for dog trailers
 
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digger doug

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Nov 2, 2011
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NW Pennsylvania
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Thrash-A-Matic designer
Yair . . .

Sorry folks.

Talking out of turn again . . . never even thought. I just can't get my head around detachable goosenecks. As I have mentioned I have never seen one or envisioned a situation where one would be useful.

Cheers.

Here ya goes...:
http://www.rogerstrailers.com/

They are local to me. Note when loaded up, and attached (ready to roll) the deck is about 18"-20" off the ground.
(and the bottom is about 5".....they do have problems with railroad crossing's getting stuck sometimes.)
 

gwhammy

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Nov 20, 2013
Messages
602
Location
missouri
You see a lot of drop decks around here with detach. I've watched them when they see a crossing or something it will drag on you can watch the smoke roll as they get enough speed up to drag across them. See the scrape marks all the time.
 

Scrub Puller

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Mar 29, 2009
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Gladstone Queensland Australia
Yair . . .

Gotcha digger doug. It seems to me the art of the U.S. trailer manufacturers is in building low clearance units to comply with regulations . . . I would hate to have to pull something with five inches clearance.

It seems though that the need is not universal for here is one U.S. manufacturer making a standard type of tag with ramps . . . same 8degree system is available on their 30 ton lowboy and my question is why would you use a detachable in preference to simple ramps like this.

In no way am I trying to be argumentative . . . just curious.

Hyd.Bi-Fold3.jpg

Cheers.
 

Birken Vogt

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Nov 30, 2003
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Location
Grass Valley, Ca
It seems to me that the real heavy trailers, Murray and Cozad around here anyway, are designed to shave every inch of height and every ounce of weight.

The convenience of hydraulic this and that is not really convenience if you have to pull the blade off the machine to make weight.

Driving up those nice 8 degree ramps on top of that thing is no longer any fun if you have to remove the ROPS to get under bridges.
 

td25c

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Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
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indiana
Yair . . .

I would hate to have to pull something with five inches clearance.

I'm the same way Scrub . We split the difference on the old 10' wide float . It was a double drop that sat pretty low to the ground ( 6 " clearance ) .

To make it work in our environment cut the vertical beams short on the goose neck . Looks a little strange as it sits higher in the front than rear . No high center road issues with it .
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.co...ozad-trailer-s&p=162605&viewfull=1#post162605

https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/showthread.php?12004-Structural-moving
 

movindirt

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under a shady tree
Yair . . .

Gotcha digger doug. It seems to me the art of the U.S. trailer manufacturers is in building low clearance units to comply with regulations . . . I would hate to have to pull something with five inches clearance.

It seems though that the need is not universal for here is one U.S. manufacturer making a standard type of tag with ramps . . . same 8degree system is available on their 30 ton lowboy and my question is why would you use a detachable in preference to simple ramps like this.

In no way am I trying to be argumentative . . . just curious.

View attachment 155386

Cheers.

Most all the private guys in my area run these trailers, they are always moving and so they don't want to take the time to split the trailer everytime, and for a 20 ton hoe they work fine. Take routes to avoid the bridges and you'll be fine.

9188204.jpg

Most all of them run them without ramps, including me. Saves your back and with a excavator you can jump on and off without any issues. That said I'd like to have a lowboy because climbing on that 36" tall deck when its slick gets sketchy :pointhead :D Its fun to watch guys back 953's up on these old short single drop trailers that are 8' wide. :drinkup
 
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digger doug

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Yair . . .

Gotcha digger doug. It seems to me the art of the U.S. trailer manufacturers is in building low clearance units to comply with regulations . . . I would hate to have to pull something with five inches clearance.
Yes, the number I always remember is 13' 6".

I did a foundation drawing once for a used Bullard Vertical lathe that was 14' 5" tall.

It came down from Buffalo one day in one piece on a lowboy. (much to my surprise)
IIRC it was 60k lbs, and over the 102" width as well.

With it on the trailer, I measured just about 5" clearance, 18" of floor, and then the 14' 6" of machine.

So being overweight, over width, and over height, it had an escort and took 5 hours to travel the 100 miles.

You'll note on my linked company, they offer a "well" between the rear wheels, to further tuck the boom of
a large excavator down lower.

Pulling with low clearance....these are popular around here:
http://www.roadtrafficsigns.com/Clearance-Sign/Railroad-Low-Ground-Clearance-Sign/SKU-X-W10-5.aspx
 
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lantraxco

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Jan 1, 2009
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Elsewhen
"Twelve foot six, it said on the sign, and those chickens were stacked to thirteen nine!"

It's horses for courses, you have to buy your trailer, if it's just the one, to haul the biggest, heaviest, ugliest, most helpless load you can think you will ever possibly haul, keeping it more or less legal and squeezing through under bridges and overpasses, through tunnels, and over bridges built in the 50's and 60's designed for the occasional 80,000 pound freight truck. Then at the end of the haul tug it all up a grade so steep you need a nine as a helper on the last mile. That's heavy haul, lol.
 

JoshA

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Mar 23, 2007
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Location
Alberta, Canada
Occupation
Excavation contractor
Yair . . . .

I seem to remember something about a "folding gooseneck" that was actuated by the behind the cab winch on the truck . . . are these still around or are they superseded?

Cheers.

Those are referred to as scissorneck trailers here, folding neck as well. Like gwhammy said, they are a staple in the oil field. You can haul a dozer on them to site, then turn around and drag a shack up the back, and put a pick-up truck on the neck.

I have two equipment trailers, a 53+ft scissor neck and a ~30ft lowboy. Started with the old lowboy, kept it when i got the scissor neck since i thought the short trailer would be handy for city work, but to be honest I rarely use it now. (My pictures below)

$_27.JPG
$_27.JPG


Honestly, just running up the ramps is nice, when conditions are good. Saves a lot of time over the back compared to the front. But climbing up in the winter with snow-packed tracks, or even mud, can be pretty treacherous. There's a reason we see so many machines on their side next to trailers, especially dozers. Killed or disabled people in the process.

I've walked my hoe up the neck of my trailer, carrying a hoe-pack on a chain, phone in one hand coffee in the other, dead of winter, not a care in the world. Not the same scenario up the back of my trailers!!


That would be a mechanical folding neck I would guess. Don't see them around this part of the country, just guessing they would be something used a lot in the oil field industry as it seems most of those trucks have a big winch behind the cab. Being able to winch them back on the truck would eliminate a ground bearing trailer not being able to return to loading height from soft ground.
 

Queenslander

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Apr 5, 2009
Messages
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Location
Australia
Your long trailer would be right at home here JoshA, the truck even has a bullbar... don't see too many of those outside Oz.
Or do you call them moosebars?
 

clintm

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Jul 7, 2013
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charlotte nc
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trucking,concrete recycling,grading, demolition
55ton 26'deck drop side detachable was pushing 13'6" tall 1,300 miles if I didn't have a drop side It would have been over height.
 

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RBMcCloskey

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New Jersey
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Heavy Construction Contractor
It was common in NJ before WWII to pull a lowbed trailer attached to a dolly hitched to a heavy single axel dumptruck. Theses were small local contractors and could not afford the luxury of having a single purpose truck.

Also keep in mind that the equipment was small, Caterpillar D4 and D6 size bulldozers, 1/2 cy to 3/4cy shovels, backhoes and cranes, 1 1/2 cy to 2 cy loaders, maybe a Caterpillar 12 grader and a 10 ton three wheel roller. Most of the equipment was 20 tons and less and slow speeds.

My family had these set ups until about 1920 in Hudson County NJ, they were pulled by Mack AC chain drive dumptrucks, the area was small and the speeds where 10 to 20 mph, (down hill with a strong tail wind). My Grandfather told me stopping was the biggest issue, not speed.

They were very large paving contractors at the time and bought tractor trailers in the early 1920's.
 
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