Loading question: what works best?

[Ralph Bauer]

At auctions, they always promise to be able to assist with loading, most of the time, they do but sometimes it seems to be impossible to get the promised assistance a few days after the event, but within the promised time (of loading being furnished):
I have a GN trailer with a 12k winch, triple self-cleaning ramps and wooden deck. I could drag big chunky metal items up, but do not want to get hung up, or damage the trailer floor, paint more than needed. Thought about bolting plywood to the ramps, overlay floor, or use wooden rollers or HD plastic "shoes", skids (bucket lids, cut open oil bottles) on the pulled items. Bringing my own loader means another trip (often 150 miles one way!) or getting a rental is too $.
Or one loads in the middle of nowhere, snakes being more common than people...
Just looking for some options that may have worked for you.
Current dilemma, shop-built spray rig: booms, tank, pump& hoses already off, but rest is bulky no hubs, wheels, but repairable and needed as a whole unit. Think it weighs around 5-700 lbs. No immediate neighbors, either.
Any thoughts, help, ideas are appreciated!
Ralph in OK.
 

[cd1]

bolt boards or heavy plywood on your ramps, then go to awdirect.com and search "skates" it will make the dragging go easier.
 

[Ralph Bauer]

Thanks, just wondering if you would suggest the snap together kind to make wider skids or should I go directly with double wide or quad wide ones??
Ralph.
 

[Larry Baker]

Ralph

Another thing that works well with dead and track machines is old belting.I just roll it down the back and drag whats happenin' up and if it gets hung under it or what ever I just roll it up against the machine and leave it to unload.The ad side of this is they are heave so I put it on the trailer before I leave and just roll it to the back,take the bungy off and let it go.That stops the deal with the track hung in the ramp deal,also good for loading running tractors on steel or parts tractors with no rubber,same thing
 

[loading?]

They use pieces of pipe to roll houses on when they are being moved. Get a few pieces of pipe and move them as needed to get the trailer loaded, then jack the items up and remove the pipe.
 

[the tractor vet]

Being one that use to do a lot of sales (1) if i was going to go to a sale and load out was limited to only a couple days then the trailer went with me and i would load out that day while the help was there . If the loading was up to you like most places around here Then i just did not attend . (2) Most sales i attend were at auction lots that had there own loader . And if for any reason i could not get back during there normal loading time i would make arrangements for another time . One time i bought some stuff at a sale and due to a blizzard everything got covered over and a lot of the stuff sat for three months before we could find it . One 560 was lots till then when we could only see the top six inches of the exhaust pipe sticking up out of the snow drift. I have had plows and disc's get frozen in and not been able to get them out till after the spring thaw . And the Auctioneer and i would make arrangements to have a loader there at a give time to help me load out. If they did not then well i would do what ever it took to get my stuff loaded and never go back to one of his sales , and when he would send me a flyer for the next one i would cll him and tell him flat out that wi was not coming to anymore of his sale as he felt that my money was not worth his time to help me so why should i help him .
 

[caterpillar guy]

If you use pipe under the item as stated works good for somethings. Others you can use your winch to roll them by hooking up under the item and let it turn inside the loop of cable or chain. At the end you will want to leave it on some kind of cribbing to get the chain or cable out.
As for loading at most auctions I load at (Ritchie,Weeks, and such loading is not an issue). I quit going to local auctions when guys would pay more for used than cost new.
 

[Keith Molden]

I made a couple skid plates out of 1/8"X2'X2' steel, Bent the front of them up a little so they kinda act as sled runners,cut 2 holes in it for chains to fasten to the item being loaded and another with a shackle to attach to my winch. I place it under the front of the item. It lets the front come onto the trailer without catching on anything. I use it alot for tractors without front wheels, plows that may dig into the ramps, ect. Has worked good for me over the years and they fit in my tool box when not in use. I also carry 2 snatch blocks with me, you wouldn't believe how useful they can be. Just my thoughts, Keith