Shop-made header trailer question

[Ralph Bauer]

Got a great running gear from an old flatbed trailer and would like to turn it into a header trailer to fit headers of various sized 10-16ft mostly, different manufacturers, incl. A-B/AC, Deere, MH/MF. All of them will be the old style with the feeder housing attached to the head. Here are my questions: Any particular minimum height of the trailer, "universal" height? (I know that by raising/lowering of the header I will have some wiggle-room) Do I need to slightly offset the "V-shape" that will hold the header to compensate for the weight of the feeder house or is the load difference from side to side of the trailer negligible? Since most headers are slightly different, is there a universal set-up for the "V" or an adjustable one or is it better to have separate trailer for each make/series header?
Thanks in advance, Ralph in OK.
(And yes, that's a '63 JD 5010 on the left and a MM UTS LP in the background....lol)

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Your primary consideration needs to be the size of the wheels, 8 or 10" at the most. With 15 or 16" wheels it is difficult to deposit the head on the trailer at that high angle, in a way that it can be easily re-attached. You won't have much choice where the "V" is on the trailer, because the combine wheels will hit the trailer before the head reaches the desired offset of the "V". You're going to have overhang of the feeder house, but this can be minimized by having the head as close to the ground as possible. Another problem you're going to have is that unless it is a corn head, it will not support the feeder house unless you have little kick-stands incorporated into your "V" in the vicinity of the feeder house, at or beyond the centerline of the front idler for the feeder chain. If you're planning on roading these trailers, set them up so the feeder house is knocking down mailboxes, not pointing into oncoming traffic.
 

[dbock]

I have built a couple of header trailers, but never one for a head with the feeder house attached. However I am actually wanting to build one to use for my Case heads which have the feeder house attached. In fact I just bought the running gear for it yesterday. I plan on building it similar to a regular header trailer, but I think I will replace the blocks on the lower side with turn buckles that will attach to the feeder house that way I can adjust the attachment height on uneven ground. I also think I will build it so that it loads from the opposite side, so that the feeder house is on the passenger side. This is all subject to change once I start building it
 

[Ralph Bauer]

Sounds like you will start the project before me....
Please keep me posted always like to learn from others..
Have a great week.
Ralph in OK.