Rollback truck and trailer

[blue924.9]

Good afternoon, I had what I believe to be an off the wall question about hauling two tractors. I will start by saying the normal approach would be to get a 25 to 30 foot flatbed trailer, and with the price of new trailers I would get a tandem dual or triple axle so I won’t have to worry about out growing the trailer.

What I am wondering is if anyone has used a roll back or flatbed truck and and bumper pull trailer and made ramps of some sort to drive between truck and trailer. So unloading would be drive tractor off trailer, then drive 2nd tractor from truck to trailer and then off trailer and loading would be be reverse process.

Locally a 90s truck would be cheaper than a new or used in good shape trailer and I have a trailer that could be modified to use behind.

 

[T.R.K.]

I have seen that done before. ramps 5 ft. or so off the ground at the low end. Be sure you have your insurance paid up and know your maker.

 

[Cash4Toys]

What size tractors? What do you own now that would pull the new trailer? Pretty vague so far, a little more information would go a long way.

 

[MJMJ]

I think he’s asking about buying a rollback, and then using that to pull the trailer. So one tractor on the rollback, and one on the trailer. The rollback bed would tilt down to the trailer, so no need for ramps.

If I follow correctly.

 

[craigco]

My friend hauled tractors in the back of a dump truck with a trailer. Made ramps from trailer to the truck and tied them down so they couldn't slip out.

 

[blue924.9]

I think he’s asking about buying a rollback, and then using that to pull the trailer. So one tractor on the rollback, and one on the trailer. The rollback bed would tilt down to the trailer, so no need for ramps.

If I follow correctly.

Yes that is correct

 

[blue924.9]

What size tractors? What do you own now that would pull the new trailer? Pretty vague so far, a little more information would go a long way.

03 2500hd with 8.1 and Allison. Heaviest combo would be Allis WD and JD 630 at 3500 and 6500 to 7500

 

[blue924.9]

I have seen that done before. ramps 5 ft. or so off the ground at the low end. Be sure you have your insurance paid up and know your maker.

I’m talking about driving from the back of a roll back onto a trailer and then to the ground. So only a couple feet off the ground

 

[moresmoke]

If the front of your trailer has no obstructions, it should be pretty dang close to not needing ramps.

I had given this some thought at one time, but the price of any truck I would consider put the idea out of reach.

 

[sms]

I’m talking about driving from the back of a roll back onto a trailer and then to the ground. So only a couple feet off the ground

I built ramps to do just that. Tandem Kenworth and 20 ton trailer. Hauled three tractors. Everything being heavy duty there was no movement when loading or unloading.

 

[sms]

I built ramps to do just that. Tandem Kenworth and 20 ton trailer. Hauled three tractors. Everything being heavy duty there was no movement when loading or unloading.

Here is a picture of my combination. No pictures of ramps or loaded with tractors.

 

[WESnIL]

A roll back where you load and unload from the ground would be the most practical. That eliminated the need for (unstable) ramps from truck bed to trailer when loading and unloading. That means that the truck and trailer have to be unhooked each time. Pick your poison.

 

[showcrop]

Good afternoon, I had what I believe to be an off the wall question about hauling two tractors. I will start by saying the normal approach would be to get a 25 to 30 foot flatbed trailer, and with the price of new trailers I would get a tandem dual or triple axle so I won’t have to worry about out growing the trailer.

What I am wondering is if anyone has used a roll back or flatbed truck and and bumper pull trailer and made ramps of some sort to drive between truck and trailer. So unloading would be drive tractor off trailer, then drive 2nd tractor from truck to trailer and then off trailer and loading would be be reverse process.

Locally a 90s truck would be cheaper than a new or used in good shape trailer and I have a trailer that could be modified to use behind.

I did that for a few years until I outgrew that set-up and got a tandem dual. My ramps were built to lock into the front of the trailer. It worked well. I have known of a few guys over the years that did the same thing.

 

[super99]

Buying an old truck might be cheaper BUT; then you have truck license and insurance, is there truck inspection where you live? Truck maintainence, big enough that you need a CDL if you don't already have one.

 

[jon f mn]

With a roll back ramps should not even be needed as you can run the bed back. Much safer too. But even ramps to a regular flatbed should be easy enough to make.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Yes that is correct

The only "why not" here is the ramps from the truck to the trailer. My sense here is that you are looking to avoid unhooking the trailer, hence the ramp idea.

I don't think it will be nearly as much hassle as you think, to simply unhook the trailer, pull ahead, and use the rollback as intended. That's the way I'd do it just to avoid having to deal with the heavy ramps. My equipment trailer has short slide-in ramps that feel like they are made of dark matter every time I have to handle them. For sure I would not want to handle the long steel ramps it would take to bridge the gap.

Another idea: If you could set things up so that you can roll the truck bed back and set it down on the trailer deck, and unload the tractor from truck to trailer to ground that way... You'd need a block under the wheel lift on the rollback to hold the trailer tongue up.

 

[504]

I did that with a small Toyota pu and flat trailer to haul lawnmowers. Two mowers and just drove them up on the trailer and into the truck. Worked great till I bought a 20 foot trailer got rid of the 8 foot trailer

 

[MJMJ]

It seems like many still aren't getting what he's saying. Maybe there's a misunderstanding what a rollback is.
This is a rollback. In his idea, there would be no need for ramps from rollback to trailer.

 

[ss55]

Good afternoon, I had what I believe to be an off the wall question about hauling two tractors. I will start by saying the normal approach would be to get a 25 to 30 foot flatbed trailer, and with the price of new trailers I would get a tandem dual or triple axle so I won’t have to worry about out growing the trailer.

What I am wondering is if anyone has used a roll back or flatbed truck and and bumper pull trailer and made ramps of some sort to drive between truck and trailer. So unloading would be drive tractor off trailer, then drive 2nd tractor from truck to trailer and then off trailer and loading would be be reverse process.

Locally a 90s truck would be cheaper than a new or used in good shape trailer and I have a trailer that could be modified to use behind.

A rollback bed should include a pretty stout winch (10,000 lb?) so you should be able to winch either tractor onto the truck bed from the ground or from the trailer.

I would be concerned about balancing the loads when on the road. Also how will the truck and trailer axles drop or pitch as a 3500 or 7500 pound tractor moves down the roll back bed onto the trailer. Neither the truck or the trailer are built to handle an extra 3500 or 7500 pounds of tongue weight when the tractor is momentarily behind the truck rear axle and ahead of the trailer axle. Maybe other people have already done this and can show videos?

 

[Keith True]

I drove a combo like that years ago.Just slid the body back and tilted it to touch the trailer deck.We did have to change the jack on the trailer,the original was in the center and wouldn't let the body tilt down enough to touch the trailer deck.I carried a lot of dead tractors that way.Winch one up the ramps,onto the trailer,and then up onto the truck bed.Lash that one down,run the winch cable out under it,and pull the second one onto the trailer.Probably dozens of times I hauled a crawler with me to pull a machine out of the woods,the mud,any place not accessible by the truck.One man,one truck,one trip.We went with two low profile jacks,one on each side,with a common crank.Also,using the double jack setup we could leave equipment on the trailer when unhooked.Well,at least do it comfortably.