Extending a 22ft deck over trailer by 3-1/2 ft.

[mcmxi]

I have to haul the MX and flail to a job this afternoon/evening so had to wrap up a few things. I got the pallet forks cut down so that the rear of the deck sits flat on the ground. I also managed to get all four bolts through the stake pockets and trailer frame and nuts installed.

I welded up the top flanges of all of the C-channel cross members and will get to the underside later. I finished up all the welding under the deck with the exception of the deck to the frame. I made it much harder for myself by putting the deck plate on before doing all of the vertical up welds. I did a bunch of overhead welds too and am ok with how it turned out.

I don't need the extension to haul the MX and flail but I can put the bucket on and have lots of room to move the load around. I do need to weld on the CURT load leveling hooks at some point but will need to add plate inside the I-beam web area.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Nice welds.

 

[mcmxi]

Nice welds.

Thanks.

I towed the MX and flail yesterday afternoon for a 4-1/2 hour job, and the trailer worked well other than incorrect tongue weight on the way out. It's not fun when the tongue weight is too light for the load. I rolled the bucket back and got the tractor further forward for the return trip and it was a lot better. I have to say, the reduction in deck angle is an improvement for sure.

Here's the hefty MX with much of the weight sitting on the extension. I have a bit more welding to do before I haul the M6060 and folding cutter to my friend's place. I ran out of ER70S-6 welding wire so need to pick up some more. I have two rolls of flux cored wire and plenty of 6011 and 7018 rods but need wire regardless.

 

[Tarmy]

Thanks.

I towed the MX and flail yesterday afternoon for a 4-1/2 hour job, and the trailer worked well other than incorrect tongue weight on the way out. It's not fun when the tongue weight is too light for the load. I rolled the bucket back and got the tractor further forward for the return trip and it was a lot better. I have to say, the reduction in deck angle is an improvement for sure.

Here's the hefty MX with much of the weight sitting on the extension. I have a bit more welding to do before I haul the M6060 and folding cutter to my friend's place. I ran out of ER70S-6 welding wire so need to pick up some more. I have two rolls of flux cored wire and plenty of 6011 and 7018 rods but need wire regardless.

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You still have that scale I sold you? Hope it is still serving you well…

Nice posts on the extension…love the attention to detail…

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Man you do NICE work !!!!
When you figure out 'THE' position for the tractor, take a picture and print a copy, store in the truck.
Do that for all the 'combinations' you have to haul. That way, it's EASY to SEE the proper place for the load.

 

[Flintknapper]

Any of the Marker Lights or reflective tape need to be moved to the rear?

Looks like the original configuration had them on a rear 'bumper', but don't know if they required for regulations in your State or DOT?

The extension was a great idea. Nicely done.

 

[mcmxi]

You still have that scale I sold you? Hope it is still serving you well…

Nice posts on the extension…love the attention to detail…

Yes, I still have it thanks to you. I haven't used it for a while but it's good to keep around. I was in a rush yesterday to get on the road so didn't take the time to get the tongue weight sorted. I wish I had easy access to a scale so that I could get accurate weights of various pieces of equipment. If you don't know the weight, you can't figure out what the tongue weight should be.

 

[mcmxi]

Any of the Marker Lights or reflective tape need to be moved to the rear?

Looks like the original configuration had them on a rear 'bumper', but don't know if they required for regulations in your State or DOT?

The extension was a great idea. Nicely done.

Thanks very much. $600 or so rather than a new trailer seemed like the best way to go.

You make great points. I do plan on adding red and white, DOT approved tape to the end of the deck, but I might have to grind off the "diamonds" first. I'm not planning on moving the lights rearwards.

 

[mcmxi]

Man you do NICE work !!!!
When you figure out 'THE' position for the tractor, take a picture and print a copy, store in the truck.
Do that for all the 'combinations' you have to haul. That way, it's EASY to SEE the proper place for the load.

Thanks.

I took a picture of the MX on the trailer this morning before unloading it. I do need to make some notes on where equipment has proven to ride well. I probably should have backed the tractor on the trailer to give me more options in placing the load.

The big test, and reason why I extended the trailer, is coming up later this week.

 

[mcmxi]

I stopped by the local welding store this morning with the intent of buying some MIG wire. I ended up walking out with MIG wire, hard and soft grinding discs, and another Metabo 4-1/2" angle grinder that's made in Germany. I've had a DeWalt angle grinder for decades but it's finally on its last legs so time to upgrade. I like having two grinders, one with a hard disc and one with a sanding disc.

My friend works there and gave me a discount on the grinder, but it was still a $300+ hit.
There's so much in that store that I want but I have to put my blinders on. My friend is no help. He could lock the door when he sees me pulling up in the parking lot.

 

[Henro]

looks great.

Curious…What make truck is that in the background of your last photo?

 

[mcmxi]

looks great.

Curious…What make truck is that in the background of your last photo?

Thanks.

It's a Stewart & Stevenson M-1078 made in 1998. It has a 6.2L fully mechanical Caterpillar diesel engine, a 7-speed Allison transmission, it's AWD and weighs around 17,000lb unloaded. It's rated for 2.5 tons in the bed. When I picked it up at the docks in Seattle it only had 4,500 miles on it. Now it's a little over 5,000 miles.

Last year I designed and made a 3" receiver for it so that I can pull trailers around with it.

 

[Henro]

Nice!

Son-in-law's brother named his first daughter Taome… that would work for your truck too!

The Apple Of My Eye...

The color is a good compliment for your orange tractor...

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Thanks.

It's a Stewart & Stevenson M-1078 made in 1998. It has a 6.2L fully mechanical Caterpillar diesel engine, a 7-speed Allison transmission, it's AWD and weighs around 17,000lb unloaded. It's rated for 2.5 tons in the bed. When I picked it up at the docks in Seattle it only had 4,500 miles on it. Now it's a little over 5,000 miles.

Last year I designed and made a 3" receiver for it so that I can pull trailers around with it.

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View attachment 133445

That is Kick Ass man!

I remember the post for that hitch too.

Nice machine!!!!

How many gallons to the mile does that get?

 

[mcmxi]

That is Kick Ass man!

I remember the post for that hitch too.

Nice machine!!!!

How many gallons to the mile does that get?

Somewhere in the 8 to 12 mpg range when the fuel filters aren't clogged. When they're turned into overlanders with heavy boxes on the back and lots of gear, the fuel consumption is more like 6 mpg. It has a 60 gallon fuel tank so a range between 480 and 720 miles in my current configuration.

 

[The Evil Twin]

If you haven't already found out (by accident), watch the tail swing on that trailer when turning tight. Nice work and welds!

 

[mcmxi]

If you haven't already found out (by accident), watch the tail swing on that trailer when turning tight. Nice work and welds!

Thanks!

I spent some time yesterday morning modifying and welding on CURT hookup brackets for the CURT weight distribution hitch. I needed to weld them to the underside of the I-beam tongue so decided to add a gusset to give the part more strength.

I also completed one pass (100% weld) to connect the two tubes that support the deck extension. That's something like 12ft of 7018 weld!!

Finally, I loaded up the M6060 and RC3712 and went out to my friend's place late yesterday afternoon and started cutting his field.

 

[mcmxi]

And finally, the whole reason that I started this project.

 

[MOOTS]

That turned out good. Can the cutter be lowered to the deck while folded up? Is there any type of pin to lock the wings in the up position? DOT might not like you relying on the hydraulics to hold them up during transport.
When I was hauling rental equipment, I had to chain backhoe stabilizers together, since they didn’t have a pin to lock them up. Sorta the same line of thinking with the wings.

 

[mcmxi]

That turned out good. Can the cutter be lowered to the deck while folded up? Is there any type of pin to lock the wings in the up position? DOT might not like you relying on the hydraulics to hold them up during transport.
When I was hauling rental equipment, I had to chain backhoe stabilizers together, since they didn’t have a pin to lock them up. Sorta the same line of thinking with the wings.

Some great points!

The cutter as shown on the trailer is at the highest "down" position, but had I put more thought into it I would have removed the all of the shims in the pack (see photo) so that the deck sits lower. I'll definitely do that when I tow the tractor and cutter back home tomorrow evening. Thanks for that observation since it'll make towing safer if the center of gravity is lower.

There are pins on both sides to lock the wings in "transport" mode.