Occasional trailer-use risks (forgetfulness)

[GeoHorn]

I was reminded today that Sometimes a simple task can become hazardous to equipment and ourselves.

I have been towing trailers for over 40 years. But today I was reminded that “familiarity breeds contempt”.

I loaded my tractor onto the trailer to haul it to the dealer this morning. I made several ”idiot” errors in the process which I knew Not to Do…but did anyway. I’m thinking it’s from lack-of-practice because I only-rarely haul my tractor anywhere.

I placed wood blocks beneath the rear of the trailer when loading it here at home….so that when I load the tractor the trailer-tail doesn’t drop to the ground or raise the rear of the truck off the ground…. (There’s a humorous but Sad You-tube of a guy who failed to remember this while his truck/trailer were on a hill. When the rear axle of the truck left the ground….the entire combo ran-away down the hill and wrecked. The owner had also forgot that the transmission “Park” position only locks the rear wheels.). <edit> Same is true of most emer/park brakes. CHOCK the tow-vehicle’s wheels. ALL of ‘em.>

Unfortunately, when I finished loading the tractor…. I left those blocks at home*….and it. was during the off-loading at the dealer that I realized I’d also forgotten to completely lock the “bull-nose” coupler on the tongue. (This “collar” type hitch isn’t on any of my trailers but this little-used one.)
As I drove the tractor off the trailer the rear sank to the ground….and disconnected the trailer completely from the ball. Fortunately nothing worse occurred. (The safety-chains were properly connected….but it would have been a nasty surprise if it had disconnected while traveling on the hiway.)

I also remembered…about midway in the trip….that I shouldn’t trailer the tractor with the canopy still on the ROPS. (My canopy is a quick-detach type…. and I personally created and installed a placard beneath it to. Remind Me “Remove Canopy for. Transport“.). But in my early-morning pre-coffee load-up ….I forgot.
Fortunately, it didn’t blow off to get damaged as I had loaded the tractor ”in reverse” so it was facing aft. When I remembered this about the middle of the trip I slowed down a bit more.

I’m posting this purely hoping to help/remind others …. Before loading…. THINK about all you Know about this ….as a reminder.
THEN…. After loading up….. take a moment with a cup of coffee and LOOK at what you’ve done.

I should have done better.

I Did Remember to take the key out of the ignition so it wasn’t lost on the highway somewhere.

I’m fabricating/welding some permantently-mounted, telescoping rear-stands for the trailer so I don’t have to deal with wood blocks anymore.

 

[trikepilot]

I got these from etrailer for less than I could have sourced steel and built them. I welded them to back of my 7x16 for the exact purpose you are looking for.

 

[GeoHorn]

I got these from etrailer for less than I could have sourced steel and built them. I welded them to back of my 7x16 for the exact purpose you are looking for.

View attachment 169862

Thanks! That’s good info. I have been building gates this last week and have plenty of “drops” from the 2-3/8” and 3” pipe to make them.… but that’s the type I’m making.

(2-3/8” pipe telescopes within 3’ pipe very nicely)

Here’s a direct link to the product you posted, in case anyone is curious: https://www.etrailer.com/Camper-Jacks/etrailer/SJ-R208.html

 

[GreensvilleJay]

yup, had a look, $25 a unit, even with free steel, can't make them for that !

 

[Bee-Positive]

Your story and warning rings too true. Having done something a thousand times over the years bring complacency.

I have a dedicated 4x7 I use to haul garbage every couple of months to the transfer station. just last year I had hooked it up and headed out. About 4 miles into the trip the tongue popped off the ball going 60 mph, I forgot to lock it down. The chains held as the tongue dragged on the ground and the trailer swayed left to right. Fortunately all that was damaged was my pride as I picked up garbage over half a mile (and it was covered and strapped).

I can't imagine how differently it may have turned out if I had been towing the tractor.

 

[Trash Panda]

Helplessly watched from 200’ away as an apprentice unhooked the latch on a gooseneck, and drove a 12,000 pound skid steer off the trailer.

Was quite painful watching that trailer go into rocket-takeoff mode before slamming down on the truck it was previously hooked to.

Trailers are hard.

 

[Bee-Positive]

At least he strapped it down well.

 

[GeoHorn]

There are doubtless many thoughts we all have about this….He’s lucky he wasn’t killed..
He could have continued to drive his tractor Forward onto the trailer.
He could have backed the tractor back Off the trailer.
He SHOULD have chocked the wheels on the trailer, and even better both the truck And trailer.
(I personally always load my tractor onto the trailer in ”reverse” ….Backing it up/onto the trailer so that my large wheels are fwd on the trailer. This prevents any chance of the tractor “flipping” while loading, and allows me to use the 3-pt arms to raise and tighten the chains used to tie the tractor down. Of course, that prevents any attachments to be transported so that may not work for others. ymmv


Here’s the sad video:

 

[trikepilot]

That video has certainly made the rounds over the years. I bet it has done more good than the owner can appreciate in terms of being a cautionary tale for others. Hollow consolation though it is

 

[Trash Panda]

At least he strapped it down well.

Worlds heaviest lawn dart.

 

[D2Cat]

I was reminded today that Sometimes a simple task can become hazardous to equipment and ourselves.

I have been towing trailers for over 40 years. But today I was reminded that “familiarity breeds contempt”.

I loaded my tractor onto the trailer to haul it to the dealer this morning. I made several ”idiot” errors in the process which I knew Not to Do…but did anyway. I’m thinking it’s from lack-of-practice because I only-rarely haul my tractor anywhere.

I placed wood blocks beneath the rear of the trailer when loading it here at home….so that when I load the tractor the trailer-tail doesn’t drop to the ground or raise the rear of the truck off the ground…. (There’s a humorous but Sad You-tube of a guy who failed to remember this while his truck/trailer were on a hill. When the rear axle of the truck left the ground….the entire combo ran-away down the hill and wrecked. The owner had also forgot that the transmission “Park” position only locks the rear wheels.). <edit> Same is true of most emer/park brakes. CHOCK the tow-vehicle’s wheels. ALL of ‘em.>

Unfortunately, when I finished loading the tractor…. I left those blocks at home*….and it. was during the off-loading at the dealer that I realized I’d also forgotten to completely lock the “bull-nose” coupler on the tongue. (This “collar” type hitch isn’t on any of my trailers but this little-used one.)
As I drove the tractor off the trailer the rear sank to the ground….and disconnected the trailer completely from the ball. Fortunately nothing worse occurred. (The safety-chains were properly connected….but it would have been a nasty surprise if it had disconnected while traveling on the hiway.)

I also remembered…about midway in the trip….that I shouldn’t trailer the tractor with the canopy still on the ROPS. (My canopy is a quick-detach type…. and I personally created and installed a placard beneath it to. Remind Me “Remove Canopy for. Transport“.). But in my early-morning pre-coffee load-up ….I forgot.
Fortunately, it didn’t blow off to get damaged as I had loaded the tractor ”in reverse” so it was facing aft. When I remembered this about the middle of the trip I slowed down a bit more.

I’m posting this purely hoping to help/remind others …. Before laoding…. THINK about all you Know about this ….as a reminder.
THEN…. After loading up….. take a moement with a cup of coffee and LOOK at what you’ve done.

I should have done better.

I Did Remember to take the key out of the ignition so it wasn’t lost on the highway somewhere.

I’m fabricating/welding some permantently-mounted, telescoping rear-stands for the trailer so I don’t have to deal with wood blocks anymore.

When the tongue came off the ball did the tailgate get damaged when it came back down?

Might have been good the hitch was not latched, or your truck may have repeated the scene you described in the video.

 

[Russell King]

Instead of the “feet” at the rear of the tractor, I would use a trailer tongue jack instead. That has two benefits, you can raise it to unload the weight from the load, you can use it to jack up the trailer if you have a flat on the trailer. If you put a jack at all four corners you can also jack the trailer tires off the ground for storage (and make a stable platform to store stuff on).

 

[Trustable]

Another thing to keep in mind I learned - take the cup holder insert out, it will fly out around 55mph in my experience. Thank God it didn’t hit someone’s windshield or grill. Probably wouldn’t do damage but it would give a good scare.

 

[GeoHorn]

When the tongue came off the ball did the tailgate get damaged when it came back down?

Might have been good the hitch was not latched, or your truck may have repeated the scene you described in the video.

The trailer tongue simply raised up…and then came back down and rested on the bumper below the license plate…. zero damage. I was very lucky. (I was on a level parking-lot at the dealer when it occurred. …Yep.…very lucky...and would have been very embarrassed….but no one was looking.)

 

[trikepilot]

Instead of the “feet” at the rear of the tractor, I would use a trailer tongue jack instead. That has two benefits, you can raise it to unload the weight from the load, you can use it to jack up the trailer if you have a flat on the trailer. If you put a jack at all four corners you can also jack the trailer tires off the ground for storage (and make a stable platform to store stuff on).

I looked into this and the cost was significantly more. Also the tongue jacks and handles took up more space back there on each side and was more conspicuously in the way. Plus if you lower the front tongue jack down very low and then maximally extend the rear stabilizers that I added, you can then jack the front tongue jack back up to effectively create the situation you describe. I like that I can fully remove the rear stabilizers and have nothing there at all if I choose. Many ways to skin a cat...

 

[McMXi]

The trailer tongue simply raised up…and then came back down and rested on the bumper below the license plate…. zero damage. I was very lucky. (I was on a level parking-lot at the dealer when it occurred. …Yep.…very lucky...and would have been very embarrassed….but no one was looking.)

That's what chains are for! And the break-away with battery powered e-brakes which is required in Montana on trailers weighing over 3,000 lb.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

@GeoHorn , good news is only thing hurt was your pride. That’s a small price to pay vs a friend or loved one standing at the tailgate at liftoff.

I understand you are using what you already invested in, and yes I know not everyone will run out to buy a new trailer. but for me, I think the ‘knee kicker’ MAXX flip down ramps, while pricey are idiot proof…you really can’t forget. They are a worthwhile addition if buying new IMO. There are no wood blocks or jacks to worry about…however you need a fairly flat surface or a surface with some give. Concrete on an incline can be problematic.

once upon a November several years ago, I was coming home from our farm up North and I spotted a truck upright with a 2 or 3-axle trailer (I was not allowed to take a picture or do a bill engvall here s your sign as my SO believes in Karma and gave me instructions that we needed no part of it)attached but trailer on its side, and the boat (really large cabin cruiser) that belonged on the trailer a few yards behind the trailer in the snow covered median of I90 and who I assume was then owner was trying to winch the boat back to the trailer (even though trailer to air twisted and was on it a side)…point is, that guy had a bad day.

Keep the rubber side down

 

[GeoHorn]

That's what chains are for! And the break-away with battery powered e-brakes which is required in Montana on trailers weighing over 3,000 lb.

I”m glad you mentioned the chains in conjunction with the brake-break-away.

It gives me an opportunity to write about something I feel pretty strongly about:
I see folks and family who know to cross the chains beneath the tongue…and that’s good. But I also see folks who use loong break-away cables…or Worse… those “coiled” break-way lanyards…which allow consideralbe looseness to exist in the system.

THINK about that!

The point of the chains is to keep the trailer attached and to follow the tow vehicle if the hitch/ball should disconnect.
The point of crossing the chains beneath the tongue…is to keep the tongue from falling upon the roadway and/or dragging and catching upon some pot-hole, etc….
…and the point of the Break-Away cable is to apply the trailer brakes Immediately should all that occur.

IF THE LANYARD is too Long…or a coiled, loosey-goosey-stretchy lanyard is used….. that disconnected trailer will still be following on that Loose-Chain…. and SWAYING back-and-forth…. pulling on the back of your tow-vehicle…LEFT-AND-RIGHT…. introducing dangerous Sway to your vehicle..
That loose-chained trailer will WRECK you as it swings wildly left/right….
….UNLESS the Trailer Brakes are APPLIED by that lanyard as intended. If the lanyard activates the trailer brakes…then that trailer will PULL AFT…. it will pull the chains TAUT….. and prevent the trailer from swaying…. will add drag and slow you down…..and prevent that trailer from wrecking YOU.

The lanyard should be long enough to be Loose when the trailer hitch is connected…. But if the ball-and-hitch integrity goes bad and disconnects….the Moment the trailer comes Off The Ball….You Want those trailer brakes to automatically APPLY!

That will Save you …instead of maybe wrecking you.

Hope that makes sense.

(Shorten those lanyards. Get rid of those coiled lanyards.)

 

[GeoHorn]

@ GrumpyFarmer : Thanks. I think I know what you mean with the flip-down ramps …the types which already have-attached supports beneath them when deployed…. But you are correct, they only work on level-ground…. no slopes are extreme angles.

This afternoon I grabbed some old pipes I had and welded up and drilled some supports for the rear of my trailer.

 

[Russell King]

I looked into this and the cost was significantly more. Also the tongue jacks and handles took up more space back there on each side and was more conspicuously in the way. Plus if you lower the front tongue jack down very low and then maximally extend the rear stabilizers that I added, you can then jack the front tongue jack back up to effectively create the situation you describe. I like that I can fully remove the rear stabilizers and have nothing there at all if I choose. Many ways to skin a cat...

Yes there is some cost involved but there are the removable jacks like this that would eliminate your concern with space and visual conflict.

https://www.amazon.com/BIG-RED-ATR39003R-Swing-Back-Capacity/dp/B08KTRF27Y/ref=sr_1_3?adgrpid=1339207728007512&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eUUh3LxLN5qXNH_YCdFOlOAZODDFXOYq8Vj-EBnlfyMpb42dlUxci3UozrPPzyFbUE1hsmjL_FgwGMP0rx1XDt0fW43PycCdDUZNWpAuuC5c9b79tgBtHqiWmZXxXNp6A2IiWoLbXFpdx7O_egAmTsslo0rf6A54-2mwvL_RtMmgeZvPTlI9x0s8OhKCHvegZG6_Cb8X3Mr6Xkr4zTdPemsu2N8kSFgMAyxwHSstsbfXNM3OE17BtS4_CCs1xVdE_oFPNJmvmjkLER0SQSsmH3NSK9iujyv4RNJs1cnjUNQ.rIlqO_DO8vKeHTL2VgKAxwoZ5RmfWjViapacqzY6H90&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83700768396980&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=73236&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83701701134717%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=15554_13581462&keywords=removable%2Btrailer%2Bjack&mcid=a2467c90bf6e36eab53f0add27ec375f&qid=1771378757&sr=8-3&th=1