Converting lowloader

[startinghandle]

I have an ex hgv low loader and it’s way better than any agri spec trailer. Air brakes, air suspension which gives true load sensing to brakes and very long hyd ramps. Mine was a drag trailer so all I had to change was the towing hook to fit tractor and lights etc. The airsuspension is brilliant rides lovely no need for sprung drawbar and drop air to load/unload keeps ramps on one gradient and as low as it can possibly be, oh and air lift front axle as well. It will be as light as any other tri axle trailer with the best running gear and brakes

Any problems towing a full load with no weight on tractor??

 

[Zebbedee]

Any problems towing a full load with no weight on tractor??

It’s maybe a slightly unusual drag trailer as the axles are towards the rear eg normal for a tractor trailer so no problem just load digger on normally

 

[Zebbedee]

YELROM length is roughly 25ft of top of my head and axles would be similiar to your picture possibly a tad further forward but not a lot, your beaver looks short mine is 4ft

 

[Hilly]

Hancook be better bet than that .

 

[hoyboy]

Will handle a 13 tonner x2 on that trailer. I've moved a 33ton machine with similar home brewed outfit.

 

[startinghandle]

If I wanted low loader trailer I would look into all possibilities including Adam Hewitt salvage auction as I did last night out of interest

 

[YELROM]

Took another photo of the trailer
I maybe took the original photo on a bad angle, I assume the middle axle would be the pivot point when turning

 

[br jones]

View attachment 970797
Took another photo of the trailer
I maybe took the original photo on a bad angle, I assume the middle axle would be the pivot point when turning

can i ask ,if something awful happened like you were run into by a car ,what are the insurance implications on a homemade trailer dragging 13 ton about ?

 

[Andrew]

Yes middle axle is the pivot point. From that angle it doesn't look too bad. I would imagine you could load it to limit the drawbar weight.
Would the dipper fit between the ramps?

 

[snipe]

can i ask ,if something awful happened like you were run into by a car ,what are the insurance implications on a homemade trailer dragging 13 ton about ?

I don’t think it would make any difference if it was home made or bought new. Iv never seen a 13t excavator weigh 13t, more like 14.5 plus a second bucket usually and chains. A trailer with 3 axles and good heavy ramps like that will be over 5t. It will be well over a ton of the legal weight. Not saying dont do it, plenty do, but if anything goes wrong it would be very serious.

 

[Zebbedee]

Looks a decent trailer to me just go underneath and check all the crossmembers etc, If decent cut the front of and fabricate a decent drawbar, no need to have sprung drawbar with air suspension axles which makes it easier. We made our drawbar height adjustable to suit various tractors
Air and Hyds will just plug in and no doubt a new set of decent lights would be required to keep it up to date
Nice long ramps which along with height adjustable air suspension make loading a lot nicer and saferView attachment 970797
Took another photo of the trailer
I maybe took the original photo on a bad angle, I assume the middle axle would be the pivot point when turning

 

[YELROM]

Yes middle axle is the pivot point. From that angle it doesn't look too bad. I would imagine you could load it to limit the drawbar weight.
Would the dipper fit between the ramps?

The ramp width is hydraulically adjusted so could load digger further back and put the dipper between the ramps

 

[mogman]

I don’t think it would make any difference if it was home made or bought new. Iv never seen a 13t excavator weigh 13t, more like 14.5 plus a second bucket usually and chains. A trailer with 3 axles and good heavy ramps like that will be over 5t. It will be well over a ton of the legal weight. Not saying dont do it, plenty do, but if anything goes wrong it would be very serious.

That trailer will weigh in at 10 ton, I have one behind my truck

 

[startinghandle]

Looking at it sideways I would say the axles are too far apart and you will need a hefty drawbar to cope with the scrubbing forces ... I remembered since my last comment that a fairly local guy bought an artic trailer that was purpose built to carry forklifts and converted it for tractor use and had problems with tyres bursting so he bought a new one direct from an Irish
manufacturer

 

[Nigel Wellings]

can i ask ,if something awful happened like you were run into by a car ,what are the insurance implications on a homemade trailer dragging 13 ton about ?

That is a very good question! Have just had a quick look at 3 Tractor policy wordings inc NFU. They all require tractor and trailer to be in "good working order and roadworthy condition" NFU say "comply with relevant statutory requirements and regulations imposed by any authority", others do not mention last phrase but exclude cover whilst overloaded or in an unroadworthy condition.
Easiest way of looking at it is if you are not complying with the law Insurers are within their rights to kick out a claim.
At the moment converted HGV trailers are within the law so can be legally insured.
As we all know there is a whole can of worms here with regards weights, speed ,brakes etc.
It would be most helpful to all if the legislation especially concerning trailers were to be changed (as previously discussed) to allow higher weights/speeds subject to some form of tractor/trailer testing. Seems this option no longer on govt agenda at the moment.

 

[Zebbedee]

That is a very good question! Have just had a quick look at 3 Tractor policy wordings inc NFU. They all require tractor and trailer to be in "good working order and roadworthy condition" NFU say "comply with relevant statutory requirements and regulations imposed by any authority", others do not mention last phrase but exclude cover whilst overloaded or in an unroadworthy condition.
Easiest way of looking at it is if you are not complying with the law Insurers are within their rights to kick out a claim.
At the moment converted HGV trailers are within the law so can be legally insured.
As we all know there is a whole can of worms here with regards weights, speed ,brakes etc.
It would be most helpful to all if the legislation especially concerning trailers were to be changed (as previously discussed) to allow higher weights/speeds subject to some form of tractor/trailer testing. Seems this option no longer on govt agenda at the moment.

The option to allow higher speeds and weights with some form of testing certainly is there,,,,if you want to carry more and go faster the legislation is certainly there to allow that but you must jump through the hgv rules with relevant legislation and white diesel simples.

 

[br jones]

The option to allow higher speeds and weights with some form of testing certainly is there,,,,if you want to carry more and go faster the legislation is certainly there to allow that but you must jump through the hgv rules with relevant legislation and white diesel simples.

but when it was a lorry trailer it needed a test ?,it will still be a lorry trailer ,no ?

 

[Zebbedee]

but when it was a lorry trailer it needed a test ?,it will still be a lorry trailer ,no ?

Yea there is all sort of ifs and buts but what I am trying to say if you want to carry more and faster it’s gotta be same rules as a lorry, you can’t have it all ways the haulage industry have a lot of rules and we seem to have very few so careful what you wish for is my view

 

[Nigel Wellings]

Yea there is all sort of ifs and buts but what I am trying to say if you want to carry more and faster it’s gotta be same rules as a lorry, you can’t have it all ways the haulage industry have a lot of rules and we seem to have very few so careful what you wish for is my view

I do not feel the legislation needs to go as far as that applying to HGV's. We need a hybrid between current agric vehicle legislation and the HGV legislation. Agric vehicles will be doing nothing like the same speeds and distances that HGV's do. A 44 tonne gross train weight, annual test on tractor and trailer (only if you want to exceed 31T gross train weight) plus regular service records that can be done in house.

 

[Strungup52]

Yelrom
Masses of old lowloader trailers here with dollies under the front - often farm made from old tandem axle tractor units. Many do not even have brakes! And haul 27/33ton diggers! But I would not recommend that!
In your situation in UK can you use a dolly or will that make the whole outfit too numb?
I grant that if your towing tractor is too small the tail will wag the dog.