Converting lowloader

So 5K to buy it then a grand or more to sort drawbar, sort the ramps & lights & it's still not "perfect" for the job.

Would think as it's not a fulltime digger shifter you would be better off going for a agri low loader, either new or s/h with a bale wedge or if you can justify it one of the hyd beavertail jobbies, depends what you intend doing with it really but once you get over the idea of the spend you will never look back, bought one here a few years ago & never regretted it.
I have always had the opinion that people would never sell one until knackered so good second hands would be like rocking horse 💩
 

Farm buy

Member
Livestock Farmer
View attachment 968663
Might have the chance to buy this HGV lowloader to convert to tractor drawn but think the axles are a bit far back, the centre of the rear axle is 5’ from the back of the trailer and the axles are on 4’6”centres.
If I cut the swan neck off and had it as a 30’ flat bed would it over load the tractor draw bar with a 13t excavator on.
Anyone have an idea what it might be worth it is 2001 and looks shabby but is still mot’d
@Andrew would you have any idea as you post on a lot of trailer threads
There is one advertised here for 4.5k plus the vat
 

YELROM

Member
Location
North Yorkshire
There is one advertised here for 4.5k plus the vat

If you mean this one i would say its way over priced
 
Last edited:

tw15

Member
Location
DORSET
Well i can see the end coming for use of old cut down trailers and ex artic trailers VOSA/ police are turning there eyes to them believe me .
My nephew had to go to a event held by the NFU /POLICE/VOSA the other year and the topic of cut down and used old lorry trailers was addressed . .. It was clear that they are wanting them off the road and are looking at bringing in legislation to do so in the future as tractors get faster more accidents are happening and lets face it tractors are travelling nearly the same speeds as lorry's can legally travel on A and B roads (not that its totally legal to do so in some circumstances.
We have to as an industry smarten our act up or get out, the days of of using old salvaged trailers are going to come to an end .#
If you are moving a 13 ton digger around your county to different jobs it really is best to go and buy a purpose built lowloader .
 

Mur Huwcun

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North West Wales
I have always had the opinion that people would never sell one until knackered so good second hands would be like rocking horse 💩

Think it’s area dependant but around here most trailers are either traded in as upgrades to air brakes or because brakes are worn out and they’ve just spend £10k sorting tractor back end out! Trailer only needs set of shoes, adjusting up and tidying the lights!!!
 

IH 414

Member
Well i can see the end coming for use of old cut down trailers and ex artic trailers VOSA/ police are turning there eyes to them believe me .
My nephew had to go to a event held by the NFU /POLICE/VOSA the other year and the topic of cut down and used old lorry trailers was addressed . .. It was clear that they are wanting them off the road and are looking at bringing in legislation to do so in the future as tractors get faster more accidents are happening and lets face it tractors are travelling nearly the same speeds as lorry's can legally travel on A and B roads (not that its totally legal to do so in some circumstances.
We have to as an industry smarten our act up or get out, the days of of using old salvaged trailers are going to come to an end .#
If you are moving a 13 ton digger around your county to different jobs it really is best to go and buy a purpose built lowloader .
I can see the end of home made trailers as well. U will soon need a class 1 and run white diesel for anything over a certain weight and speed as well as the sprung drawbar. They tried it with the fast trac but got so confused themselves that they gave up. U don't get away with a home made car trailer anymore in some places.
 

YELROM

Member
Location
North Yorkshire
So 5K to buy it then a grand or more to sort drawbar, sort the ramps & lights & it's still not "perfect" for the job.

Would think as it's not a fulltime digger shifter you would be better off going for a agri low loader, either new or s/h with a bale wedge or if you can justify it one of the hyd beavertail jobbies, depends what you intend doing with it really but once you get over the idea of the spend you will never look back, bought one here a few years ago & never regretted it.

If you start and spec commercial air brakes you soon get over 20k
A hydraulic beaver tail would be idea as i would like to use it with our cattle float/container as well but i would be concerned going up a steel ramp with steel tracks.
I just thought this would make a good spec trailer with commercial air brakes and air suspension, it would just need a draw bar,air brakes connecting and the bulbs changing to 12v, how hard could it be :)
 
C1128ACE-401F-4F44-81D9-B361D7675689.png
 

Andrew

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Location
Huntingdon, UK
We have a Kane hydraulic beavertail and the ramps are fine for a 13t machine, I wouldn’t have another Kane though.

For a 3 axle hydraulic beavertail, air brakes, oil, abs, etc I was quoted mid £20k earlier this year, a lot more for air suspension.
A 13t machine with buckets on any trailer is going to be overweight or very close to, max trailer gross is 18.29t.
 

Chuckie

Member
Location
England

fermerboy

Member
Location
Banffshire
Is a 13ton digger and bucket legal weight wise on a decent lowloader trailer? :unsure::unsure:

Got to be real near the 18.39t limit, and a lot of "13tonners" are more like 15 nowadays.

See plenty doing it so maybe the trailers aren't as heavy as I think.
 
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
 
Is a 13ton digger and bucket legal weight wise on a decent lowloader trailer? :unsure::unsure:

Got to be real near the 18.39t limit, and a lot of "13tonners" are more like 15 nowadays.

See plenty doing it so maybe the trailers aren't as heavy as I think.
You are correct in your assumption, my view is I had a tandem axle agri spec low loader which would be legal weight wise but I didn’t consider it to be up to the job as regards axles and brakes etc so now 3 axle ex hgv which is 100 times better safety wise but I do concede very close to being overweight but not over design weight so I am personally happier with that
 
You are correct in your assumption, my view is I had a tandem axle agri spec low loader which would be legal weight wise but I didn’t consider it to be up to the job as regards axles and brakes etc so now 3 axle ex hgv which is 100 times better safety wise but I do concede very close to being overweight but not over design weight so I am personally happier with that
It’s a funny carry on. A bit the same as being able to carry more on a twin axle 14 ft ifor than a 16ft tri axle but we all know which is best
 

YELROM

Member
Location
North Yorkshire
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
This was my thinking,i would have a very well spec'ed trailer
How long is your lowloader and how far from the back are your axles positioned
 

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