Digger tracks

[hally]

Got a kubota 48.4 digger here which has split a track this afternoon fixing drains.
I would normally just replace it as other is not too bad but as this digger is very poor for grip i was fancying putting her on wider metal tracks.
The only problem i gave is that i move it around our land with a bailey dropside trailer with a metal floor and a pair of aluminium ramps for loading. These ramps state not for metal tracks so what options really do i have.?

 

[Lincs Lass]

Cover the ramps in old rubber conveyor belt .

 

[hally]

Cover the ramps in old rubber conveyor belt .

You dont think drilling the ramps will weaken them?

 

[Lincs Lass]

Are the ramps lift up or unhook ,,if they are fold up ,just fix the rubber to the trailer floor and roll it back ,,steel on steel is dangerouse anyway ,,hgvs low lowders usually have wooden decks

 

[hally]

Are the ramps lift up or unhook ,,if they are fold up ,just fix the rubber to the trailer floor and roll it back ,,steel on steel is dangerouse anyway ,,hgvs low lowders usually have wooden decks
[/QUOTE
No the trailer is just a general farm trailer so the ramps are just used when needed. I suppose the other option is sell the ramps and buy a little lowloader.

 

[TripleSix]

Either put rubber or sheets of plywood onto the trailer and ramps.

A few bolt holes won't bother anything

 

[Kevtherev]

Steel tracks and fit the rubber blocks
(City pads)

 

[hally]

Steel tracks and fit the rubber blocks
(City pads)

Does the pads not take away some of the grip in the field Kev?

 

[JWL]

Zip tie the old rubber tracks on the ramps and tie some ply sheets on the bed of the trailer

 

[hally]

Zip tie the old rubber tracks on the ramps and tie some ply sheets on the bed of the trailer

That’s a scary thought climbing up to a farm tipping trailer on a ramp held together with zip ties

 

[Kevtherev]

Does the pads not take away some of the grip in the field Kev?

A little bit yes
Steel always best on the land

 

[Lakesdigger]

Cut car tyres in half right round the middle of the tread throw them on trailer floor to sit steel tracked digger on. Re ramps it's actually more the fact steel tracks will tear at the alloy ramps and wreck them than a grip issue. Probs best to make some steel ramps out of box with angle for treads. Use angle with v to top and bring proud of side rails by 10/15mm. Only need a tread every foot or so, so don't end up too heavy.

 

[hally]

Cut car tyres in half right round the middle of the tread throw them on trailer floor to sit steel tracked digger on. Re ramps it's actually more the fact steel tracks will tear at the alloy ramps and wreck them than a grip issue. Probs best to make some steel ramps out of box with angle for treads. Use angle with v to top and bring proud of side rails by 10/15mm. Only need a tread every foot or so, so don't end up too heavy.

So as we only move this digger say once a month, I will probably not do too much damage to the ramps?

 

[Lakesdigger]

So as we only move this digger say once a month, I will probably not do too much damage to the ramps?

Possibly not you can try it to see. A lot of low loader drivers use old conveyor belt loading tracked stuff but it's for damage not grip. Obviously a low loader has a lot shallower angle than trailer and ramps. You can always load on a downhill to lessen the angle assuming you're not somewhere flat.
If you find grip a problem bit of old carpet probably be enough to help.

 

[Joe S]

So as we only move this digger say once a month, I will probably not do too much damage to the ramps?

id be more worried about the slip and slide thing, just avoid side hangs while loading...they make life interesting when its steel on steel. Low loaders the answer or a something with a folding beavertail makes a good bale trailer then too even with them you just need to remember good chance it will slip and slide a bit

 

[benny6910]

I don’t think it’s cheap job swapping from rubber to steel as you’ll need all new rollers I believe aswell. Have you had a price to swap them?

 

[hally]

I don’t think it’s cheap job swapping from rubber to steel as you’ll need all new rollers I believe aswell. Have you had a price to swap them?

No jot looked into it yet other than on the internet, rubber 700 and steel 600mm 900

 

[benny6910]

No jot looked into it yet other than on the internet, rubber 700 and steel 600mm 900

Does that include steel pads or is it just a chain price?

 

[hally]

Tbh I'm not to keen on adding any more weight to these ramps as the buggers are heavy enough to start with

 

[hally]

Does that include steel pads or is it just a chain price?

Whole lot on the excavator parts direct website