Useless trailer drivers

[Shann_mann]

Afternoon. I’ve just finished 1st cut and I was wondering what is the best thing to put in my pick up tyres and my Chopper. We Run a Reco Mengele SH40 and since we have swapped onto the pick up side for side loading I’ve and issues with my 78 year old Grandad flattening my little wheel. He’s knackers it once a cut normally and we tried a metal wheel this time which about about 7 loads had the same fate. I was just wondering if anyone knew or had tried put anything into the rubber wheels it make to Grandad proof. Cheers.

 

[ridger]

No real help but I wish my grandad was still around to flatten wheels

 

[Cvx1170]

turn the chute & load the right way

 

[sawdust]

Afternoon. I’ve just finished 1st cut and I was wondering what is the best thing to put in my pick up tyres and my Chopper. We Run a Reco Mengele SH40 and since we have swapped onto the pick up side for side loading I’ve and issues with my 78 year old Grandad flattening my little wheel. He’s knackers it once a cut normally and we tried a metal wheel this time which about about 7 loads had the same fate. I was just wondering if anyone knew or had tried put anything into the rubber wheels it make to Grandad proof. Cheers.

Load to the left which IS the right side

 

[Jameshenry]

Just wondering why he keeps hitting it, Is it his eyesight ? If so could you maybe put a hi vis jacket hanging off a piece of water pipe or something to give him a guide to drive to ? Just a thought,

 

[Shann_mann]

Just wondering why he keeps hitting it, Is it his eyesight ? If so could you maybe put a hi vis jacket hanging off a piece of water pipe or something to give him a guide to drive to ? Just a thought,

It’s more because he’s looking around to see what everyone else is doing and watching the chopper. I’ve tried a pole before.

 

[Shann_mann]

No real help but I wish my grandad was still around to flatten wheels

Yeah, this is why I’m try to find a way round it instead of sacking because he enjoys coming and doing it still.

 

[milkloss]

You’re not far from dinking the pick up itself if he’s getting the wheel. I was going to say just chop with the inner wheel but then he’d just run the pickup over.


Flashy beacon on a tall pole?

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

just you pick the field up and always turn to the left, on first time around fill someone else, no need to say anything, if he is there just fiddle with something till other trailer is back

 

[fermerboy]

turn the chute & load the right way

Load to the left which IS the right side

I dont get this, It maybe depends on the forager but with most trailed foragers the easiest way is over the pickup side, less distance to throw it if nothing else. Self propelled maybe different.

Trailer driver "parks" it alongside you, picks a spot and stays there no matter what, I speed up he speeds up, and I the man on the forager fill the trailer. Trailer driver never ever needs to look back.
Getting them trained is tricky though!!

My suggestion to help the OP is to work the field forcing the trailers to straddle the rows, or run between them if its 20ft ones.
There is a inbuilt resistance to drive on the grass, the row acts like a guide because they'll be looking forward anyway, and keeps them straight and stops wandering about.
Certainly improved matters here with some of the wandering drivers.
Worth a try!

 

[kiwi pom]

I dont get this, It maybe depends on the forager but with most trailed foragers the easiest way is over the pickup side, less distance to throw it if nothing else. Self propelled maybe different.

Trailer driver "parks" it alongside you, picks a spot and stays there no matter what, I speed up he speeds up, and I the man on the forager fill the trailer. Trailer driver never ever needs to look back.
Getting them trained is tricky though!!

My suggestion to help the OP is to work the field forcing the trailers to straddle the rows, or run between them if its 20ft ones.
There is a inbuilt resistance to drive on the grass, the row acts like a guide because they'll be looking forward anyway, and keeps them straight and stops wandering about.
Certainly improved matters here with some of the wandering drivers.
Worth a try!

Yep, when you're in the field the forager driver runs the show. Park where you're told and stay in the right place. They load because they get the blame if feed is spilled. No need to be looking over your shoulder all the time.
If you're loading something long like a semi trailer you might need 2 or 3 spots to hold (front, middle, back) Chopper driver can use the horn to move you up or down.

 

[sawdust]

Yep, when you're in the field the forager driver runs the show. Park where you're told and stay in the right place. They load because they get the blame if feed is spilled. No need to be looking over your shoulder all the time.
If you're loading something long like a semi trailer you might need 2 or 3 spots to hold (front, middle, back) Chopper driver can use the horn to move you up or down.

When I was learning to drive tractors, silage carting was one of the first learning jobs, and the trailer man loaded his own trailer up until it was time for the chopper man to top it off, everyone had a job to do it kept everyone wake and aware, nowadays I hear on here, Trailer jockey spends all day on their phone/never paying attention etc blah blah blah. Well try giving them something to do, instead of leaving them brain dead, and their only stimulation is to drive as hard and fast back and forth between loads, hence OP's problem, Grandad is looking all over the place because he's bored, if he was asked to be responsible for 3/4 loading of the trailer it would make him more aware/alert instead of his head going round like a lighthouse. and as for "forage driver runs the show", that's absolute rubbish, the whole set up is there as a team, and there ain't no I in team, plus I've seen on some fields were the chopper man WAS in charge, that resembled the Somme.

 

[Blue.]

I dont get this, It maybe depends on the forager but with most trailed foragers the easiest way is over the pickup side, less distance to throw it if nothing else. Self propelled maybe different.

Trailer driver "parks" it alongside you, picks a spot and stays there no matter what, I speed up he speeds up, and I the man on the forager fill the trailer. Trailer driver never ever needs to look back.
Getting them trained is tricky though!!

My suggestion to help the OP is to work the field forcing the trailers to straddle the rows, or run between them if its 20ft ones.
There is a inbuilt resistance to drive on the grass, the row acts like a guide because they'll be looking forward anyway, and keeps them straight and stops wandering about.
Certainly improved matters here with some of the wandering drivers.
Worth a try!

There's always been the debate of the correct side to fill,there is only one reason to fill the wrong way and thats direct cutting.

My youngest brother used to bump into the pick up reel,falling asleep at 16 is no excuse.

A good air horn mounted near the reel would work for the op.

 

[sawdust]

There's always been the debate of the correct side to fill,there is only one reason to fill the wrong way and thats direct cutting.

My youngest brother used to bump into the pick up reel,falling asleep at 16 is no excuse.

A good air horn mounted near the reel would work for the op.

That's because he was bored...

 

[Wellytrack]

Not a lot of harm done on anything filling to the drawbar side, SH40 can blow grass like little else - should not be a problem.

Second point he’s 78 and good on him indeed to still muck in and give a hand, but at his years he’s fully entitled to also lay up in a deck chair with a cool one and just watch the circus if he chooses.

If I was 78 I know I would.

 

[milkloss]

I dont get this, It maybe depends on the forager but with most trailed foragers the easiest way is over the pickup side, less distance to throw it if nothing else.

My suggestion to help the OP is to work the field forcing the trailers to straddle the rows, or run between them if its 20ft ones.

All good advice I’m sure, I say that because our trailed loads itself and haven’t a lot of experience side loading. a few comments though, the sh40 spout is nearer the left of the machine and that straddling rows of grass can creatE a world of hate depending on the machinery used. Rows can ball up under hitches and wrap around prop shafts very quickly. Been there and done that!!!

 

[Shann_mann]

Not a lot of harm done on anything filling to the drawbar side, SH40 can blow grass like little else - should not be a problem.

Second point he’s 78 and good on him indeed to still muck in and give a hand, but at his years he’s fully entitled to also lay up in a deck chair with a cool one and just watch the circus if he chooses.

If I was 78 I know I would.

He’s the first man in the yard waiting to get going with his flask and sunglasses.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

is this happening on headland or middle rows in the field?

 

[masseybreaker]

either change sides or keep a few spare wheels im afraid nothing will change with your grandad apart from your dad will start doing the same . we have all been there just take a deep breath and carry on

 

[kmo]