Hi ! I am newbie to this forum. Anyone here with experience fitting a backhoe into a standard shipping container ? Vehicle: Cat 420-D (2004) Problem: the height of the non detachable open cab frame is too high for the shipping container entrance. We have taken the roof off and the tires down. Though with the front tires down it is difficult to steer the vehicle into the narrow container... I don't want to cut off the cab and am trying to avoid the high cost of roll-on/roll-off. Normal height of vehicle: 9' 1" Height of vehicle with roof removed and flat tires: 8' 5" Height of container mouth: 8' 6" It can be done because I have seen photos of a Cat and J.Deere backhoe squeezed tight into a 40' container. We are going to try and tilt the container/vehicle to change the height relationship. Any suggestions of how to fit this sucker in would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, M.
Never done it before. Sounds like a challange. If you do cut the cab take the time and set it up so it can be bolted together. Could you make a dolly for the rear end? Remove the rear tires and roll it/winch in on the dolly.
I sold a 580D once to a fellow who was taking it to Jamaica. He flattened the rear tires and managed to get in in cab and all. I remember him saying that a special 'higher' container was available at extra cost. Maybe that would be worth checking out. Phil
I would remove all 4 wheels and roll it on a dolley.I'll bet just removing the rear wheels would be enough to gain the 1" that you need as SnowBear said.Ron G
wheels off Thanks for the suggestions. Removing the back wheels is a good option. We'd need to somehow support dolly the back end with the forklift and then roll it in just enough to get the cab through then perhaps put the wheels back on again. The problem with removing the wheels is the loss of weight distribution from the tires and the possibility of the concentrated weight breaking through the container base... A shipping container with a slightly bigger mouth is also a possibility but the shipper is not cooperating with us on this and we need to 'take what we were given', which I am not thrilled about. :Banghead
With the rear tires off couldn't you put a couple of steel reinforcement plates on the floor. Is using the backhoe itself an option for getting it in ? Maybe you could put wood blocking on each side of the front bucket to get it in straight and eliminate the steering problem.
I've seen the tires lowered so much they came off the wheels but the machines went in.
Just curious where are you shipping to and from? Another option is buy the container, cut the top door rail out and weld it back in and resell the container at the detstination. A good used 40'er sells for 3-4k in south central Alaska.
They have open top containers/flatbed type container. If you take the front tires off use the bucket to slide, drive it in until the rear tires are just outside, take them off, raise the front bucket up and use the backhoe to push yourself in enough where your outriggers can push against the walls to keep you centered, sounds tricky or at least worth trying. Where are you trying to send it? Send it C.O.D. with plenty of grease...j/k.
I squeazed a Deere backhoe into a shipping container. (I believe it was a 710D.) Removed the rear wheels and the exhaust stack and used the backhoe to push itself in. The stabilizers just cleared the sides as well as the front bucket. Could still steer a little as needed with the steering wheel. It had an extendible also which helped push it in further. A little thought and an ok operator and you should be ok. Some 4x4's under the sharp edges of the frame will help once its in there .. Also remember that you have to get out of it once you are in there. I had to climb out the back window.
got them in! With time and patience the shipping technicians got both the Cat 420D and Deere 310G in one standard 40' container today! Wheels on, but the tires almost coming off. Will the tires get damaged in a deflated state for 30 days with the weight of the vehicle on them ? What do you mean when you say use the Backhoe to push itself in ? What arm pushes against or down on what ? Thanks for all your suggestions here, greatly appreciated. This North American heavy machinery will soon be headed South to Central America.
wood i have seen tractors in the uk going for export with the wheels on ,but the tyres are removed and then wooden slats fitted between the two bead setting points and then banded with steel ,so they can still be driven a short distance hope this helps cheers graham
It's done now, but in the future, what about fitting a set of smaller rear tires just for shipping? They wouldn't have to be pretty or even air filled. Like they do with monster trucks.
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