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How to load a small dozer onto a semi flatbed trailer?

paulinkansas ยท 2013-04-04 11:11

New guy here, and I'm a new guy when it comes to transporting equipment. Bought a Mitsubishi BD2G, it weighs around 8000 lbs. It's located about 400 miles from where it needs to be (where I live). My son in law has a semi and is going to borrow a flatbed to get the dozer here. The dozer is at a private individuals house. There is no loading dock. The floor of the trailer is 4 feet above the ground. Short of building an earthen ramp at the guys house, is there any reasonably simple way to load the dozer onto the trailer? Thanks.

Replies26
  1. #1Scrub Puller2013-04-04 13:40

    Yair . . . paulinkansas aluminium/steel ramps are available that will take that kind of weight. Ask around, you may be able to borrow or hire/rent a set. Cheers

  2. #2excavatorware2013-04-04 15:39

    The easiest way is to hire a local trucker-with a tilt bed tow truck. Get the dozer on the tilt bed, then back up to your son's trailer. The difference in the bed heights should not be to difficult to work around. Have the tow truck give you his bed height-should be around 42".

  3. #3JDOFMEMI2013-04-04 17:16

    As stated, a towing company with a roll back truck can handle it. It will probably cost an hour or maybe 2 at their going rate, but it will be done safely and with no drama.

  4. #4Shenandoah2013-04-04 21:02

    I like the tow truck idea. I had a very similar situation, albeit with a much smaller weight being loaded onto one of my trailers and a local tow company 3 miles away from the loading location just needed $135.00 to do the job. If they can handle it, it's pure gravy for them.

  5. #5blowerman2013-04-04 21:49

    tow truck is the safest, but you could use 6" X 6" or larger cribbing timbers and ramp (stack) it up.

  6. #6PepeLp2013-04-05 09:19

    A pick-up sized flatbed with a dovetail ramp should work. It's only 8,000 pounds, even a lighter trailer can handle 14,000.

  7. #7lowbed driver2013-04-05 10:03

    I haul 8000+ lbs on our single axle tilt bed truck all the time. Actually use it to move manlifts and forklifts close to 12,000. Sure is the safest way for sure,as stated who needs the drama. LB

  8. #8TomA2013-04-05 14:58

    Don't even think about going up ramps. Even a light little dozer like that can kill you if it lands on top of you.

  9. #9pf/l2013-04-05 16:27

    Unless there's a nice ditch that you can back into the tow truck company sounds like the ticket. Ryan

  10. #10Scrub Puller2013-04-05 17:00

    Yair . . . TomA Lots of things can kill you mate. Folks run excavators and such like up into tippers (dump trucks) every day, it's no big deal. Cheers

  11. #11Garrie Denny2013-04-06 23:43

    Has the dozer got a blade attached ? push up an earth ramp and away yougo .

  12. #12kevin37b2013-04-10 13:15

    Put the ass end of the trailer in a hole and drive it on .

  13. #13Lindsey972013-04-10 22:46

    does the trailer have airbag suspension? if it does dump the bags for less height. i would call a towing company with a rollback as others have said. you could easily spend $135 building ramps from lumber.

  14. #14RNI Excavate2013-04-11 14:17

    For the cost of hiring a tow truck or building ramps, plus fuel cost for the semi, you are going to spend quite a bit. Might as well just hire a hot shot hauler who has a trailer with a dovetail and ramps to bring it to you for about the same expense, and you don't have to mess with it.

  15. #15oregon96pd2013-04-11 19:42

    ^^^^ This

  16. #16Scrub Puller2013-04-11 20:05

    Yeah . . . That's interesting RNI Excavate. What sort of rates can you get in the 'States for an 800 mile trip? Cheers.

  17. #17RNI Excavate2013-04-11 22:00

    I think he would only have to pay for the loaded mileage. Unless he gets a local guy who has to deadhead there. I'm not up on freight rates but uship has a calculator for it. http://www.uship.com/shipping-affiliate-program/quote-widget/

  18. #18stumpjumper832013-04-11 22:27

    hum for that size dozer first put a forklift on the trailer via a loading dock, then use the forklift to pickup and carry the dozer onto the trailer... and carry both home. Actually I'd probably go find a 12k skidloader trailer and go get it with my pickup, and if that wasn't possible schedule a roll back to pick it up and then transfer it to the semi flatbed, has anyone thought how they are getting the dozer off the trailer?

  19. #19ttazzman2013-05-13 00:49

    im just curious......how is it you get the forklift off and back on the trailer after you use it to put the dozer on the trailer at the load site?....other than that i would just rent the appropriate trailer and go from there......or hire a lift or crane to load it for me onsite.....

  20. #20stumpjumper832013-05-13 06:39

    the forklift idea was more jerkin your chain over the size of the dozer, but with the right rigging and a good sized forklift you could pick it up, and set it on deck, especially with a telehandler style. If you have a decent 3/4 ton or larger pickup, that and a good trailer would haul it. Its a ton lighter that my ctl.

  21. #21dillon452015-02-13 20:24

    A good set of heavy ramps will work just fine, however, you must be comfortable in your abilities, if not don't do it . Myself I have loaded several dozers on and off trailers, not to mention many many tractors without incident.

  22. #22kckc2015-02-13 21:08

    Rent a different trailer with loading ramps

  23. #23Lawless2015-02-13 23:53

    You guys do realize this thread is almost 2 years old right?

  24. #24kckc2015-02-13 23:56

    well fudge... I just saw it come up as a new post for the day. oh well.

  25. #25Lawless2015-02-14 02:43

    We've all done it at one time or the other. Why do you think I look at the dates now? Would be nice if there was a lot more closure on threads like this though.

  26. #26pafarmer2015-02-14 04:28

    Hire the move out would be my advise. Best left yo a pro judging by the request information...