Loading an Equipment Trailer

Before the machine moves

Loading is mostly preparation. Take five minutes before anything drives up a ramp:

• Park the truck and trailer on firm, level ground, straight in line, with the parking brake set and the trailer still coupled. Never load an uncoupled trailer.
• Check that the coupler is latched and pinned, chains crossed, jack retracted, and the 7-way RV plug connected. A loaded trailer that pops off the ball is a bad day.
• Lower the ramps fully. On a trailer with stand-up ramps, check the hold-down pins. On slide-in ramps, confirm both are seated in their pockets. On a dovetail with fold-down ramps, check the ramp angle against the machine's ground clearance and the reach of a loader arm or mower deck.
• Confirm the ramp rating covers the machine. A 10,000 lb deck with 3,000 lb ramps will not safely take a 6,000 lb skid steer up the ramps.
• Clear mud, oil and ice from the ramps and deck.

Driving on

Approach slowly and square to the ramps. The heavy end of the machine goes toward the truck. For a skid steer that usually means driving on forward so the engine and counterweight lead; for a compact tractor with a loader, many operators back on so the heavy rear end and any implement are forward. Tracked machines should have the undercarriage on the deck, not just the rubber lugs on the ramp edges.

Keep attachments low and travel in the lowest gear or speed range. Have a spotter watch the ramps and fenders from outside the trailer's path, not behind it.

Position for tongue weight

The goal is to place the load's center of gravity slightly ahead of the centerline of the axle group. On a tandem that usually means the machine's heaviest point sits roughly over the front axle. Done right, the truck settles evenly, the trailer sits level and you have about 10 to 15 percent of the total trailer weight on the hitch on a bumper pull, 15 to 25 percent on a gooseneck.

Signs you are too far back: the truck's rear rises, the front lightens, and the trailer wanders at speed. Too far forward: the rear of the truck squats hard and steering feels light. Move the machine a foot at a time and watch the truck and trailer stance. When in doubt, measure tongue weight with a scale.

Remember the tow vehicle's own limits. Tongue weight counts against the truck's payload and hitch rating on its door-jamb label and in its manual. The trailer can be correctly loaded and the truck still overloaded.

Lower attachments and set the machine

Lower buckets, blades and forks to the deck. Set the parking brake on the machine, shut it down, and if it has a hydraulic lock or implement lock, use it. Chock tracks or tires if the deck has a slope.

Tie-down basics

Federal cargo securement rules for commercial carriers set a useful standard for everyone: a machine over 10,000 lb needs at least four direct tie-downs, one at each corner, and the aggregate working load limit of the tie-downs must be at least half the weight of the load. Heavy equipment attachments get their own tie-down.

Practical guidance:

• Use the manufacturer's designated tie-down points on the machine; they are marked and engineered for it.
• Use chain and ratchet or lever binders rated for the load on heavy machines. Straps are fine for light equipment, UTVs and mowers, and for bucket and boom tie-downs.
• Attach to rated D-rings, stake-pocket tie-downs or the deck's rub rail. Do not hook to the fender, the ramps or a cross-member that was not designed for it.
• Run tie-downs so they pull in opposing directions: front pair pulling rearward and down, rear pair pulling forward and down. Angles of 30 to 45 degrees from the deck are a good compromise between vertical and horizontal hold.
• Tighten, then stand back and look. Nothing should touch a tire or a sharp edge without a protector.

The first-mile check

Drive a short distance, pull over somewhere safe and recheck every binder. Machines settle on their suspension and tires, and tie-downs that were tight in the yard will have slack. Recheck at every fuel stop on a longer trip.

Unloading

Reverse the process on level ground, trailer coupled, ramps pinned. Release the tie-downs only after the machine is running and the operator is seated. Drive off slowly; the transition from deck to ramp is where buckets dig in and tracks slip.

Deck and ramp notes

Wood decks, steel decks and diamond-plate dovetails all have different traction when wet. Stand-up ramps with knife edges and ladder-style ramps handle mud differently. Know your deck before the first wet load.

See what is on the lot in /trailers/equipment-trailers, including deck length, dovetail and ramp configuration for each unit, or filter in /find-my-trailer.