Stepdecks and Dozers

I loaded and ran 2 dozer loads back to back with them facing the front.

Yes I am aware NOW that they should have been loaded with the blade facing the rear. Its not something I had ever paid attention to. I agree,.. ignorance is no excuse for the law. Both places I loaded them at loaded them for me and that was how they put them on the deck. I plead ignorance because I honestly didnt know. Back in the 80's when I hauled them on RGN's,.. we always backed them on with the blade facing forward for weight distribution. Dozers with larger blades would have been hauled with the blade on the rear of the trailer. Thats how we did it back then.

Oscar and a couple others schooled me on the proper/legal way to do it now. All future dozer loads I do will be loaded with the blade facing reward,.. problem solved.

Being a step deck driver,.. he could have been like me. Probably just didnt know. I wouldnt take dozer loads as I didnt want my deck torn up. I fell into 2 loads that paid ridiculous money, so I went ahead and ran them. Both permit loads. The larger D61 Komatsu I ran the entire length of I20 in Alabama to Ga with no escort. I got the blade narrowed down to 10'8. Not 100% sure,.. but was told anything over 10' needs an escort in Alabama.

Funny thing is I went through 2 scales and got the green light both times,.. never even asked to see my permits. Talk about lady luck on my side.



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Found this pic in the heavy haul thread for old trucks.
This is exactly how I would have hauled a D8 back then. My trailer was similar to this one,.. 45' 3 axle, removable neck with pony motor for the hydraulics.


Not trying to get on your case, but if you felt that strongly about it, you really should have said something to him. At least get him to check into it. If he said he knew and thats how he was doing it,.. then you could at least feel better knowing you tried.The guys here had no problem letting me know I was doing it wrong. I didnt understand at first. Then looked into it. Now I know.

Hurst

 

Hauled small equipment in the past, and some fertilizer floaters 12' wide, but not big Dozers, so I have to ask, why rearward facing? Safety issue, weight issue, or air flow issue (like taping up exhaust pipe to keep turbo from spinning unoiled?)

 

I was told its so you dont hit cars with the blade. How ever in my mind,.. I'm thinking whats to keep cars from hitting the blade facing reward? More dangerous that way in my opinion.

Hurst

 

Hurst, It's a good idea to carry some 2x12 boards to put down on your deck. Not only will it protect your nice pretty aluminum trailer, it will provide traction. Not even ice is as slick as tracks on a wet day.

 

I guess if I really had to come up with a reason (logically) would be that blade on rear of trailer you turn a corner back of trailer would pivot away, blade on forward middle of trailer blade pivots toward turn???

 

Past experience,.. hauling a man lift and not placing wood under the basket, allowed it to gouge my deck as it bounced up and down back there,.. and that was with it strapped down. I later learned to make sure you strap the dunnage independently as it can and will walk out from under what you have on top of it. Step decks flex a lot.

I always carry at least 10 - 14 4x4 boards. Usually 10 4x4x8 and 4 4x4x4. The shorter work well when doing coils,.. also work well with keeping blades and other things from gouging the bed,.. plus they sit nicely in my headache rack,.. easy to grab and store. The other 10 I chain to the front of my upper deck.

Edit:

meant 4x4x8,.. not 4x4x10.

I carry at least 10 for doing pipe loads, I wont do a pyramid stack. I will only load pipe in layers so I can belly strap. I dont trust the wedges and pipe bars will only do so much alone.

Hurst

 

We have moved man lifts in the past, I always carried some 8' long 2x's and would tack them into the nailer strips on the trailer under the basket and then strap the basket down.

 

This is just me,.. and I like to angle the blade toward the passenger side. This shortens the length that over hangs on the traffic side.

To put the dozer all the way on the back,.. most would over load the axle weight on the trailer. It needs to be centered between the drives and rears, at least on the step it does,.. to balance out the weight.

 

Ooops,..


oops again,..