53' Step Deck. Tridem or Tandem

Myself, I wouldn't think of loading anything close to that over the ramps. Or from a dock without a bunch of plywood on the deck.
My back axle is only bout 1 1/2' from the rear of the trailer. Even then I'd want a set of jackstands or something to block under the supports for the ICC bumper.

@Hurst if you look close at that pic of yours with the cat ready to crest over on the ramps. You can see the ramp center stands tipped back. And your trailer arched way up the wrong way. Supporting that trailer on the very rear would make it alot easier on it.

 

I cant begin to tell you how hesitant I was to load a track machine onto my deck. I was so fearful of the deck getting cleeted up and damaged. Been doing them for better part of 3 yrs now. The ramps and the rear plate on the deck are the only things showing battle scars. A few minor scuff marks here and there on the deck,.. and not 100% sure they were not done by a fork lift operator or from loading something else. The deck has held up very well,.. despite being soft aluminum.

As for the arch,.. the trailer has an arch in it by it self,.. starts from the upper deck and follows through to the rear. The rear does sag when loading heavy like that. Hasnt caused any problems yet. But I do understand what you are saying. Not trying to pretend this is a perfect solution. Only that it does work and so far,.. so good.

The place I bought the ramps from makes a stand/brace that goes under the ICC bumper like you stated. Each time I go through OKC I keep forgetting to stop in there and pic them up. It would stop the sagging and make it much more stable. I agree with you 100% on that.

Hurst

 

I bought the ramps from Universal trailer in OKC. They assured me the ramps would 50k. I never took them seriously on that. Felt more like a used car salesmans pitch. I originally bought them to move backhoes, rubber tire machines, medium sized commercial trucks, day cabs etc. Never did I have a vision of ever putting something with tracks on them or much over 30k lbs up on them.

So when my carrier started trying to convince me that heavier tracked machines would safely go up the ramps I Was seriously hesitant. He started showing me the rates he was getting and the steady work he had from a couple local (Chicagoland area,.. I'm from Fla) contractors. It peaked my interest. Because lets be honest,.. tarping tall odd shaped machinery and super sacks of bentonite really sucks and doesnt pay all that well.
So I called HD Ramps in Wisconsin directly. They assured me that yes,.. the ramps had been tested to hold 50k,.. but that was well beyond what they would safely rate them for. 46 - 47k would be the most they would recommend,.. but only on stable, level ground.


The ramps look like they would support the weight. But the stands are adjustable and have two pins,.. one on each side to hold them up. To look them you would think,.. no way that will hold over 40k lbs. I expected the pins to fail the the machine to crush the stands. Never happened,.. even when my deck failed and that 963 came crashing down on them,.. they never failed. So I am confident enough with these ramps to recommend them to anyone.

A lot of loads that call for ramps,.. particularly rental equipment,.. unless your picking up from a job site,.. they will have a loading ramp for store to store moves. That and the ones that didnt,.. I had guys bring over their landoll even though I stated I was perfectly capable of setting up the ramps. I'm all about the easy button,.. bring it over.

The one thing about the ramps,.. and actually picked up on this from a guy here on the forum,.. the whole work smarter not harder schpeel. Well I was the dummy working harder,.. I was carrying the ramps from the front to the rear and then back when done. Nah,.. not anymore. I pull the ramps out,.. lay them on the ground,.. pull the truck forward until the rear deck is where the ramps are now. I always wanted to thank him for saving what is left of my back. But I have long since forgotten who he was.

Hurst

 

Hurst, I made a dolly out an axle for a 2 wheel hand truck and made the axle wide enough so the wheels are just wide enough so the ramp will fit between them that will sit pretty good under one end of the ramp then i can pick up the other end and wheel it to the back of the trailer. It's not perfect but better the carrying the whole thing. Rob.

 

Pretty sure I have the same set @Hurst has and my ramp sections are 70 lbs. each.

 

Thanks for the flowers.

I do most of my running in Texas & they will permit me 134,000 with that truck & trailer combo. The combo is 41,000 empty, so technically I can do 39,000 legally & 93,000 on permit. The heaviest piece I've put on it was 87,000.

Now take into consideration the tractor is 25,400 full of fuel, putting the trailer at 15,600 & basing the weight of a 3 axle Pete 379 at 19,400 & a 3 axle Freightliner a little lighter, I could see a legal payload of 45-46,000 & a permitted load of 79,000, in Texas, other states would vary according to their rules.

 

@Hurst
Why not make permanent stands on the 2 chassisbeams?
Back when i was doing flatbed,my then boss had that on our trailers.
A heavy duty rotary hinge welded to the beam,other side off the hinge a square steel tube cut to the right size.
A flat piece off steel at the bottom so it does not go in the ground.
A pin locking them flush against the beams when not in use.
When needed pull the pin,raise the airsuspension on the trailer and then lower again.
Trailer sits now on beams.
It will not move a inch.

 

A wheeled carrier would be awesome to have. I still get into situations where I have no choice but to lug them back and forth. No room to move the truck forward enough to clear the ramps. Barely enough room just to lay out the ramps. Really wishing I had an RGN during those times.

Where do you store it? My headache rack is getting pretty busy. Keep finding more things to put on it.

Hurst

 

I've never weighed them but sounds about right.





Hurst