Excavator chaining while I'm bored.

You know more places want to load 50k excavators on steps, probably to save on RGN rates. I personally have never hauled an overwidth or heavy track hoe, only legal width and maybe up to 28k. What makes me nervous about ever putting something wide on a step is all the weight is on the outsides of the trailer. Sure the tracks spread the weight over however long the tracks are. I recently hauled a 45k JLG manlift so maybe that would be worse since all the weight is on 4 tires which are at the outside edge of the trailer (still legal). Trailer seemed fine afterwards. I just saw two postings today for 51k excavators on steps out of NC. Anyone have experience or an opinion of these on steps?

 

Leftlane,

When you haul a dozer with the blade off, is there any provision that allows the blade to be hauled on the same trailer if the load is overweight for just the dozer?

I assume the answer is no but hauling with the blade on makes an under 12' wide over 13' 9"

 

I am not aware of any state that allows you to haul multiple pieces and be overweight. The total weight of truck, trailer, and load must be under 80K or you have to leave the extra pieces behind.

 

We haul excavators up to 47K, 10.5 wide, on a step. Our rule of thumb is 50% or more of the track on the trailer.

We also run RGNs without out riggers. We don't like the extra weight. They don't have anywhere to tie a tarp to, and we like to haul steel as well as machinery.

 

The sprockets and rollers look to be well inside the outside rails on the trailer. He's good to go!

I'd put a lot more faith in the outer trailer rails than any outriggers.





Loaded on a 8' 6" 9 axle Knight.

 

That is what I thought. When you move, do you move them with the blade on and use the escorts or ship the blade on a second truck?

 

I guess my step can hold it, just never tried. It's a Fointane infinity with a pretty beefy looking beam. I just always thought something so far out from the beam can't be good. I guess the cross members are enough and the weight is spread over 16' more or less of linear length. The only other difficulty might be getting the weight right on the axles as anything over 47 or so would have to be permitted for 80-90k or so on 5 axles.

 

I had a set of "blade bunk" built for my trailer. See the photo with the balde on the rear. When hauling an excavator I simply turned the bunks parallel to the rails.



http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pipex.htm

 

better to over secure,gives dot little reason to mess with ya