URGENT HELP NEEDED.complicated stepdeck load
 

I have been in phoenix for a couple of days.I finally found a load that is picking up at an auction.This load is coming to lakeland , Ga.
I feel RANK or someone with much experience hauling this kind of stuff would know.
The trucking company in Ga bought 2 daycabs 04 Freightliner Columbias.I have a 48' step deck with 37' on the bottom.I have hauled many loaders,backhoes and excavators but never a road tractor.They required RAMPS which I have, and my ramps are 14feet in length.They had to call freightliner out to the auction to remove the wind Visor/air scoop on top.The trucking company in GA claims a flat top columbia's over all height is 9' 8".They got this from a truck they have in their yard.When I got there I measured an overall length of 21feet and 10 feet in height.


Loading this will be a challenge for me, since I don't have ramps to back this tractor(shorter ramps to clear the top deck)on my top deck.I have started calling around to get about 4-6 feet ramps in Phoenix.

Besides the point, more work is involved because the freightliner guy forgot or was never told to take off the long stacks.I can do this on both trucks myself.The owner of the company who bought the truck wants to up the fee if I can find shorter ramps.He even wants to pay for the ramps.Commercial ramps like these are mail order.

Forcing this tractor up on my top deck is impossible since it wouldn't have the traction on the drives like a backhoe/excavator.


I can either call all heavy duty junk yards in Phoenix for ramps or I can go to Home depot and have them build me wooden steps which will be held by nails.I will still need to secure the wooden steps with straps to keep it down while I back the truck up on the top deck(half on top)


Another third plan is to stop one of those tow truck drivers and pay him, and have him back up his flatbed to my my top deck while I drive the tractor from his flatbed on to my top deck.Such a plan might work, but I will still need short ramps to drive it half way off the topdeck.


I took a commercial HUMVEE from Ga to NJ 2weeks ago and almost the same incident occured.This was a load that needed ramps, but the load was only 15feet.In NJ, the damn HUMVEE would not crank.I had set up my ramps and was guiding the driver when the Humveet shut off.The HUMVEE just shut off while backing up on the ramps.Anyway, they called a Tow truck who backed up to my trailer and winched it off.

The owner wants no one to handle this job but me.The trucks had no fuel and batt was dead.I still have to charge them up with my generator.I just hate doing auctions and sorry for the long post but any suggestions?
I need to find a solution by monday.

Thanks
 

I was able to book with a wrecker service to come "deck" the tractors.
Thanks.

Your welcome Henry.


Did you learn anything today? :D

When I loaded a tractor (18-wheeler), the height problem was easy to take care of. I simply softened the tires. Not all the way flat, but about half. Then, after chaining up, I added some of the air back. The softened tires brought the height down to legal height. Otherwise, it would have been a couple of inches over.

As to the dead batteries, simply trying to charge them may not do it. You say they are out of fuel. Might be worth putting a couple of gallons in each tank, then pull start them.

I learned a lot tanker yanker.
I can never stop learning Orange.

Is this one of the Ritchie Bros loads you were trying to get? Of all the trucks for sale the shipper couldn't find any closer? One advantage of hauling trucks is if your breaks you can swap for one on the trailer.:)

Henry, It is quite easy, use the dock at the auction (less work and safer) back the first truck on till a few inches from the deck. Pull out from the dock and have the wrecker or forklift pick up the back end and hold it while you back your truck up. Only one lift and your done. Tie that truck down before you load the back. It will be easier without the other truck in the way. Put the other truck on and check your height and go to GA. Most auctions will help start equipment you are loading.

glad you made out ok Henry. I probably would have used the wrecker + ramps like you did. Although I like Heavy Duty's idea better. That's one to file away for future reference.

Copart
 

This is Copart, there are no docks.They do not help with fuel or charging.They do not touch the class 8 trucks at all.I am at the gate and we will see tomorrow morning.

If you plan on hauling many cars or at facilities where a loading dock may not be available you might consider getting a set of ramps. There is a company in Jacksonville that manufactures ramps. I don't recall the name but their prices seemed better than some of the others with whom I spoke at the time.

When equipment only has a few gallons in the tanks it is not surprising when they run out of fuel on an incline.




Would Henry have come this far 20 years ago with no cell phones or computers?

I've used my ramps once in three years. Lately everybody wants ramps, but they are so clueless about them it's ridiculous. They want ramps so they can save the cost of an RGN or the cost of bringing in a flat bed tow truck. Here's two examples just from today.

#1
Broker: "It's 6 wheeled freightliner dump truck". Do you have ramps?
Me: Yes I have ramps. What's the model of the truck?
Broker: I don't know.
Me: How much ground clearance does it have and what's the wheel base?
Broker: I don't know why?
Me: Because the bottom of the truck might get hung up on my trailer as I'm loading.
Broker: Never thought about that. That's why I've never driven a truck.

#2
Broker: do you have ramps?
Me: Yes. What have you got?
Broker: It's an excavator.
Me: Tracks or wheels?
Broker: I----don't-----know.
Me: What model is it?
Broker: I don't know but it weighs 34,000 lbs.
Me: 34,000 lbs? Not on my ramps.

Very good write-up Rank
 

The one above is a good one.

I was able to load the first OTR tractor on the deck.I was worried the day before, because I have 16kibs load limit on my 14 ft ramps.The day before I went to Copart, I was able to load my own tractor on the ramps.The drives got up to the (I backed up)top deck and I heard a scrub.Just when the front wheel was about to start climbing the ramps, I stopped.Unknowingly, the back farrings got hung up on the top edge of the ramp.The drives did make it to the top deck and the ramps did not bend as I was thinking.I could have raised the self leveling valve to give me more clearance to make it all the way, but at least this gave me confidence about the weight limit.My truck weighs 17.5kibs and so I knew I would be fine.


At the auction, the first columbias' clutch was soo high, and so when I was driving up the ramps, I sometimes had to stop mid way on the ramps to re-steer.Stopping abruptly on the ramps and resteering caused a jerk in weight.This jerk/sudden stops caused one of my ramps to bend a bit.Anyway I was able to make it up there and then call the wrecker to have them put that on the top deck.That part was easy, and so was driving the 2nd columbia up the deck.There were parts all over the place to pick up and strap.There were the air dam/air scoops I had to pick and strap on the fiftth wheel.They were huge for one person to carry and then climb up on top to put them on the fifth wheel.There were other parts like the stacks and brackets.
Every time I do auctions, I run into some hard ass labor.6 hrs,8 chains and 12 straps later I was on my way.


I think I will stay away from these auctions as much as I can ,and I already try to stay away from moving machinery/vehicle with wheels.A 46kibs BOOM vehicle destroyed some of my cross members 8 months ago.Never again.


The wrecker charged $220 and which the shipper paid 4.
The shipper, who is also a trucker with 5 trucks(Cottrell) could have easily ordered an RGN, but would have needed 2 of them because both trucks took up 46ft in length.
He also claims he can find me a clean truck and as clean as these Columbias for dirt cheap.I will see what he comes up with.

While waiting for the gates to open at Copart, I was able to locate Shorter ramps for $450 about 10 miles down the street.They were 8ft length with 12kibs limit, and that would have worked in getting that first Columbia up the top deck.It wasn't justifiable in this economy and since I rarely do these kind of loads, so I told the shipper to pay for the wrecker.
GMAN, IN THIS ECONOMY IT IS NOT WORTH SPENDING $3000 ON 14FT AND 8FT RAMPS.I ALREADY SPENT ALMOST $1K ON THESE 14FT.THAT MONEY INVESTED IS ENOUGH.

I would not spend the money on ramps unless it is something that I would use on a fairly regular basis, either. I thought that if it is something you would use that it might be worth spending the money. I agree that in this economy it is not prudent to spend money unless it is absolutely necessary unless you can get a really good deal and have the extra cash.

Will this type of weld hold or should I forget it?
 

FOR YOU STEPDECKERS WHO RAMP MOST OF YOUR LOADS.I delivered the load but both my ramps broke in half.NEVER AGAIN WILL I DO WHAT I DID EVEN IF I HAVE TO STAY SOMEWHERE FOR CHRISTMAS.That was too much weight on the ramps.They almost totalled their Columbia when this happened.They said they would have my ramps welded back toegther.I have been calling almost every 3 days but now the guys will not call me back.The father said they are having a (who at first said it will be an easy fix when a metal is reinforced in between the broken pieces and welded toether)hard time finding someone who can do aluminum wleding.If a metal plate or steal is used in between to hold the ramps and welded together, will this hold or SHOULD I JUST CUT MY LOSSES AND FIND SOME OTHER RAMPS?If a weld like this is possible then I wouldn't mind driving 300 to pick up my **** and have someone do it.
When done will welds like this hold?

Soo pissed off.
 

I am soo pissed off this morning, and that is why some people go knocking on doors with you know what.The buyer called me everyday when I had his trucks but now he will not answer or return my calls with an update.

My tranny went out on my personal vehicle and I could have ramped my vehicle up on my deck and drove it to the tranny shop.Had to call a tow truck.I am now the towee instead of the tower.

I am sorry to hear about all the problems with your load, henboy. If it were me I would buy new ramps rather than repairing aluminum ramps. As a side note, it is usually a good idea to not exceed the load capacity of your ramps. Although this guy said that he would repair your ramps, it ultimately falls on you to either repair or replace them. My guess is that the guy knows that his welder may not be able to repair the old ramps and he doesn't want to pay for new ones. Good luck.

sorry to hear about your ramps. They won't fix them properly. They don't give two hoots about you. Just like I said earlier. They have no clue and they don't care if you wreck your stuff. If they fix them at all they will just gob some weld on there and you can't trust the ramps in that condition. They can probably be fixed, but they will need to be reinforced.

I wouldn't replace them.

Rank you have ramps made from Landport right, and even if I went and picked up my stuff would it be worth spending another 300-400 to fix it?.Such fixing will require a shop that knows what they are doing.Out of a 100 loads you see 2 loads requiring ramps.
I may have to cut my losses and forget about ramps.

No Henboy, I don't know who made my ramps. They are made from 4 lengths of aluminum Z bar with checker plate welded on top. If it were me I would definately get my ramps back......maybe you can get them fixed locally at a reasonable price but I wouldn't buy new. Like you say, there might be 2 loads of 100 that call for ramps and 2/1000 are loads that are actually feasible for ramps in the real world.

If the ramps are aluminum they are are least worth $ for scrap. You could always take the guy to small claims if you have time.

My ramps are all fixed.
 

After complaining to them about how professional I was in delivering their trucks and how they have not even tried calling me back, they finally fixed my ramps.I went half with the shipper at $120 each.The welds look good but I wouldn't know until I put some weight on it.I also got my personal vehicle back from the tranny shop.
NEVER AGAIN WILL I PUT ANYTHING OVER 12K ON MY RAMPS.

If they break again ---- Duck Welding in Nashville, TN ---- aaaand you're welcome.