loading without ramps too much strain on auto tranny in tow rig????

[Honkylips]

After years and years of driving my junk to and from trails, I finally gots me a tow rig. The tow rig is a 2005 CTD with an auto tranny. I've got a dovetail trailer and haven't been bothering to use the ramps when I load/unload. However, with the truck in park and with the e-brake set, that thing gets pushed around quite a bit when I load/unload the jeep. Am I putting too much strain on my tranny in the tow rig?

[n9emz]

You're probably experiencing the same thing I have....when loading and unloading without the ramps or support under the rear of the trailer, you're unweighting the rear axle from tongue lift and the towrig's rear wheels are sliding....not turning. Even a jeep is considerable weight to suddenly hop up onto the trailer. I did the wtf? ditty the first couple of times it happened on level ground and thought the same thing you are. A few months ago, I backed up my wheeling buddy's steep driveway, threw it in park and stomped the e-brake. Started backing my trailrig off the trailer and the truck took off like a shot down the driveway. It was freewheeling on the front tires and the rears were completely off the ground.

Since then I've been using jackstands under the rear of the trailer when I load and unload. :D

[StinkBug]

Thats exactly why I really like my new trailer. One of the things it had that the others didn't were these neat little drop down jacks on the back end.

http://www.stinkyfab.com/images/web/T01.jpg

Dallas

[pcorssmit]

Mine skids like that too when I don't use the ramps. I usually just put the tow rig in 4-low, 1st gear, w/the e-brake set.

Pete

[rocksteadyrobk]

You lazy bums.. Use the ramps. Unloading without ramps puts a ton of stress on the trailer's frame and suspension and the tow rig. I have seen it bend poorly made trailers. Use the ramps and if you don't have rear jacks use a 6x6 or jackstands.

RK

[35xj]

if you must unload w/o ramps put the tow rig in N with the brake on hard. It can prake the park lever in the tranny.

[rockis hopperis]

One reason I got the tilt trailer.

[DMG]

You're probably experiencing the same thing I have....when loading and unloading without the ramps or support under the rear of the trailer, you're unweighting the rear axle from tongue lift and the towrig's rear wheels are sliding....not turning. Even a jeep is considerable weight to suddenly hop up onto the trailer. I did the wtf? ditty the first couple of times it happened on level ground and thought the same thing you are. A few months ago, I backed up my wheeling buddy's steep driveway, threw it in park and stomped the e-brake. Started backing my trailrig off the trailer and the truck took off like a shot down the driveway. It was freewheeling on the front tires and the rears were completely off the ground.

Since then I've been using jackstands under the rear of the trailer when I load and unload. :D


LOL! My buddy did that on a steep hill unloading a toyota while I was standing on the front of the trailer. I thought I was going to die but he said it looked like I was surfing. We are much more careful now.

[texascadillac42]

You lazy bums.. Use the ramps. Unloading without ramps puts a ton of stress on the trailer's frame and suspension and the tow rig. I have seen it bend poorly made trailers. Use the ramps and if you don't have rear jacks use a 6x6 or jackstands.

RK

x2. How much time does it take to get the ramps out? 2-3 minutes at most. Which can save strain and wear and tear on the truck and trailer components.

[Grim Reaper]

I saw somebody loading without the ramps and the hitch came loose. A frame of the hitch took out the tail gate and fender on the brand new tow rig. Wasn't pretty.

At the very least fab up some landing gear to keep the tail of the trailer from lifting the back of the truck.

[Tim84K10]

I have been loading without ramps since I got my trailer. If I wasn't worried about possibly breaking my truck, I'd even leave them at home.

I have a manual tranny tow rig so I'm not worried about something so simple breaking it.

[CJHeap]

I have had 2 sets of ramps stolen while i was on the trails.

[mikey_d05]

My trailer has slide in ramps which don't do crap about the stress and unloading situation, so it's bad whether or not you're using the ramps. I'm gonna make some drop jacks to keep the tow rig from being pushed around too much, I don't think it's neccessarily dangerous as long as everybody stands clear, but it does scare people and make you look like a circus act when loading up in front of non-wheelers (my neighbors).

[Bmf24]

most ramps dont have any support for the back end of the trailer. alot of them will just sit on the trailer and ground like a 2x12.
i usualy throw something under the back rail to keep it from dropping too much and throw the truck in 4hi.

the base way would be trailer ramps with feet on it that keep the back of the trailer from dropping too much.

[Bmf24]

I have had 2 sets of ramps stolen while i was on the trails.

design and build a set that cant be removed.
are the slide out ramps? make something so the ramps cant come out all the way, just far enough.

[chris408]

I would say put in in neutral and hit the parking brake. YOu can easily snap the locking pin in the tranny if you put it in park.

[pcorssmit]

One other caution about not using your ramps on a regular basis. If you have a lock on the ramps, make sure to keep it clean, lubed, etc. I went to help a friend tow a car that he picked up at an auction, and broke the key off in my lock. I'd been using teh trailer, but not the ramps, and the rear tires throw a lot of road-crud at the lock. Luckily we found someone else in the parking lot to let us borrow a set of ramps.

Pete

[JLanigan]

the base way would be trailer ramps with feet on it that keep the back of the trailer from dropping too much.


be careful on that one, tried it once and the once the front wheel got to the back of the trailer it lifted the tail of the ramp clean off the ground and whacked it off the floor of the car.

put the stands on the trailer, and try not to drive off with em down

[Sick boy]

I've been loading my Cruiser onto my car hauler without the ramps for 6 years now. I tow with a 1999 C3500 crew cab dooley automatic. Most of the time I forget to set the parking brake cuz it's something I rarely use. I always load the Cruiser in 4-low though. Never had a problem. I've got about 75k on the truck.

[weedwacker]

It will not hurt the trans, but maybe something else if the hitch comes off. I have been loading a 4WD backhoe for a for a few years now with no problems. I have fractured vetebre in my lower back and I'm kind lazy when it comes to hauling ramps around.

[withamc]

Jackstand under the rear of the trailer, e-brake on the tow rig. I've been loading like this since 97 - no problem.

[Kaiser5]

I'm lazy too. I load/unload without ramps.
My worry is the coupler on the trailer, don't think they were designed for all of that upward stress when the back of the trailer suddenly shoots for the ground. :eek:

[crashnzuk]

I use my ramps just about everytime to unload, and always to load. I don't have stands on the rear of my trailer and I haven't had any trouble in the 13 years I've been using it. I would rather have my trailer hop off of the ball when I'm loading (only done it once) than have it hop off while driving.
Travis..

[rednck21]

i always load/unload without ramps with my auto trans tow rig. as stated before the ramps dont support the rear of the trailer and jackstands are just something else to keep up with on the trail :shaking: my trailer is very well built(Big Tex) and is fairly heavy and ive never had any problems with it lifting the rear of my truck :D

[Honkylips]

Well, I've resorted to keeping some scrap pieces of wood in my trailer tool box and just stack them up under the rear of the trailer and then load without ramps. Truck hardly budges anymore and it only takes an extra 30 seconds. Got the toolbox for $20 on craigslist so it's now easy to store wood and straps and crap.