Loading & Unloading Using a Tilt Trailer
Tilt bed trailers come in a variety of sizes, from small trailers that carry riding lawnmowers or snowmobiles to large, tandem axle trailers used to move construction equipment. But they all work under the same principle: The bed of the trailer pivots on hinges above the axle so that the back of the bed lowers to the ground for easy loading and unloading. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Loading
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1
Remove the safety pin at the front of the trailer bed. This pin keeps the bed connected to the chassis during transportation. If there is no load, the weight of the bed will cause it to tilt backward, with the end of the bed resting on the ground.
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2
Drive the load slowly up the trailer bed. As the weight of the load reaches a point in front of the axle and the hinge, where the bed connects to the chassis, the bed will tilt forward and rest level on the chassis of the trailer. If you have a load that is not self-propelled, mount a winch at the front of the trailer bed and pull loads onto the trailer, or load the trailer by hand.
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3
Replace the safety pin at the front of the trailer bed.
Unloading
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4
Remove the safety pin at the front of the trailer bed.
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5
Slowly back up the load. As the center of the load moves behind the hinge point between the trailer and the chassis, the bed will tilt backward, with the end resting on the ground. Loads that do not operate under their own power--vehicles with mechanical problems, for example--may be manually pushed from the trailer.
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6
Finish backing the load off the trailer and replace the safety pin at the front of the trailer bed.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Trailer beds are usually balanced so they can be tilted forward by hand when there is no load. Simply lean on the front of the trailer to tilt it forward and insert the safety pin for unloaded transportation.
Keep the center of the load's weight in front of the axle--this reduces wear on the safety pin assembly.
The bed of a tilt bed trailer connects to the chassis only at the hinges and the safety pin. Check these components for unusual wear.
