Preparing Your War Wagon

Every morning brings a new mission. You saddle up your crews, secure your iron and ride off to the next jobsite. Each new contract brings your band of hard-working recruits more jobs and bigger opportunities every week — and always in a different place it seems. One day might call for installing plumbing in an exclusive residential neighborhood in the suburbs. The next day might demand excavating a public pool in the middle of downtown. Who knows where your crew of nomadic contractors will be riding next?

Such variety is part of the appeal of the demanding work of construction and landscaping. For these rovers, the opportunity to travel is just another part of the job that needs to be done right, which is why transportation is of the utmost importance. Most hit the road with two main tools — their mule (truck) and their wagon (trailer). With this simple system they can cross long and inhospitable distances to deliver their package of crew and equipment safely and on time.

A compact excavator is the perfect piece of equipment for such operations. This small and precise digging machine is designed to be easily hauled, and it’s engineered for those one-and-run job descriptions. Dig for drainage, next. Repair a foundation, next. Break up a driveway, next. Install pipe work, next. Time for beers. Each job might mean a new jobsite, so hauling best practices are essential for a smooth operation. The key is to make a daily checklist and stick to it.

“Check and double check — develop a routine that you follow every time you pull a trailer,” says Jim Stanton, territory sales manager at Yanmar Construction Equipment. “Check your trailer for brakes, tires and lights. Is the brake away switch connected? Check the connection to the truck. Check your load and how it is secured to the trailer. It may be boring, but it will ensure that you do not overlook something. Realize that the cost of a ¾-ton truck, a tandem-axle trailer and an 8,000-lb mini excavator
is substantial. Taking time to safeguard your investment is worth every minute you take.”

Trailering practices go hand-in-hand with safe loading and correct trailer selection tips. When considering compact excavators, these machines have a wide operating weight range and a wide array of price tags — from 2,000 to 12,000 lbs, costing anywhere from $20,000 to $65,000 — which means you will need to zero in on the right size trailer and truck for your exact towing requirements. Contractors have the option
of choosing between standard flatbeds, utility trailers and tilt-and-load bed trailers with hydraulic assists when it comes to towing their mini digging machine. But first, you will need to sort out your precise hauling requirements.

“Customers should determine what their hauling needs are first,” explains Randy Lewis, national sales manager for Featherlite — a trailer manufacturer since 1973. “This will help to determine if they are best suited for an open
or enclosed trailer. Open trailers are more versatile.

Tow vehicle, size and weight of the equipment are also important factors. They will have many options to
consider such as heavier axles, ramps, beavertails, different trailer flooring, lighting and so on.”

The Numbers Crunch

Hauling needs is a numbers game. Once you can pin-point a few figures, you can select the right truck and trailer. So go grab a pen and pad (or use the margins of this magazine) and figure out four numbers: 1) the weight of the compact excavator you will be towing (and any other accessories you plan to haul on the same trailer); 2) the weight of the trailer; 3) how much weight that trailer places on the hitch; and 4) the towing
capacity of your vehicle. This will help you choose your ideal war wagon.

To tackle number (1) and (2), you will need to find out your gross trailer weight (GTW), which is the weight of the trailer fully loaded in its actual towing position (i.e., the weight of the trailer and everything loaded on it — mini ex, attachments, shovels, etc.). GTW can be measured by
placing a fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale.

To discover number (3), you will have to uncover your loaded trailer’s tongue weight (TW). Tongue weight is the downward force exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer’s coupler. In most cases, TW is 10 to 15 percent of the GTW. TW up to 300 lbs can be measured on a household scale, but most fully loaded and level trailers should go to a
vehicle scale. To discover your truck’s towing capacity, which is number (4), you will need to check your truck’s owner’s manual. Like the trailer, the tow vehicle has a
maximum weight capacity it was designed to haul.

Brian Rabe, product manager for excavators and all-wheel-steer loaders at Gehl Co., provides a simple system.

“When considering compact excavators [classified as under 6 metric tons], 1.5- to 4-metric ton small units will require a 1/2-ton pick up [like a Ford F150], a 4- to 6-

metric ton unit would require a 3/4-ton truck [like a Chevy Silverado 2500] and all other units require a 1-ton
minimum [like a Dodge Ram 3500],” suggests Rabe.

Obviously, any medium-duty truck (like GMC’s TopKick and the Chevy Kodiak) could haul even larger or multiple machines. Once your monster truck is sized up, you’re going to want to choose the right style trailer with the right gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and axle configuration. There are a variety of styles (from simple flatbeds to hydraulic lifts), but the three most important aspects of your selection formula will stay the same.

“Width, length and weight are the three biggest factors in selecting a trailer,” explains Jeff Ford, product manager at JLG, a recent entrant into the trailer businesses with its Triple-L line in 2002. 

The most popular and most economical style of trailer is the flatbed, which (just like it sounds) is a trailer with flat decking, often using ramps or tailgates for loading.

Flatbed trailers will come in single- and duel-axle configurations, but for your compact excavator needs you’re going to want to focus on dual- or tandem-axle trailers.

“A tandem-axle trailer, 16 to 18 ft long,” suggests Stanton. “This will provide the surface area and capacity to haul a compact excavator. It will also provide the space to haul extra buckets and it will also give you room to tie down the equipment.”

Utility trailers are similar to flatbeds, but they usually have steel or wood siding or fencing for added safety and functionality. Tailgates are often used for loading and models come in single- and dual-axle versions. Enclosed trailers are completely contained trailers — usually for safe storage while hauling; enclosed trailers are rarely used with hauling sizable compact equipment. At the high end of the spectrum, hydraulic trailers are also popular options for hauling compact excavators — both hydraulic tilt beds and hydraulic lowering beds — especially the double axle versions. Hit a button or pull a lever and watch your hydraulic trailer lower to the ground or tilt back for easy and safe loading.

“Our hydraulic trailers lower completely to the ground, via a hydraulic lifting system, to allow loading without the hazards of tilt backs and ramps,” explains Ford. “This productivity enhancing feature allows loading at ground level for hard-to-handle equipment with low ground clearance or limited traction like pavers, sweepers, rollers, scissor lifts and compact excavators. These pieces of equipment can be loaded by a single person while detached from the
vehicle, without the risk of dropping off ramps or driving up steep inclines.”

The suggested manufacturer’s retail prices for tandem-axle flatbed trailers have a wide range, depending on
the length and added options, from $5,000 to $22,500.

Tilt bed trailers typically start around $4,000 to $5,500. Hydraulic dump trailers begin around $5,000, while enclosed utility trailers start at $3,500.

Once you pick your style of trailer (and we highly suggest a dual-axle trailer regardless of style), you will need to match the payload of your operations with the GVWR of the trailer. All trailers have a GVWR, which is the payload of the trailer (including the weight of the trailer) that it can safely haul.

Let’s say you choose a dual-axle flatbed trailer and each axle is rated to safely handle 6,000 lbs apiece — it has a GVWR of 12,000 lbs. Just make sure you subtract the weight of the trailer from that number too. Let’s say the trailer weighs 2,300 lbs. Subtract 2,300 from 12,000 and that will give you the weight you can safely haul — 9,700 lbs. A GVWR that leaves an excess of 1,500 lbs is always a smart idea too.

Getting on the Wagon

Sticking with the theme of smart ideas, hauling and loading best practices are a crucial component when towing equipment. A compact excavator can be a heavy and tricky machine to handle sometimes — its tall frame and long boom require extra attention when hauling and loading. And by extra attention, we mean two workers preferably.

“The safest way to load an excavator is with the assistance of a spotter,” says Rabe. “Once on the trailer, the upper structure should be rotated so it is facing forward with the dozer blade facing the rear of the trailer. The more tie-down points that can be utilized the better.”

Slowly drive your excavator onto your trailer with the boom curled and down; you can face forward or backward while loading, depending on your trailer, its ramp angle and your machine. Once you have your compact excavator on the trailer, you will need to balance the core weight of the machine over the two axles. Experts typically suggest 60 percent of the load on the front axle and 40 percent behind it, maintaining a 10 percent tongue weight. Once you’ve properly loaded your compact excavator, you will need to tie it down.

“There are many different ways of securing an excavator,” explains Stanton. “A common way to secure the front is to use chains, one using the blade — most blades have holes on top or you can use a clevis or two if needed. To secure the rear, you
can use a clevis with chain in holes located at the rear of the frame.

Or you can connect the tie-down binders directly to the track frame with the chain going to the trailer frame. Some drivers use nylon straps instead of chains. You can use a chain or nylon strap to secure the bucket to the bed of the trailer.”

Most compact excavators have
tie-down points located on the
dozer blade and the undercarriage.

It is also a good idea to secure the
dipper arm if the unit is not equipped with a swing brake. If you are not
sure if your units have a hydraulic swing brake, always consult the owner’s manual and error on the side of safety.

After double-checking that your compact excavator is secure, you will need to safety-check your trailer. Check lights and brakes — these items need to be in good working order on both the truck and the trailer. Make extra sure you have the proper electrical hook up for the trailer’s brakes and that your safety chains are crossed. Also make sure your tires and tire pressures are in good working order. The excavator is not likely to move on the trailer if
properly secured. If the trailer has a problem, then the weight of the excavator will come into play and can cause serious problems.

Ready yet? Wait! Before you start hauling, just make sure your compact excavator is somewhat clean. It doesn’t need to have a blinding sparkle, but anything that flies off your machine into traffic (at little old granny, peeking over the wheel of her Civic hatchback) is your responsibility — whether it’s a rock or a sprocket. Better not to risk danger and lawsuits — clean your machine before you hit the road, Jack.

Once you feel prepared to move into traffic, simply
keep a few driving tips in mind when hauling your
compact excavator: Think ahead and keep your distance. “Always drive thinking way ahead of yourself,” says Stanton. “In other words, leave plenty of room to stop. Anticipate in advance where you are going and don’t speed. The objective is to get to your destination. Maintain and check your truck and trailer often.”

When driving, watch your speed — the slower the better. You will need to make sure you swing wide on your turns, pass with caution, avoid sudden starts and stops and basically don’t panic. You always need to remember there’s a trailer behind you. Always give yourself plenty of braking distance. Along with proper towing etiquette come the legal responsibilities of drivers.

“The requirement for a CDL [commercial driver’s license] can vary from state to state but as a general rule of thumb compact excavator units do not require a CDL,” says Rabe. “Check with your state’s department of transportation for specific regulations.”

Generally if you have a total gross combined vehicle weight rating (GCWR) — combining the GVWR of the tow vehicle and trailer — that’s more than 26,001 lbs, you will likely need a CDL. Check your state’s department of transportation and bureau of motor vehicles for
local regulations.

Keith Gribbins is managing editor of Compact Equipment.