Trailer Positioning Service Needed - San Diego
 

My situation. I have a travel trailer that I need to get onto my property. Traditional trailer hauling folks with large trucks cannot fit. Today we tried with a traditional GMC big diesel truck...the trailer made the turn but left no room for the truck to turn out and continue. I'm looking for someone who has a skid steer/bobcat and a trailer ball attachment to navigate a 90 degree turn and a 6K lbs 30 foot travel trailer. The surface is not level and has elevation challenges. We had to put down some concrete pavers under the trailer tires to gain clearance for the rear bumper...trailer is being backed into the property. Next time I will place 15-20 50lb bags of gravel at the lowest point to ease the transition. I am thinking hard tire vehicles won't work due to the sudden elevation change over 30 feet and some rather old asphalt paving. Something with a dirt tread is preferred...but I'm no expert. If you visit the local RV dealerships they use forklifts with a trailer ball to position the inventory. I just need a similar capability to navigate a tight turn ... but that can also handle less than level terrain. Open for discussion about a better plan always. I have been searching online for skid steer or similar service but so far nobody has the proper trailer ball attachment...a $100 investment. Heck I will buy it for them if needed :) If anyone has a contact in my area who is creative please let me know! Thanks, David

Edit, I will post a picture of the entry tomorrow after coffee. Here are pictures of the trailer and the delivery attempt that failed.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559360799.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559360799.jpg

Not much to go on but here is a Google Maps aerial view of the offending turn.

From the street its ~50 feet to the fence with a dip, then uphill the remainder of the 400 foot driveway.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559361224.jpg

I think if we can just get the trailer far enough through the turn I can hitch up my Jeep Wrangler to take it the rest of the way.

And for full disclosure, this trailer will serve a a granny flat for my much in need Mother. We have no plans to move the trailer until the time is upon us. I will likely block it level, already have 30 AMP service, and plans to connect into our septic system with a macerator pump. Thanks again!

Get one of these and rent a skid steer.

https://www.palletforks.com/clamp-on-trailer-bucket-hitch.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6cnrzrzH4gIVF1uGCh1nz Q4XEAQYASABEgJZhvD_BwE

Dave

do you have a friend who has a GMC with the quadrasteer system?

my 2 pfennigs

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Aren't skid steer/bob cats fairly light? You trailer might be a bit heavy in comparison. Maybe a tractor would be more appropriate.

tractor, my father in law has one that would do the job, but it is at my brother in law's place near Dallas

I would think that a bucket full of dirt would weigh more than the tongue weight of that trailer. Just my two cents.

I have a tractor and have the three point attachment with a receiver hitch to move my trailers around with.

Dave

Tractor....might need a full sized though.

^^^^ while those "might" work....we're tryin' to get David to buy a full size John Deere tractor, or get his neighbor to use his :)

That's what we do here...practical advice fer city folks ;)

At the turn, maybe put some car storage dollies under the trailer tires and push it sideways.

I have something very similar I use to back trailers into barns and other confined areas...works like a champ.

If the property is flat, should be easy day...EDIT: oops! Thanks, oldE.

"Elevation change over thirty feet "
Four guys are not going to push the thing, dollies or otherwise.
Skid steer or tractor with a ball in the bucket.
Either that or go down to the hardware store and hire thirty guys for two hours.

Best
Les

So the 30 foot elevation change is at the turn itself? :rolleyes: Otherwise, I'm talking about putting the dollies on at the turn, pushing the trailer sideways a few feet (with the truck still hooked up obviously). I've positioned 5000-lb cars by myself with dollies. It wouldn't take much sideways movement to significantly reduce the angle of the turn.

A decent sized tractor or bobcat style machine with a FEL bucket and a hitch ball will easily move that trailer . I doubt that trailer has more than 500 - 600 lbs. of tongue weight which is well within the capabilities of a tractor or bobcat . And pushing the trailer in with a front mounted hitch ball will make it much easier to get past that initial turn . If the machine operator has at least one good eye :D it should be a piece of cake .

Skid steer (rubber track preferably) 75 hp or larger with a trailer spotter attachment.
https://www.bluediamondattachments.com/trailer-spotter/

I'm not a big fan of the bucket clamp on hitch for this job simply because with the trailer spotter attachment you keep the tongue load closer to the quick attach but you still have room for maneuvering. With the clamp you lose some maneuverability and if you have a tight turn might find that the hitch on the trailer is hitting the bucket. A rental yard should have a trailer spotter attachment available.

On RV forums, folks mention often that using a front mounted hitch on their truck really makes those tight spots reachable.

I haven't tried this myself cause I have a motor home, Might be another option to consider.

Cheers Richard

We have two travel trailers (32' and 30' which is my daughter's TT) that I often move with my John Deere 855 compact 30 HP diesel with a FEL, and 3 point hitch around our yard, and property. It has 4x4, and turns tightly, but is probably a shade overloaded with tongue weight. Our front kitchen TT has 1300# tongue weight, and 9000# total.

These same sized tractors can be rented for the day rather cheaply, along with a trailer to haul it home. This would also help you with unloading/spreading of stone in low areas.

If you DIY, front mount hitch, and be prepared to block, winch, jack.

I'd contact one of the guys that does it for a living. I've rented construction offices, and they can do about anything.

Or is there enough room to drive it in, unhitch, and spin it around?

Do you know the tongue weight? Toro makes a TX1000 (1000 lb lift capacity) or Bobcat MT85 (850 lb lift) stand on mini skid that some companies use for trailer spotting. This is a compact piece that might get you through the turn where you could then use your Jeep as you mentioned earlier.