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.

My dad's last tow vehicle was a 3/4 ton Suburban . He had a local welder make a custom front hitch that was offset to the passenger side . So he could see down one side of the trailer when hitched up . Only needed one spotter for passenger side . Our last trailer was a 27 footer and he could park it on a dime ! Very maneuverable for a long wheel base vehicle .

Front mount hitch on your Jeep. I went to a reunion at Campland On The Bay in San Diego and they had a trailer rental company dropping trailers into the sites. They pack trailers in there 'A-hole to elbow" and those guys would pull up, drop the trailer and hitch to the front and squeeze them into some tight spaces, I was impressed.

A ball on the front of a pickup truck is magic compared to a rear ball and swinging the entire truck bed just to get a few inches of correction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl0T-UPFTt8

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When I recommended maybe using a tractor, I wasn't referring to tongue weight as the main factor. I was thinking of the total trailer weight and having to make the turn and push it up the incline. If the trailer weighs a ton for instance, you wouldn't want to use a skid steer or bob cat of a ton or less to push it up an incline. I say this from experience with my little Kubota that weighs half a ton and pulling a small tow behind back hoe and coming down an incline (of dirt however). I learned to sort of half skid coming down as the back hoe weight matched or nearly matched the tractor weight and pushed against the tractor. I think the front ball hitch is also a good idea.

The stand on MT85 and the Toro TX1000 both go over 3600 pounds in weight. I don't think weight would be the limiting factor but rather the horsepower of either machine (25-30 hp) would be the limiting factor. A T590, Deere 323D, CAT 259D, Case TR270, Kubota SVL75 all have between 66 and 74 hp and would all do the job from a power and lift standpoint.

This community is Awesome! Thanks to everyone for weighing in with suggestions. Here a couple more pictures of the dreaded entry.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559416068.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559416068.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559416068.jpg

With the plastic bags of gravel I can certainly avoid clearance issues with the trailer when transiting the elevation changes. I am going to pull out one panel of the entry fence to gain an extra 2' of clearance. I can pull the trailer with the Jeep to the bottom of the turn and that's where the skid steer/bobcat/trailer will come in to pull it through. This is a different approach then what we attempted yesterday by backing the trailer in. Might work out better. I can then transition back to the Jeep and move up the driveway to final resting spot. So far a couple calls to Craig's list folks offering bobcat service have gone unreturned. I will head over to local equipment rental place in town to see if they have anything that will work. I have zero time with that sort of equipment - hopefully they can recommend someone to help out. :)

Oh and yeah the driveway is total trailer park material. All the rain we had this year took a toll. A few years ago I had the upper part of the driveway and garage entry replaced with concrete pavers which looks great. Spendy though...hence we didn't go all the way :)


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559417114.jpg

I'm not sure loose gravel will help much, it's going to push around the curve.

Try a tow company.

I don't see wires or a height issue. Looking at the pics, I would think they can load it on a rolloff, back in and drop it.

Your pics show a couple of challenges to deal with. The tight quarters for negotiating the sharp turn. And that complicated by the quick changes of elevation, dropping from the road to the turn, then quick transition to the upward climbing section just after the turn.
If you were setting this up for occasional ins and outs with the trailer, I'd suggest a lot of fill at the bottom of the dip and repave, to ease the elevation changes.
Then a strong tow vehicle with front hitch would probably get the maneuvering done ok.

For just a one off getting it up there to use it in place, I can see not wanting to do all of that.
I see the big dip as the biggest challenge, probably requiring some equipment that can lower the hitch ball very near the ground to squeak the trailer thru there, with out dragging the rear end of the trailer on the pavement as it is pushed up out of the dip.

A tractor with a ball mounted on pallet forks might do the job.

Cheers Richard

I was planning to keep the gravel in the plastic bags they come in, 50 lbs each. Just for clearance at the end of the trailer. I put down left over pavers last time but they were a pain. A tow company rolloff ... fascinating! That might be the ticket.

Drop a PM to lowyder, I haven’t seen him in recently but he’s still around on Fb. He might have the equipment, if he doesn’t I bet he knows someone who does.

From your description I was picturing something more daunting. The grip doesn't appear to be an issue that would require a track machine. Bobcat S590, Case SR220, CAT 236, Deere 320D all capable as long as it's dry when you do it. Honestly as long as the tongue weight isn't too much and that incline in the picture is the worst of it, a stand on unit should handle that job.

I wonder if a call to a local RV park would provide some resource help.

They deal with trailers 24/7.

Java,

your wrangler should be able to do the job, just put it in 4wd low and back it in

piece of cake

if you run out of traction, just air down

This bad boy could push that trailer all the way up, but, it might not fit through the gate.
It's W-I-D-E.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559431970.JPG

I’d put a front hitch on that Jeep! ( like craigster said)

Is there a good point to hook a chain or cable to the back of the travel trailer?

Have the Jeep or similar already up the driveway. Back in the travel trailer with whatever. Chain or cable the back of the travel trailer to the Jeep in the driveway. Unhook the tow vehicle. Push the tongue of the travel trailer over, pull the travel trailer up the driveway backwards with the Jeep, at least far enough to be able to reconnect the original tow vehicle.

Two things to worry about that I can see. When doing the switch over, how much is the travel trailer going to want to move; up, down, sideways? And, how hard will it be to push the travel trailer over to get it going straight up the driveway prior to being pulled back by the Jeep?

The front hitch on the Jeep is also a good idea.

Whatever you do, video, for Youtube, you know.

Yep...since he evidently ain't gonna buy a full size John Deere tractor and just ignores my awesome suggestion :)

What ever you end up doing make sure you make comments on the Youtube video like " watch this ' or " hold my beer " it will add to the enjoyment of the video :D

Some humorous responses above :) Yeah I think my Wrangler could manage but I'm a novice with trailers and terrified I will get pinned in and stuck - 30 ft overall length and 6K lbs is one hell of a road block haha. I spent an hour with my neighbors full size truck practicing turns, reversing, and reverse turning in a large parking lot. He let me use his yard - straight shot in (the big space in the aerial picture) to park it while I figure this out. Leaving Vons yesterday - got beer for the YouTube video :) , I saw a guy with a bobcat and trailer and asked if could move a trailer. Got his number and will call next week to setup a consult. I'll update later once the dust has settled. Thanks again to all who responded here!

Edit- I can see the benefit of a front bumper mount for my Jeep but at 800 lb hitch weight I'm worried it will be too much. Stuck trailer & broken front suspension...Winning!