Trailer safety (was Re: [AT] OT Darwin

[Mike Sloane]

I can't relate to any other rollback trucks except the two we had at the 
dealership. The truck's PTO ran a hydraulic pump, and there was a knob 
at the back to adjust the engine throttle (the engine had to be running 
at a pretty good clip, or it would take all day to accomplish anything). 
The winch and the tilt/slide/stabilizers all ran off the hydraulic 
system, power in and power out with self centering valves. On the 
smaller truck, there was a release for the winch spool, but it could not 
be disengaged unless there was no tension on the line (and it was up on 
the deck, so you couldn't easily get at it unless the deck was down. We 
never chained anywhere but on the axles or sometimes (for small 
tractors) on the fixed hitch, never on the torque tube or three point 
hitch. We had small sheets of stiff rubber like material that we would 
place around the axle if the paint was decent so the chain wouldn't chew 
it up. Most of the new tractors and other machinery had factory 
installed sturdy tie-down rings bolted on, and we took advantage of them 
if available. The owner was somewhat casual about a lot of things, but 
he would not have used a vehicle with a winch that wasn't 100% reliable. 
We also used 5000 lb rated straps for some loads (implements, not 
tractors), and we would replace them if they got cut or started to fray. 
For the straps, we had plastic "corners" to put over sharp edges that 
might cut the straps, but some guys were sloppy and neglected the 
protectors, resulting in damaged straps.

Mike

charles bridges wrote:

> 
> According to the roll back driver, they had had lots of trouble with this
> unit and it was almost new at the time.  The dealer had even had a factory
> rep down to look at it.
> 
> Never driven a roll back, so know nothing about how the winch works.  I do
> know enough not to bet my life that anything electrical or mechanical will
> work every time.
> charles
> 


-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
mikesloane at verizon.net
Website: <www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
Images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>

Political freedom cannot exist in any land where religion controls the
state, and religious freedom cannot exist in any land where the state
controls religion. -Samuel James Ervin Jr., lawyer, judge, and senator
(1896-1985)


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