Mini platform in front of truck

L

Luzl78

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Colts neck
Has anyone ever put a platform in front of a chipper truck or seen it done? Lawn trucks have them for the motorized spreaders. I would like to fabricate one that is detachable for a mini that weighs 1,800-2,800 pounds. I’m just trying to keep a short wheelbase on the chipper truck build. Those snowplows on the big trucks have to weigh a lot and their way far extended on the front springs.The platform would be 40” tight to front of truck. Thanks. Jeff
 
I would venture to say even a small mini weighs more than even commercial snow plows you would find on a 350-550 size truck. Also look at the front axle weight, it is normally significantly less than the rears due to the extra parts to turn and the single wheel. I couldn’t imagine the amount of bracing you would need to have to “hang” a platform off the front of a truck withough frame support under it. Also remember when big trucks put those giant plows on they don’t make a habit of driving around with them up. Normally they are parked until the snow start then they push it around till it stops and head back and remove it. At least that’s how they are around here.
 
I'd be nervous about that setup. Lots of bouncing would be hard on the platform when loaded. I'd be very worried about fender benders too. Takes an otherwise cheap repair and makes it a huge loss if the mini is involved.
 
What chassis?

The first practical issue I could see is having enough section modulous on the truck’s frame to carry the load from the platform.


Secondly, having a 3klb platform+mini with a CoG 5’ in front of the axle on a truck with a 180” wheel base is going to transfer 1klb from the rear axle adding a total of 4klb to the front axle. You will need to factor that in to your build as well so you don’t overload the steer with the mini on front and the box full.
 
I understand. It’s on a 33,000 gvw international. Double frame. I was gonna use a Zahn or a work quad on it. They weigh about 1,300-1,500 lbs but with the weight of the platform maybe it would be to much.its just nice to always have a little machine with you without pulling a trailer. With a platform behind the cab my ca would have to be 108-116”, at least. I would have 144” plus minimum 40” platform. I would have too much chipper body hanging past the axle. 84” ca is so nice in tree work
 
What does the state or Fed DOT have to
Say about any load out in front of a bumper?

There's no doubt that a good fabricator and truck builder can build the platform. But is it legal?
 
@Luzl78 with a small machine, especially the size you are talking about you could get a set of ramps and load it into the chip body. We used to run a Thomas 25G in the back of our trucks all the time. On prunes or even small removals we could put 2/3s a load of chips on and still get it in. We didn’t even have to unhook the chipper to load and unload. Just jackknife the chipper enough to set the ramps up and to work we went. This set up actually works extremely well.
455C323E-5815-4BE1-8400-1A1A63D43673.webp
This was when we first go the machine and only had the pick up. It wouldn’t fit with any chips. But with our chip truck it fit great. Notice no tailgate on the truck. If you do ramps into a pickup don’t load over a tailgate. You shouldn’t have that issue with a chip truck.
 
I have done it. Wish I had pics to share. They say I’m crazy. This time they were right. Don’t do it. It was nuts. I never left the yard with it. Couldn’t see over the mini. And it was a BIG truck. Greatly affected turning abilities as well. Hard to make a right turn with a car sitting waiting in the opposing lane waiting for the light to turn. That thing would be like a can opener. I hauled plywood on mine for a little while but ended up cutting it off cause I thought someone would get hurt. Just three months of hauling plywood only and I needed kingpins! Not worth it
 

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CanaryBoss said:
I have done it. Wish I had pics to share. They say I’m crazy. This time they were right. Don’t do it. It was nuts. I never left the yard with it. Couldn’t see over the mini. And it was a BIG truck. Greatly affected turning abilities as well. Hard to make a right turn with a car sitting waiting in the opposing lane waiting for the light to turn. That thing would be like a can opener. I hauled plywood on mine for a little while but ended up cutting it off cause I thought someone would get hurt. Just three months of hauling plywood only and I needed kingpins! Not worth it
Click to expand...

Are there lift points on these minis to pick with a KBoom or Grapple?

I beltthere are on the Toro 1000.

Haul it in the grapple truck body & set it out with the grapple. Assuming you could load the grapple truck to where there was space for the mini, how well would that work?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
CanaryBoss said:
I have done it. Wish I had pics to share. They say I’m crazy. This time they were right. Don’t do it. It was nuts. I never left the yard with it. Couldn’t see over the mini. And it was a BIG truck. Greatly affected turning abilities as well. Hard to make a right turn with a car sitting waiting in the opposing lane waiting for the light to turn. That thing would be like a can opener. I hauled plywood on mine for a little while but ended up cutting it off cause I thought someone would get hurt. Just three months of hauling plywood only and I needed kingpins! Not worth it
Click to expand...

P.S.,

I’m Envious of all your Iron.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
flyingsquirrel25 said:
@Luzl78 with a small machine, especially the size you are talking about you could get a set of ramps and load it into the chip body. We used to run a Thomas 25G in the back of our trucks all the time. On prunes or even small removals we could put 2/3s a load of chips on and still get it in. We didn’t even have to unhook the chipper to load and unload. Just jackknife the chipper enough to set the ramps up and to work we went. This set up actually works extremely well.
View attachment 51029
This was when we first go the machine and only had the pick up. It wouldn’t fit with any chips. But with our chip truck it fit great. Notice no tailgate on the truck. If you do ramps into a pickup don’t load over a tailgate. You shouldn’t have that issue with a chip truck.
Click to expand...

How long are those ramps? I'm thinking about loading my 25g in the back of my pick up. I've got 8' ramps but thinking I need a few more feet to give it a try. Thanks
 
Putting it on the front axle, as people have mentioned, causes all kind of unforseen issues. and as Tom mentioned there are DOT rules about how far something can extend in front of a factory bumper.

A removable platform (large custom dual receivers) on the rear of a truck. incorporate it with mini hitch so machine can remove it as needed. you could feasibly beef it up enough to pull a trailer/chipper
PIA to make

Another idea is to mount it on the front of Chipper - Mobark and Bandit have done it (10 years after I asked them, woodsman did it on the rear for me in 2002)
adding a telescopic tongue might be helpful to make sure chips fly far enough
again expensive custom build - Class A rig most likely
 
southsoundtree said:
You can always stay with blocks under the fir of the ramp to test it.



10' ramps load into my chip bed at 44", IIRC. Boxer 53
Click to expand...
10 year old vids

these were 89" ers , definetly Butt puckering one slip on the controls and it throws you in the street (personal experience

we have nicer ones now - wider and 96" long
 
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