Is a Pallet of topsoil too heavy?
#16
05-22-2015, 12:48 PM
Pretty sure I would have been fine. I remember you mentioning carrying 2 tons of oil in the back of yours. Just figured the added trailer brakes and not having it in the cab would cover some of the "what if" scenarios.
Though I don't think I would have trusted the forklift operator that close to the van. The first one just set the pallet on the back half of the trailer and said "there you go". Talk about negative tongue weight, it was trying to lift the back of the van up. When I told him where I wanted it he ended up calling another operator over. Set the pallet on the front from the side, side shifted it as close to the trailer axle as as he could and then held the front of the pallet with his forks while I pulled forward. Worked like a charm. I think the first guy was pretty new.
Though I don't think I would have trusted the forklift operator that close to the van. The first one just set the pallet on the back half of the trailer and said "there you go". Talk about negative tongue weight, it was trying to lift the back of the van up. When I told him where I wanted it he ended up calling another operator over. Set the pallet on the front from the side, side shifted it as close to the trailer axle as as he could and then held the front of the pallet with his forks while I pulled forward. Worked like a charm. I think the first guy was pretty new.
When I picked up the pallet of concrete at HD had similar type reaction. The woman kept asking "you sure you want the whole pallet loaded" then I had to tell her how to get it over the axle.
#18
05-24-2015, 02:07 PM
The one pallet wasn't enough and I didn't have the trailer any more. Went ahead and loaded another pallet in the van. Though I decided it was worth the extra $$ to get it locally so I only had about 10 miles to get home and would be able to go about 35mph the whole way. Van squatted a bit, but it still was pretty far from hitting any overloads. Didn't notice too much difference in braking, but at slow speeds it probably wouldn't be noticed. The lady driving the fork lift said "Just to warn you this weighs a lot and I have never put one in the back of a van before".
Fit easily and pallet support did its job well.
Pic showing the rear squat
Fit easily and pallet support did its job well.
Pic showing the rear squat
#19
05-24-2015, 02:16 PM
The one pallet wasn't enough and I didn't have the trailer any more. Went ahead and loaded another pallet in the van. Though I decided it was worth the extra $$ to get it locally so I only had about 10 miles to get home and would be able to go about 35mph the whole way. Van squatted a bit, but it still was pretty far from hitting any overloads. Didn't notice too much difference in braking, but at slow speeds it probably wouldn't be noticed. The lady driving the fork lift said "Just to warn you this weighs a lot and I have never put one in the back of a van before".
Fit easily and pallet support did its job well.
Pic showing the rear squat
Fit easily and pallet support did its job well.
Pic showing the rear squat
#20
05-24-2015, 02:16 PM
Lead Driver
#21
05-24-2015, 03:33 PM
I called around and every place I could find was just far enough away to charge extra. They had 40lb bags on sale plus an additional 11% off. Came to $1.02 a bag. So $51 a ton. Plus its a little easier to move it around my property in pallet/bag form.
#23
05-24-2015, 11:10 PM
Cargo Master
The Lowes dude said that once they loaded a pallet in the back of a minivan. The front end lifted off the ground. Ever since, they never allowed any forklift driver to load any van. But when I asked, "fine, how much for you to load it by hand," then he just rotated the forklift, carefully arose the pallet to the height of my floor, and slide it in. I guess he didn't want to lift all those by himself for a tip.
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