Transporting Your Compact Loader

Selecting the Right Transport and Towing Vehicles

Be sure the transport and towing vehicles are of adequate size and capacity for the weight of the machine and attachments being transported. Adequately designed ramps of sufficient strength (Wood ramps can break and cause personal injury) are needed to support the weight of the machine when loading onto a transport vehicle.

Loading the Machine

Always disengage the auto idle feature (if equipped) when loading or unloading the machine on a trailer.  Make sure mud, sand and any other debris are removed from the loader before loading the machine.

When you are ready to load the machine onto the trailer, travel up the ramp with the heaviest end up. The loader will be heavier in the rear than the front unless it is connected to an attachment, such as a breaker or planer, which will make it heavier in the front. The rear of the trailer must be blocked or supported when loading or unloading the machine to prevent the front end of the trailer from rising up.

Then, position the loader onto the trailer by the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Securing the Loader

Once the machine is on the trailer, operators should lower the attachment to the floor of the trailer, stop the engine and engage the parking brake. Install the chain at the front and rear loader tie-down positions as identified by the Operation and Maintenance manual. Operators then should secure the chains and binders using recommended practices.

Following these steps and all instructions in your Operation and Maintenance manual will help minimize issues or problems the next time you transport your equipment to a jobsite. Get more information on manuals available for your specific machine, including loading information and machine specifications.