Last season we used our 24-foot bed rollback to haul our M and SMTA. Winching the SMTA backwards onto the rollback bed and then the M forward onto the bed was slow and cumbersome. Earlier this year, we took a gooseneck trailer and had the gooseneck cut off and a hitch made to hook to the rollback. Last Saturday both tractors were loaded onto the trailer for the pull. Sunday afternoon, Eric unloaded both tractors from the trailer without any problems. He then angled the rollback bed so he could drive the M onto the trailer and then onto the bed of the rollback. The hitch design is such that when the rollback bed is angled down, the trailer hitch also goes down, lowering the front end of the trailer. The M had 1100 lbs of weight on the back only. Eric’s MISTAKE was not adjusting weights on the M, so as the front end of the M was moving onto the trailer, the weight caused the M to fall backwards. The seat looks like a taco shell and the steering wheel looks like a mushroom cap. The exhaust stack bent just above the manifold pipe and the front grill dented in enough to bust open the top radiator tank. A new seat and a new radiator are on, the front grill, the steering wheel and steering post have been replaced and after adding gas and a new exhaust stack, The Bulldog (M) will pull tomorrow. Eric will be sitting in a wheelchair watching and being thankful that he is even able to go to the pull and be a spectator. Eric’s left thigh muscles were badly torn and he has an 8” incision where the surgeon went in to tie off the blood vessels. A little bruising on his backside but no internal injuries, no broken bones. He’ll be using a walker for a month or more before starting physical therapy. Having the Bulldog fixed and ready to pull means little to me – having my husband alive means the world to me. Some may say he was stupid, some may have other derogatory comments, but the important issue here is SAFETY. Take your time, be conscious of what you are doing, and do what you are doing in a SAFE manner. Wishing each and every one of you a SAFE and FUN pulling season. Linda *** I don't know how this posting pictures thing works even after reading David Ransom's previous directions so you may need to copy the url below and open in new window to view - the 2x4's were placed by rescue personnel.
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