I spent some time this morning learning, and practicing, how to load a John Deere 60D excavator on and off a 10-ton M322 LT military trailer. The truck and trailer provide a rock solid platform, so it really is just a matter of learning the process (or method) and practicing it over and over and over. As you will hear me say more than once, it is really all about entergy management (e.g. DO NOT get ham handed with the controls, because you can trigger an instability that could cause an accident) and weight & balance (e.g. using the weight of the boom./stick/bucket to your advantage to help the machine get “over the hump” of the ‘teeter” at the apex of the climb up, and crawl down the trailer ramps. This trailer ain’t no “low boy”, with a deck height about 4’ 3″ off the ground over the two axle ‘humps.’ That is butt puckering height when your machine is teeter-tottering over the apex, or when you swing the cab around 180 degrees while perched precariously that high up. I think I loaded and unloaded about 5 times this morning. Learned a bit. Developed some confidence. Identified a few things to keep a close eye on. Etc. ALL good … when you walk away sans injury to yourself, your machine, or others. 😉 No chickens where actually injured making this video. Promise.
Learning to live a permacultural life … one day at a time! … by Damon E. Farnham