I was wondering if there is a safe way of geting a Z into a truck bed. the first thing that came to mind was 11ft ramps, but having no margin for error going down that kind of slope would take someone with more guts than me.

so, do any of you put your Z in the truck bed? if so, how do you do it safely?

remember, this is a lazer hp, not a lawn tractor, so it's not like I can just set it streight and go for it.

You can't. If for no other reason than your tailgate isn't rated for that. Use a trailer or rent a box truck or get a buddy to do it.

And what if it shifts while you drive and you can't get it out. The upside to that is you would have a story to rival Fareway's SCS mower story.

 

It can be done, just have to very careful and take your time. If it's bigger than a 44" it won't fit between the wheel wells

 

Ah Lowes sell's Trailers for 600-800 Buck's

 

http://www.ramps-ramps-ramps.com/pick-up-truck-loading-ramps.htm

I have been using the same ramp since 1989. The largest mowers I have had on it were 48" Lazers, Walker GHS 48" mowers and Toro Groundsmaster 120 out front mowers. The ramp was lightly refurbished in 2004 after I forgot to tighten the hangars and it came off at about 30 mph.

Oldtimer

 

Ah Lowes sell's Trailers for 600-800 Buck's

I wish, all they carry is the 4'X6' model, which is not wide enough or long enough.

 

I wish, all they carry is the 4'X6' model, which is not wide enough or long enough.

No thats not the only one they carry either.

They have the folowing trailer's at our local lowes and on their website

Carry-On 5' x 8' Trailer with Gate

Item # 100369
Model # 5X8G
$698.00
Availability
In Store Pick-up
Lowe's Home Delivery

5 X 8 Wire Mesh Trailer With 5 x 8 Gate
Wire mesh floor and gate
2000 pounds gvw with C range 12" tires, with white mod. Wheels
Black with white pin stripes
Removable tongue with ramp gate
1 7/8" coupler with safety chains and hardware

Carry-On 4' x 6' Highway Trailer

Item # 145557
Model # 4X6XG
$498.00
Availability
In Store Pick-up
Lowe's Home Delivery

Carry-On 5' x 10' Flatbed Trailer

Item # 185886
Model # 5X10GW2
$898.00
Availability

Single axle wood floor utility trailer
Completely welded and ready for your use
Title for registration included
17/8" coupler with straight removable tongue with safety chains
Fully lighted to DOT specifications, legal in all states
Steel frame with 2" X 8" pressure treated floorboards
4' tall mesh gate is standard
Black coat paint with white pinstripes

 

Remember, He lives in Hawaii. Stores over there don't always carry the same things due to the high costs of shipping.

 

Oh crap that's right , hmmmmm well fudge . well anyway maybe the spec's above will help someone else later on.

 

You can't. If for no other reason than your tailgate isn't rated for that. Use a trailer or rent a box truck or get a buddy to do it.

And what if it shifts while you drive and you can't get it out. The upside to that is you would have a story to rival Fareway's SCS mower story.

So you take the tailgate off. Takes about three seconds with a Ford. Not sure of the other pickups.
Crawdad

 

Why not just buy a cheap 300.00 trailer for it? Your going to be wasting yout time, which is going to make you loose money trying get this thing up there.. If you ask me.. its a stupid idea. Your risking your own saftey as well as the z's.

 

The only thing that comes to my mind with this post is.........why would you?

 

I wish, all they carry is the 4'X6' model, which is not wide enough or long enough.

I got a 7.5X12 for sale

 

You could consider replacing your truck bed with a landscape bed. Look at some of the picstures in this thread...

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=95762

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again knowing the flames will burn my butt...........


ZTR's DON'T belong in a pickup for everyday transport.
Once and done for a temporary move or some such, ya sure, why not? But not for everday transport.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again knowing the flames will burn my butt...........

ZTR's DON'T belong in a pickup for everyday transport.
Once and done for a temporary move or some such, ya sure, why not? But not for everday transport.

Exactly. Simply to many things can go wrong.

 

This kind of reminds me of an old buddy of mine. Recked his car once, about $2,300 to get it fixed. That car sat there for 3 months. One day I come over and there it is sitting in the back still totaled but with a set of $1500 rims on it.

Anyway my point is. Why buy a Z that no doubt cost you over 5k probably more like 6-7k when you can't afford a trailer.

 

call some rental places, it may not be cheap, but its better than ruining some equipment or hurting yourself. or call a local lco and see if they'll help you

 

This kind of reminds me of an old buddy of mine. Recked his car once, about $2,300 to get it fixed. That car sat there for 3 months. One day I come over and there it is sitting in the back still totaled but with a set of $1500 rims on it.

Anyway my point is. Why buy a Z that no doubt cost you over 5k probably more like 6-7k when you can't afford a trailer.

oh I have moeny to buy a trailer, I just want to see if I could get by with out having to deal with the long length of a trailer. in the culdesacks (sp?) I would be blocking someones entry into their house partially with a 5x8 but unfortinatly, it looks like the way to go. maybe lowes will order them in for me.

 

Oh I see. Sometimes in coldesacs instead of turning and blocking a wriveway I just back straight up to the customers driveway and drop the gate right on the driveway. It looks wierd but it doesn't block anyone.

 

there are some options for you TC. There are ramps for replacing you tailgate, fold up affairs that are rated at 1500 lbs. A haul deck is a haul deck, truck mounted or trailer mounted. The only differences are height and securing the load. There are many many truck mounted boxes and flatbeds built specifically for mowers, so I do not understand the fascination with trailers here. If it is less than 48" wide and shorter than you bed box, it will fit. If you driving Bigfoot, you can still load a mower up in the sky, but you'll need a half mile long ramp to get the angle to clear your deck. in Hawaii, I assume it's all 2wd, nice and low and if you're truck is capable of the haul weight and everything fits AND you do it to fit tight areas and gain maneuverabilty, why not? We ran trucks for urban areas with ramp gates where there was simply no room to park beyond a parking stall. We only loaded walkbehinds for these kinds of places, but it was very effective and gave us the opportunity to work tight areas and still haul in something bigger than a 21" safely. Do what works for you and your client base, not what everyone else thinks you have to have to be just like them.

 

Green Utah says it well !

We went to flatbeds on our 21"er crews, but the load height is greater, so we will go back to beds. Much more efficient as to insurance, maintenance, and fuel, plus the ease of driving and parking. We will put our larger ztrs on the flatbeds.

Will keep a 7 x 14 open around for a while, but we don't haul debris or mulch, so it may not last too long.

 

Yes it can be done.Cant be any bigger then a 48 size deck. Back your truck up to the trailer ramp, have someone guide you so you can get your ramp to come straight down on your tailgate.Make sure you back up enough so the ramp rest on your tailgate.And then ride it up very carefully.

It does work because we just loaded a 48 lesco viper ztr on a Ford f-150 and had it take to Long Island. Sold it to a friend. Jusy be carefull.

 

I know that it COULD be done, but if I am trailering up 8 times a day like that, chances are that I'm going to fall off one of these days, no matter how experienced the operator.

so, I've seen some options for the tail gates, and one is $550 or around there, but the ramp is only 7ft which is a nasty slope when your riding up it. they have a 11 foot one, but it is $1,200 and would stick up very high, and I would have the possibility of catching it on the lower branches of neighborhoods that have trees.

so, the way I see it, it's either the 7 footers, or a trailer. they have a picture of a guy going UP the ramp, but I don't know what would happen comming down. if I lost traction, I would just slide off again.

I think that the company is called safeT ramps. do any of you use them?

 

O ok then, we only do it if we have to take it for service , which is a two hr drive for us. Otherwise id get a trailer.

 

ok, it's going to be hard to find one in the right size here. we don't have nearly as muc selection as you guys on the mainland do.