Roll back truck

Seen a roll back advertised the other day on the net. 2000s model GMC 7500 diesel. Was wondering how good of an outfit this would make for hauling one or two small tractors around to plow days, rides, etc? I like the idea of a one piece unit, instead of a pickup and trailer. I pull a Landoll RGN triple axle for a living and get tired of dealing with trailers, on my weekends id rather not even look at a trailer! This is just a thought though, I have not even looked at the truck yet. Just wondering what others have to say about the idea.

we have 2 here, they can be great for hauling tractors. They are both diesels. The ford has a longer wheelbase than the Chevy. It will haul a larger tractor because of that. You'll have to check out the GVW rating and see if it will carry the size tractor you want. Remember most farm machinery catches more wind than a car and will pull harder than something with smooth skin.

They are real nice simple to load and unload. Make sure that both tractors and plows wil fit on it if you need this.
Walt

check on insurance and license plates first. tow truck plates are spendy.

I have had this one since 1968, we used it for our CASE dealership, we hauled every thing from garden tractors to 1030's and 680C backhoes, it is a very handy unit when you learn how to use them, the stuff on the bed was sprouted Barley seed
cnt

Thanks. I think I will do some homework on this and find out just how it pencils out. As far as how machinery pulls in the wind, would you believe that the hardest pulling loads I have ever hauled was those 1790 JD 31 row CCS planters? Must be all those units hanging over the side combined with the CCS tanks facing backward. They pull 30% worse than a combine, and combines pull hard!

I ran a Roll Back at the first dealership I worked at. C65 Chev with a 24' Jerr-Dan deck. I always felt it was one of the better ways to move iron. This rig had a stabilizer leg at the back that you lowered before running the deck back then collapsing the stab. to lower the deck. I always figured that if you could reach it with the winch you would load it. I tested this theory one day loading an Allis WD45. It was sitting at the far end of a horse barn, dead. Muddy yard no way to drive to it. I backed the truck up as close to the front door of the barn, dropped the deck, ran out the winch and hooked every chain I had together and pulled the Allis right through the barn.
We used to deliver 21 run drills as well by pulling them on endwise (we made up "shoes" for the wheels so sit in as we pulled them on.) To unload you would need a tractor or stout tree.
I loaded a 479NH Haybine one day for one of the salesmen after a tire blew on his way into the shop. He couldn't figure how I was going to get that tire off with the roll back. I pulled it ont the truck with the flat tire hanging over the edge (ditch side) and the cutterbar frame taking the weight. Chains flags and home! Changed the tire before unloading so I never had to jack the haybine up.
Get the idea that I think they are a great rig???

We used them for the State of Michigan hauling wildfire dozers. They worked very well, single axles hauled 350 size dozers, tandem axles hauled 450 size dozers. State occasionally sells one using online auctions, they actually don't bring all that much. Recently sold a 1986 Chevy gas with only 25,000 miles or so on it. Brought around $5,000.00. A small equipment dealer here in Central Michigan has one of them and it works quite well for their business.

I sold a Farmall tractor several years ago and I hired a driver with a rig like you mention. I paid him $80 I think to drive 15 miles. Easy on easy off.

Lol yes I get the idea I think one would work good for me also. We will see what turns out. . .

I hire a rollback operator to move most of the tractors I buy. He has hauled two farmall Hs at a time on his and had no problem. He charges about $5 per loaded mile, but for me it is well worth it since most of my deals are local. He winched a Super C with a mounted plow out of a barn with a snatch block.
Zach

Trying to find a way to ship some loads of hay less than 100 miles. Was thinking of building a load on a layer of chaff/broken bales on the load dock, wrap some straps around it and get a rollback to winch it onto his deck.

As a tractor dealer I have owned rollbacks since they came out. I can tell you there is a DIFFRENCE in a implement hauler roll back and those small low pro units that car lots have. One on a solid two ton truck and metal bed is nice but those car haulers are just that car haulers. Check the gvw of the truck and bed. I will never have another one on low small tires.

At our ford tractor dealership, we had 2 tilt bed C series, cabover ford trucks, one was replaced, by the same model, the mechanics in the shop made the body. As a kid, there was no better time than operating the body, and running the winch, boy did I like going to pick up tractors, I was flagman and or winch, tilt bed operator, roll back would be even better, but thinking back now, that was nice set up for moving a wide variety of equipment, sure miss those days, don't think an 8000 ford would have fit on it, but it sure handled most of the hauling, never had a trailer there, and we had 2 loading docks, one outside and one to the back of the building for receiving. That truck was handy as I remember it now.