TL;DR: How do I tow a lift safely without just elevating it on the forks of another truck?
More often than I would care to admit, we have trucks go down for various reasons. Often, these reasons are not due to a bad wheel, where operators can move the lift to the designated parking spot and request a lockout.
A few situations that come to mind include:
-Lift has power, but will not key on. InfoLink equipped, allows swipe, truck will not power on.
-Lift "wrenches", or displays an error code that prevents travel.
-Lift gets stuck against the rack, putting pressure on the battery door and disconnecting the battery gate sensor.
-Lift stuck in mud outside (This was an RC, not a reach truck. Was hilarious to help fix though)
The method we use right now is to get another reach truck, clear the operator from the area to prevent harm, and lift the down equipment from the rear, so the drive wheel is not on the ground. Then travel with the lift on the forks.
This is not exactly a potentially quiet operation. The last lift I helped tow kept slipping off the forks (We only elevate just enough to clear the drive wheel a couple centimeters off the ground), and this would cause quite the noise, as we were using what we affectionately call the "Dinosaurs" (RR series, though we call them RDs officially)
What I am asking is this: Is there a method that is more reliable and potentially safer for towing a lift to a maintenance-friendly position? I've towed an RC with a chain, looping it through the battery gate on both sides, far enough to get it unstuck, but obviously the RMD series does not have a dual battery door.
Thanks to any and all help.
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Most of the time it is due to operator error causing excessive wear and tear. I don't remember any of the error codes right now, but there are times that the drive wheel completely locks up.
Also, I've tried turning tow mode on for the lift that needs to be towed, and it still seems to give a fair amount of resistance on the drive wheel. Once I enable tow mode, do I need to back out to the root service menu?
Thank you to everyone for your help! It is very, very much appreciated. :)
As for the cold storage option, we do have a Crown service tech that comes in daily, but he's only here during the daytime. Unless they want to call our maintenance guy in to do something that I can get done just as easily, they usually just call on me and don't ask me how I get the job done, just taht it is done safely.
Can you give the details of the error codes.. The RMD/RR have tow mode but this service procedure is to disengage the brake. Every time have error that pertaining in traction the steering will not function and the brake will engage. If you using the unit in the cold storage there are some procedure to avoid the unit to brake down.
Google "pallet jockey", that will give you an idea how to fabricate a forklift jockey. You would be able to just clear the wheels from the floor.
Semi-related question here:
What does the "Tow Mode" feature do? Does it release the brakes, or is it an option *to* tow a lift? I've tried turning it on and had no results trying to tow with a chain.
Can you pick the lift up and set it on the outriggers, chaining it in place? Would it damage the wheels or would the wheels cause damage to the lift? I noticed there are what seem to be chain slots in the battery compartment of an RMD, but they are only accessible when the battery is removed.
Still looking for ideas here, folks. I don't know how to release the brake manually, and I'm more looking for a quick fix that doesn't involve special tools. I am looking for a solution that, at most, requires lifting the down equipment just enough for the drive wheel to clear the floor, chaining it to the lift that will be towing it, and moving it to a more maintenance-friendly position
I'm not in our maintenance department, but every time a forklift goes out of service and they can't transport it back onto the dock, they call on me to tow it out of the freezer. The only method I know of is very unsafe for turning corners (Causes fork jump that could bend forks or cause other issues), as previously mentioned.
Could someone walk me through the "proper" method of towing an RMD and/or RR? Thank you all.
Yes, you can manually release the brake on a Crown RR...but keep in mind that it will not apply the brake if you have to stop towing quickly
My tow attachment is based off a design I came across in new bremen about 15 years ago. If I can fabricate log loading attachments, a tow hook is not really that big of a deal. I know there are a lot of road guys out there now days are hired with minimal experience and skills but seriously. SMH
helperelf,
Exactly what I was thinking. Almost all OEM's have the proper way to move a truck in the service manual. Doing what some these people are suggesting is leaving you open to a lot of liability. Do it the right way or do not do it.
Who the **** is giving advice?????if you have a Crown that will not tow or release just cage the brake....there are three 8mm screw holes on the brake for this.....Please do not do stupid crap!!!put some bolts in the holes pull the brakes off and there you go...nothing hard about that.
Most crown equipment have a procedure for releasing the brake thus enabling it to be easily pulled by a chain. Check the access 123 book included inside the truck.
Another method is to take an out of service short fork PE. Fabricate a triangle steel plate and weld to end of forks as close to the floor as possible. Weld on a short "hook ball" to the end to prevent truck from sliding off. You will be able to turn corners with this design
I just used an old set of forks (that were bent) to fab my tow attachment. I cut the forks back to about 18" off the heel. Beveled the ends. Fabricated the tongue using 2-1/2" by 1" thick steel flat bar and 1" dia cold rolled steel bar (drilled and plug welded in). The tongue is welded on, triple pass at all seams with 70K tensile strength wire.
If you are going to do something like this, you need to know weights you are lifting and adjust all materials and design based on what you need it to do. Don't forget to check capacity of the truck you are using as a tow truck. Do not exceed any cap data plate ratings.
After I built mine, We stress tested it at double the heaviest weight it will ever be used at... BE SAFE!
Can you send a picture of said fabricated piece?
There are many methods that work. Using bare forks to drag would be at the bottom of the list for the reason you described (truck slipping off the forks). Always refer to the manufacturer recommended towing procedure 1st and use that where applicable.
Myself, I fabricated a tow attachment that hangs on the carriage of a 6000lb truck that works for towing all but one of my 75 truck fleet.
Remember, if it seems unsafe it probably is.
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