Agricultural implement transporting trailer
An implement transporting trailer for supporting a harvesting implement may comprise a central portion with a longitudinal spine with an uppermost support surface and a plurality of lateral members extending laterally from the spine, each of the lateral members having an uppermost support surface. The trailer may include a rearward portion with a rear frame and at least one rear wheel rotating about a rear wheel axis. The trailer may include a forward portion with a neck assembly extending forwardly from the spine of the central portion and a tongue assembly mounted on the neck assembly and being swivelable with respect to the neck assembly. At least one of the support surfaces of the members of the central portion may be located at a vertical level above a ground surface that is lower than the rear wheel axis.
1. An implement transporting trailer for supporting a harvesting implement, the trailer having a front and a rear and opposite lateral sides, the trailer comprising:
a central portion for supporting the harvesting implement, the central portion including a longitudinal spine with an uppermost support surface and a plurality of lateral members mounted on and extending laterally from the spine, each of the lateral members having an uppermost support surface;
a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the central portion, the rearward portion including a rear frame extending rearwardly from the spine and at least one rear wheel being mounted on the rear frame, the at least one rear wheel rotating about a rear wheel axis;
a forward portion extending forwardly from the central portion and configured to hitch to a towing vehicle, the forward portion including a neck assembly extending forwardly from the spine of the central portion and a tongue assembly mounted on the neck assembly and being swivelable with respect to the neck assembly, the tongue assembly including at least one front wheel and a tongue member pivotable to permit movement in a substantially vertical plane;
wherein at least one of the uppermost support surfaces of the members of the central portion is located at a vertical level above a ground surface that is lower than the rear wheel axis when the trailer is towable on the road;
an auxiliary support bar extending forwardly and rearwardly and having an uppermost support surface, the auxiliary support bar being mounted on at least one of the lateral support members in a manner such that a vertical height of the uppermost support surface above a ground surface below the trailer is adjustable;
wherein the auxiliary support bar is mounted on at least one lateral support member in a manner such that a lateral distance between the uppermost support surface of the support bar and the spine is adjustable.
2. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the spine is positioned generally centrally between the lateral sides of the trailer.
3. The trailer of claim 1 additionally comprising a support tray being positioned laterally to the spine, the support tray being formed by a plurality of secondary side members generally aligned with the spine.
4. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary support bar is mounted on at least two of the lateral support members in a manner such that a lateral distance between the uppermost support surface of the support bar and the spine is adjustable.
5. The trailer of claim 1 additionally comprising a pair of forward lateral members positioned on the spine toward the front of the trailer, a pair of rearward lateral members positioned on the spine toward the rear of the trailer, and a pair of central lateral members being positioned between the forward and rearward lateral members.
6. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the rearward portion extends rearwardly and upwardly from the central portion such that the central portion is depressed with respect to the rearward portion.
7. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the rear portion includes a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels, each of the rear wheels being positioned on opposite sides of the rear frame, each of the rear wheels being mounted on the frame by a torsion spring assembly.
8. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the neck assembly includes an ascending structure mounted on and extending upwardly from the spine and a descending structure mounted on the ascending structure and extending downwardly from the ascending structure.
9. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the upper support surface of the spine is located at a vertical level above a ground surface that is lower than the rear wheel axis.
10. The trailer of claim 1 wherein each of the upper support surfaces of the spine and the lateral members of the central portion are located at a vertical level above a ground surface that is lower than the rear wheel axis.
11. The trailer of claim 1 wherein each of the upper support surfaces of the members of the central portion are located at a vertical level above a ground surface that is lower than the rear wheel axis.
12. An implement transporting trailer for supporting a harvesting implement, the trailer having a front and a rear and opposite lateral sides, the trailer comprising:
a central portion for supporting the harvesting implement, the central portion including a longitudinal spine with an uppermost support surface and at least one lateral member mounted on and extending laterally from the spine, each of the lateral members having an uppermost support surface;
a rearward portion including a rear frame extending rearwardly from the central portion, a rear axle, and at least one rear wheel being mounted on the rear frame, the at least one rear wheel rotating about a rear wheel axis;
a forward portion configured to hitch to a towing vehicle, the forward portion including a neck assembly extending forwardly from the central portion and a tongue assembly mounted on the neck assembly and being swivelable with respect to the neck assembly, the tongue assembly including at least one front wheel and a tongue member;
wherein at least one of the uppermost support surfaces of the members of the central portion is maintained at a vertical level above a ground surface that is lower than the rear wheel axis for loading the trailer and for towing the trailer and
wherein the central portion includes an auxiliary support bar extending forwardly and rearwardly and having an uppermost support surface, the auxiliary support bar being mounted on at least one of the lateral support members in a manner such that a lateral distance between the uppermost support surface of the support bar and the spine is adjustable.
13. The trailer of claim 12 wherein the auxiliary support bar is adjustable such that a vertical height of the uppermost support surface is adjustable.
14. The trailer of claim 12 additionally comprising a support tray being positioned laterally to the spine, the support tray being formed by a plurality of secondary side members generally aligned with the spine.
15. The trailer of claim 12 wherein each of the upper support surfaces of the members of the central portion are located at a vertical level above a ground surface that is lower than the rear wheel axis.
16. The trailer of claim 12 wherein the rearward portion extends rearwardly and upwardly from the central portion such that the central portion is depressed with respect to the rearward portion.
17. The trailer of claim 12 wherein the neck assembly includes an ascending structure mounted on and extending upwardly from the spine and a descending structure mounted on the ascending structure and extending downwardly from the ascending structure.
18. An implement transporting trailer for supporting a harvesting implement, the trailer having a front and a rear and opposite lateral sides, the trailer comprising:
a central portion for supporting the harvesting implement, the central portion including a longitudinal spine with an uppermost support surface and a plurality of lateral members mounted on and extending laterally from the spine, each of the lateral members having an uppermost support surface;
a rearward portion extending rearwardly from the central portion, the rearward portion including a rear frame extending rearwardly from the spine and at least one rear wheel being mounted on the rear frame, the at least one rear wheel rotating about a rear wheel axis;
a forward portion extending forwardly from the central portion and configured to hitch to a towing vehicle, the forward portion including a neck assembly extending forwardly from the spine of the central portion and a tongue assembly mounted on the neck assembly and being swivelable with respect to the neck assembly, the tongue assembly including at least one front wheel and a tongue member pivotable to permit movement in a substantially vertical plane;
wherein at least one of the uppermost support surfaces of the members of the central portion is located at a vertical level above a ground surface that is lower than the rear wheel axis when the trailer is towable on the road;
an auxiliary support bar positioned generally parallel to the spine and having an uppermost support surface, the auxiliary support bar being mounted on at least two of the lateral support members in a manner such that a lateral distance between the uppermost support surface of the support bar and the spine is adjustable.
19. The trailer of claim 18 wherein the auxiliary support bar is adjustable such that a vertical height of the uppermost support surface is adjustable.