Using Forklifts to Move Trailers - Is this Practice Safe?
A dealer recently brought to my attention an RVDA committee’s investigation into the issue of using forklifts to move travel trailers and 5th wheels. A survey conducted by RVDA in late 2006 determined that an estimated 50 percent of its members use a forklift for this purpose. The other 50 percent use tractors, trucks, spot movers or other improvised devices. Which method is safest and works best depends largely on who you ask.
In talking with dealers across the country, I’ve heard that some dealers feel using forklifts for this purpose is extremely dangerous and an incredible liability risk. Other dealers have used forklifts for decades and feel forklifts are not only safe but also the most effective way to move units around.
I’m told that one dealer in Connecticut had a terrible forklift towing accident 1-1/2-years ago. The trailer caused the forklift to overturn, causing the death of the employee. While not certain, the accident may have been caused by the forklift not having brakes beefy enough to stop the additional weight the forklift was pulling. When the government stepped in to investigate, some of the first questions they reportedly asked were:
- When was the last time the forklift was serviced and is there documentation of this?
- Was the operator certified to use the equipment? Do you have documentation of this?
- Did the forklift manufacturer approve the equipment for this intended use?
- Was there a letter from a state-certified engineer approving the attachment on the forklift for that intended use?
I don’t know all the details, but from what I hear, the dealer was ultimately fined and many surrounding dealerships were investigated as well for their forklift use. I’m also told that forklift manufacturers have said their vehicles are specifically designed for rising and lowering heavy loads, not for towing them as in a trailer-transport application. The lift rating of the forklift can also be deceiving because the weight is designed to be lifted “at the apron,” not the “fork-end.” As an example: a 8,000-pound-rated forklift could realistically only lift 3,300 pounds at the fork end. With hiring an engineer, I would think dealers would have no real way of knowing their personal forklift’s lifting capacity at the fork. Not knowing is another door for liability.
Forklift manufacturer’s stances on this most likely put any and all liability decisively on the dealer’s plate. Odds are good your insurance will not cover you if there is an accident because of this. Are you up-to-date on your particular forklift manufacturer’s stance on towing RVs and what your state laws say regarding insurance and liability?
One dealer in Wisconsin received approval from a major forklift manufacturer for his forklift attachment, but the company now says it will not approve future attachments on its products for this application. While there are a number of manufacturers that make attachments designed for this intended purpose, I haven’t heard of any that unequivocally stand behind their product when and if there is an accident. I certainly can’t say I know every company in the U.S. or the products they make, so if you know of one, please post it and we will get the word out.
The questions I have for the RV dealers are:
- What do you feel the best practice is regarding moving trailers?
- Is this even an important issue?
- Do you feel there should there be some kind of standard for this or is it all much-to-do-about-nothing?
- How do you move trailers at your dealership? Do you have an innovative method or product designed for transport that is both safe and releases the dealership from liability?
I’ll forward your comments and great ideas on to info@RVDA.org, so the committee can tap into dealer’s collective knowledge. Thanks for posting and Happy Holiday’s!
Dana Nelsen is the editor of RV Trade Digest and Light Truck and SUV magazines. He can be reached directly by e-mailing editor@RVTradeDigest.com.
January 8th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
We have used forklifts for 25 years and the older light weight models were dangerous and we had one roll over about 15 years ago, fortunately no one was hurt. Last year I purchased a more expensive triple mast unit that was used but in excellent condition and I can tell that it is way more stable than the old ones were. I can feel the body roll of this unit when on a slight off camber with a big fifth wheel and myself and my employees are very careful when moving these big units. I don’t believe there is any better way for us to move units around our facility and would feel crippled without it, I as well don’t just let anyone jump on it to move units around and agree with the two man system, as we have had numerous accidents hitting things over the years without a spotter. I have no idea if there is such a certification for using this machine in this manner, however I would be all for it if it existed.
January 8th, 2008 at 12:32 am
So it sounds like this is of little or no concern as long as employees are careful. I find this a surprising consensus in the light of what is at stake for dealers. Most likely, they will have NO RECOURSE because forklift manufacturers are saying “Our products were never intended for that application.”
The issue then becomes “Well, my employer told me to do it that way. I just did my job as I was instructed to do it.”
Insurance companies have given every indication dealers will be hanging in the wind if/when an accident occurs unless some of the conditions listed above are met.
I see Scott (above) said his insurance company cleared them for this application of forklifts. I’ll bet there are alot of dealerships out there that might want to know who Scott has insurance with. RVDA’s committee would probably like to talk to that insurance company as well. Hopefully, Scott will e-mail me that information so I can forward it on to RVDA and help the whole industry.
January 7th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
As a small business owner of a repair shop i use my f250 ford to move units.I have worked at shops that used small fork lifts on there lots with out any thought of safty or compliance to the equipments rating
The only intrest by manegment is getting the job done,The attitud being nothing has ever happend, do’nt be wusse.
Forklift licence can be had without any qualafactions
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:33 pm
We have used Forklifts for almost 20 years. The main thing is to have a forklift that is heavy/capable enough to do the job. ALL employees that utilize the forklifts MUST be trained and licensed. Remember, all the various Convention centers we use for shows all use Forklifts to move units around. Our Forklift is capable of moving a 40 foot 5th wheel. Common sense goes a long way in determining what is practical and safe at RV dealers for various equipment. Having used Tractors/Trucks and Forklifts, I can say that the best/safest/ most accurate way to pull/park and pull into a shop doorway or storage space is with a Forklift. The control you have is very accurate. Brent
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
I agree with Brian H. AS far as knowing your equipment and using common sense.We use forklifts with 4 front wheels & a heavy load rating.not that we lift that much weight,but to better handle the size of the trailers.We
also have brake controls on our fork lifts that are hooked up to operate the trailer brakes. The only accidents we have had were ALL caused by careless operation or going to fast. If we need to move anything to big or heavy for the forklifts we have, then we use a truck.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
We have been using forklifts to move are trailers around for the last 19 years and no accidents at all. We have various size forklifts as we have trailers from 18′ to 47′ 5th wheels. We have a complete forklift training program for any employee that operates the forklift, we have a strict 2 person policy as 1 person drives and 1 person is the spotter. Constantly evaluating and observing the performance of the operators so they do not get lazy and start to cut corners while moving trailers. Our insurance company has observed and reviewed how we operate and have given us a complete ok to continue. We manufacture the attachments ourselves one for pull trailers and one for fifth-wheels. Very easy to build and easy for the employees to install and remove as needed. I would say 99 percent is just common sense approach and to make sure that the employees are constantly made aware of the dangers involved in moving trailers around either by forklift, tractor or truck you have to be careful.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
We have used forklifts to move trailers for many years.
Obviously you wouldn’t tow a 34 foot trailer with a VW car. Same for forklifts. Our forklift weighs 9048 pounds.
It is very capable of safely moving trailers around especially in tight places, that a tractor could never do.
Light weight forklifts are the problem, especially when turning with a heavy trailer.
Heavy duty forklifts, around 8000 pounds or more, do get the job done, safely.
Some people can get hurt with a screwdriver, and do, everyday.
Learning how to properly use a forklift, is not difficult. Ignoring safety rules, are the cause of the problems.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
As usual, either improper actions by an employee or an incorrect method of hooking/ attaching the RV WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS. We purchased a dual drive-wheel fork lift and had a certified metalurgist fabricate a set of slip-on fork rails for our unit. We also have solid rubber tires to eliminate any possibility of body roll on the fork-lift while towing a unit to or from our service area. Our lot is so small we cannot use a pickup truck as there is not sufficient mobility with a pickup. “Common sense” must be part of any program at a dealership, with management over-view, a must.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
we use a tractor for both 5th wheels and travel trailers. Some very large and heavy 5th wheels we still use a truck but that is seldome but the safty factor is worth the extra time. Our lot is very flat so we do not have to worry about rolling which would be a factor on some lots. I do not use a fork lift but have in the past used them inside setting up for a show but do not like the idea of using one one the lot.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
At our dealership we use a Bobcat with an attachment that works on a 5th wheel or TT. The weight of the Bobcat seems to be plenty to handle most trailers. If we have a 5th wheel that is too heavy we use a truck to move it. With the Bobcat you can either push or pull whatever you are moving.
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 am
As with most things of this nature, adequate knowledge of your equipment and common sense are paramount in safe operaton of any equitpment, And those with adequate knowledge must never become complacent. That is, no piece of machinery is ever safer that the idiot oprerating it. that said, I’ve seem forklifts used safely to move trailers and fifth wheels for years, always pushing never pulling and with the load resting 2/3 of the way back from the front of the tines.
January 1st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I think this is a great subject and one that we dealers need some information on. We do have a forklift but do not use it for moving units. We have discussed it, but have shied away from it due to these conversations. We use a tractor with a three point hitch for travel trailers and have a fifth wheel attachment on the same tractor for fifth wheels. Otherwise we use pick-ups. I’d like to hear what other dealers are using. What about our fifth wheel attachment…is that safe…are other dealers using simialr devices??