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Do any of you put cones behind your trailer when at a lawn?

I will take a pic of mine once we have a snow that I need the trailer to haul the snowblower.

lawn mower fanatic said:

Do any of you put cones behind your trailer when at a lawn?

I will take a pic of mine once we have a snow that I need the trailer to haul the snowblower.

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No I just park if I'm in a no parking zone loading zone or somewhere km not technically supposed to be ill turn on my flashers no cones seems just one more thing to keep track of

I don't see a reason why.

I only use my lawn tractor with my cart but even if I was driving a truck with a trailer I wouldn't use cones. Hazard lights do a good enough job if you park in the street. Personally I would park in the customer's driveway if at all possible. When it comes to parking in the street, I would just leave the hazards on like I said. I don't think it's that hard to see a pickup truck with a flatbed trailer.

Then again, you hear stories of people crashing into school buses.

If the gate goes down the cone comes out, no exceptions.

Most yards I park in the driveway because they are on busy roads.
When a park in the road or in a parking lot the cones are used and flashers.
I also have backup beepers.

I would add placing cones out gives your company a professional look and feel.

In TN back up alarms are required on all commercial vehiclesIt is a TOSHA regulation in TN TOSHA regulations override OSHA.
We have always used cones due to TN being a comparative fault state.

I try as a rule to load and unload in the driveway. If I have to do so in the road I use the flashers.

I'm not a commercial landscaper, this is just an observation. If you don't put out cones when the trailer gate is down, you could be held liable if a person trips over the gate and injures themselves. The cones will act as a warning device and could absolve you of any liability in a court of law. Again, just an observation, and no legal precedent known by me to support it.

mullins87 said:

If you don't put out cones when the trailer gate is down, you could be held liable if a person trips over the gate and injures themselves.

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Just how far do you have to go? As soon as I pull in there driveway they can sue me. Just maybe I will trip over there lawn mower and sue them? Just what are we living in a sue happy country and just where do we draw the line?

If someone trips over my ramps I might just shoot them in the leg and say they was steeling something then sue them for making me shoot them.

Carscw said:

If someone trips over my ramps I might just shoot them in the leg and say they was steeling something then sue them for making me shoot them.

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Lol cost of bullet and time lost. If someone is stupid enough to trip over my ramp the deserve to fall and crack there skull. I agree with the above when will all the sue fear stop. Lol I am going to park where I need to take the steps I think necessary to prevent people from hitting my trailer with cars and take the safety steps that I feel are beneficial to my business

reynoldston said:

Just how far do you have to go? As soon as I pull in there driveway they can sue me. Just maybe I will trip over there lawn mower and sue them? Just what are we living in a sue happy country and just where do we draw the line?

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I never use peoples or clients driveways, I always park on the road between houses. Whether you use cones or not can be determined by your location. If your inside a sub-division I'd say they're not necessary, if your cutting on the main drive thru of the sub-division and can't find a place to get off maybe.

Ric said:

I never use peoples or clients driveways, I always park on the road between houses. Whether you use cones or not can be determined by your location. If your inside a sub-division I'd say they're not necessary, if your cutting on the main drive thru of the sub-division and can't find a place to get off maybe.

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I agree if I was doing occupied homes I would not use the driveway.

lawn mower fanatic said:

Do any of you put cones behind your trailer when at a lawn? I will take a pic of mine once we have a snow that I need the trailer to haul the snowblower.

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I have used cones for years all I do is put one in the front and in the back. They're not much of a hassle and if you use them enough they just become part of your routine for closing up and moving to the next client. I would never park in someone's driveway due to you never know when they are coming home and need access to their garage. I try to make my presence as less of a hassle for the client as possible. By putting out cones it lets cars know from a distance that your vehicle is stationary so that they can make the necessary adjustments to pass your vehicle safely. To me it's better to go the extra mile to be safe and avoid any accidents if at all possible. Plus like midtn said in Tennessee it's the law.

Yes if you are spending some time at a customers home like working on their lawn or what ever I can see not going into their driveway and using the cones. Its different with me seeing I am just picking up a repairs. I load it and I am gone. My main problem when something has the wheels locked up or not running and its broken down into the back 40. I will then have to bring my ATV and use it as a tow truck. I find also a lot of the time the customer is helping load or unload.

I didn't intend to get anything started, and I agree with everything that was said. How far do we have to go to insure someone doesn't hurt themselves on your equipment? We are a suit happy culture. There was a case in this area not too many years ago where an individual broke into a service yard that was surrounded by a 6' chain link fence and a locked gate. That individual injured themselves while inside the yard and successfully sued the business for that injury. The only way to insure you absolutely can not be sued for anything is to not be there at all, and that's not an option if you're putting food on the table. The fact is that you can be sued for just about anything. Another example from my hometown two years ago. An individual was walking in a parking lot and hit their shin on a receiver hitch that was on a truck. They called the police who then proceeded to leave a citation for the truck owner. I don't remember the official wording, but basically it stated the citation was issued because the hitch protruded beyond the factory boundaries of the bumpers and therefore presented a hazard to anyone walking by. That leads me to question, is the tailgate being down beyond the factory boundaries of the truck because it sticks out past the bumper? Getting back on topic and using this logic, one could argue the entire trailer is beyond the factory boundaries of the truck, or at the least the gate is beyond the factory boundary of the trailer. Like you all said, where does it end?!?!?!

In the end, using your flashers if you're parking along the street to warn other drivers that the vehicle is stationary is about the best thing you can do, other than putting actual flashing amber lights on your trucks. Also, the use of cones in the front and rear will not only help leave you open space to load/unload and to pull out, but will also help warn pedestrians there are hazards in the area. Does any of this stuff insure nothing will happen? No. However, if you ever find yourself in court, and hopefully you'll have a judge with some common sense, two questions will have to be answered. 1. Were you, the operator, placing your equipment in such a manner as to present an undue hazard to others in the immediate area? 2. Did you do everything reasonable to warn others in the immediate area that a hazard existed? In most cases, the "reasonable and prudent person" is the test. As long as you go beyond what a "reasonable and prudent person" would do, regardless of how ridiculous it seems, you should be okay.

Just my $.02 worth and very well could be worth exactly what you've paid for it. :laughing:

tried it but kept forgetting to pick them up.......sounded like a good idea but i never park on busy streets

I talked to my brother-in-law attorney over the Christmas break about this subject to make sure I wasn't off base. He said I was on track, however one thing had to also be considered. He stated the "reasonable and prudent person" standard will change depending on the situation. For instance, are you parked in an upscale subdivision where the houses are far apart and very few people outside in the area, or are you parked near an elementary school as the students are walking home? Obviously the standard of care will be greater near the elementary school.

We just have to try and reduce liability as much as we can. One risk you never hear mentioned but be careful about is if working in neighborhood with little ones do not leave your mower unattended they may touch muffler or engine. Kids live mowers!

Mid TN Lawn said:

We just have to try and reduce liability as much as we can. One risk you never hear mentioned but be careful about is if working in neighborhood with little ones do not leave your mower unattended they may touch muffler or engine. Kids live mowers!

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I'll just get 35 " stay back 50 feet stickers" and stick them every 2 feet all around my truck and.trailer make sure at least 2 is on every piece of equipment. I'll install flashing amber lights on all four corners of.my truck and four corners of trailer be sure to lay 8 traffic cones around everything be sure to have a sound saying danger danger as I drive around town that should reduce my liability.

How ever some stupid idiot will still manage to find and exploit me if they want to it doesn't matter how much you try if someone wants to find an excuse to sue you they will " only things locks do is keep an honest man honest"

lawn mower fanatic said:

Do any of you put cones behind your trailer when at a lawn? I will take a pic of mine once we have a snow that I need the trailer to haul the snowblower.

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I always place cones out. I do it for my crews safety and my equipment. If you are thinking of it, do it. It's to late if something happens and the cost of two cones...minimum for a piece of mind.

Cops Ask us to put them out where i Live to keep from getting a ticket

I have observed other companies placing cones to mark their trailers. It looks professional and has to help people see the trailer especially when ramp is down. I am going to use cones starting in 2014

fatboy said:

I have observed other companies placing cones to mark their trailers. It looks professional and has to help people see the trailer especially when ramp is down. I am going to use cones starting in 2014

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Good to hear

Even though most of my lawns are in a neighborhood, I think I will put out cones just for a bit of safety for people walking, and also to look "more professional". When you think about it, though, cars are allowed to park on the side of the road in our neighborhood 24/7, so a vehicle with a trailer isn't that much different. It's just another vehicle parked along the side. It's not like I'm on a busy road with my trailer halfway in the road.

lawn mower fanatic said:

Do any of you put cones behind your trailer when at a lawn?

I will take a pic of mine once we have a snow that I need the trailer to haul the snowblower.

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I am lucky to have a place to park in the driveways of all my customers. I do plan to get some though just in case I should ever need them my insurance co requires me to have them if I have to park in the right of way/ road side here. But insurance aside its just common sense too you want to make your vehicle, and equipment as visible as possible.

That is why I put this bar on my trailer tailgate I guess it helps a little.

wjjones said:

That is why I put this bar on my trailer tailgate I guess it helps a little.

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I like that. Very good idea

Since I was at Home Depot....

Vinyl cut your company name and put on each side of cone its great advertising and looks professional can upload picture if you want to see what they look like.

Mid TN Lawn said:

Vinyl cut your company name and put on each side of cone its great advertising and looks professional can upload picture if you want to see what they look like.

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Ya good idea. :thumbsup: I know what you mean, but a pic would be cool for the people who don't.

Carscw said:

I agree if I was doing occupied homes I would not use the driveway.

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I really don't know how you can manage using a driveway to park in, my driveway is only 22ft long to the sidewalks and we can't block the sidewalks without getting a ticket.

Ric said:

I really don't know how you can manage using a driveway to park in, my driveway is only 22ft long to the sidewalks and we can't block the sidewalks without getting a ticket.

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In our area driveways range from you being able to fit 2 cars bumper-to-bumper, up to 3 or even 4, so they are plenty long enough.....but I would never do it, though, due to the fact people need to get in and out.

Picture of lettered cones if anyone does not have a vinyl cutting machine just let me know i will cut for you for free just pay for postage and vinyl

Mid TN Lawn said:

View attachment 18788 Picture of lettered cones if anyone does not have a vinyl cutting machine just let me know i will cut for you for free just pay for postage and vinyl

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That looks really nice! I'm going to do that. :thumbsup:

lawn mower fanatic said:

In our area driveways range from you being able to fit 2 cars bumper-to-bumper, up to 3 or even 4, so they are plenty long enough.....but I would never do it, though, due to the fact people need to get in and out.

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I have a three car garage so my drive is wider than it is long. With the truck and trailer together in the drive I still have about a foot and a half of trailer in the garage, if I pull the truck ahead to have the trailer fully out of the garage the nose of the truck would be in the road and as you can see I'm definitely blocking the sidewalk and could end up with a ticket.

For those interested in Traffic cones.

3M Tekk Protection 18 in. Orange Safety Cone $9.97 @ Home Depot

Ric said:

I really don't know how you can manage using a driveway to park in, my driveway is only 22ft long to the sidewalks and we can't block the sidewalks without getting a ticket.

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You forget I live in the country. We don't have sidewalks. But I get what your saying.

A lot of my houses are on busy roads with speed limits over 45. And some are in very nice subdivisions. I have one I need to use four wheel drive to get up the driveway.

If I was doing yards in a subdivision like you do then yes I would park in the road.

A few years ago I did a subdivision we would park in a cul-de-sac in the mourning and go up one side of the Street and back down the other side and end up at the truck at the end of the day.

We use them always! We also do not park in any client driveways. If the truck leaks a drop of oil, a trailer ramp gouges their drive, spill gas on the drive, any little thing can be used against you. Our cones are marked with out business name, we have a friend who purchased military stencil machines and makes us what ever stencil we want. Then a little paint on the item through the stencil and your equipment is marked.

BHLC said:

We use them always! We also do not park in any client driveways. If the truck leaks a drop of oil, a trailer ramp gouges their drive, spill gas on the drive, any little thing can be used against you. Our cones are marked with out business name, we have a friend who purchased military stencil machines and makes us what ever stencil we want. Then a little paint on the item through the stencil and your equipment is marked.

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Ya I don't like parking in peoples drives either plus it makes it that much more difficult to blow it clean

Ric said:

I really don't know how you can manage using a driveway to park in, my driveway is only 22ft long to the sidewalks and we can't block the sidewalks without getting a ticket.

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These are driveways that range from 250 ft x 10 ft wide, and are in the rural country part of the county. I have one that is in a nasty back road curve. I could park there but would have to ride the mower home when I got done because the truck, and trailer would be in a million pieces. I guess its ok to park in the street with city yards, and put cones out but in this county the back roads are dangerous to drive on parking would be crazy. Besides my customers are not that uptight they all insist that I park in the driveway where it is SAFE. I do agree though a couple of safety cones would be good to have on hand for that just in case thing.

wjjones said:

These are driveways that range from 250 ft x 10 ft wide, and are in the rural country part of the county. I have one that is in a nasty back road curve. I could park there but would have to ride the mower home when I got done because the truck, and trailer would be in a million pieces. I guess its ok to park in the street with city yards, and put cones out but in this county the back roads are dangerous to drive on parking would be crazy. Besides my customers are not that uptight they all insist that I park in the driveway where it is SAFE. I do agree though a couple of safety cones would be good to have on hand for that just in case thing.

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So you park in the driveway and drive on the parkway, makes sense! :confused2::laughing::laughing:
Sorry, I couldn't resist.

midnite rider said:

So you park in the driveway and drive on the parkway, makes sense! :confused2::laughing::laughing:
Sorry, I couldn't resist.

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:laughing:..:laughing:..:laughing:..:thumbsup:... Way back when I started we didnt think to much about safety but as you go along years later everyone in the business tries to figure out ways to be safer, and efficient at the same time.

Mid TN Lawn said:

View attachment 18788 Picture of lettered cones if anyone does not have a vinyl cutting machine just let me know i will cut for you for free just pay for postage and vinyl

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Is this the right stuff

Amazon.com: Heat Press Machine Transfer Vinyl film Material ALL COLORS tshirt cutter plotter(BLACK): Everything Else

No thats for tshirts etc.
if you dont have a vinyl cutting machine you will have to buy one. We buy vinyl and supplies from sign warehouse bought our cutter there also we paid about 3k for 24" lynx brand cutter

If you will tell me what you want cut and how many cones give me your address will cut and mail to you Free!

Mid TN Lawn said:

If you will tell me what you want cut and how many cones give me your address will cut and mail to you Free!

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I made spray paint templates yesterday small medium and large for my buckets they were free I took old card board boxes and my wifes scrapbooking letters traced and cut

mowerman05 said:

If the gate goes down the cone comes out, no exceptions.

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Same here!

Ric said:

I have a three car garage so my drive is wider than it is long. With the truck and trailer together in the drive I still have about a foot and a half of trailer in the garage, if I pull the truck ahead to have the trailer fully out of the garage the nose of the truck would be in the road and as you can see I'm definitely blocking the sidewalk and could end up with a ticket.

View attachment 18789View attachment 18790

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Ric

That is a very nice truck

All of my yards are out in the country, so I would not chance messing up a nice truck like yours. I use a 1998 chevy 3/4 ton. heres to another sucessful season to you

Frank

We do have traffic cones, but we only use it based on the appearance of the lawn. If it doesn't have any fences, we usually put one.

Just wanted to post an update. I now use either 2 or 3 cones on all lawns I do. If it's a busy road I put 2 behind the trailer, one in front of the vehicle. I use the 18" cones that are like $10 at Home Depot, but I also got 18" cones with a reflective strip to use when I do snow removal at night. After getting a flat tire on the highway the other month, I now keep multiple cones in each vehicle, just in case. They have come in handy!

we use traffic cones at the front and rear. more of a liability thing with curb parking, loading and unloading. plus it just makes me feel better about safety of my guys and equipment.