Offloading Your New Rollforming Machine: A Step-by-Step Guide

Congratulations on your purchase of a new rollforming machine from New Tech Machinery (NTM), the leader in portable rollformers! After over 30 years in the industry, our machines have become the American standard for portable rollforming. Part of our mission is to provide you all the information you need through articles and videos, so that you can get the most out of your NTM equipment. In this article, you’ll learn about the following methods for offloading your machine:

• Offloading the machine on a skid

• Offloading the machine from a trailer

• Offloading from a flatbed truck
• Offloading a machine on a trailer from a flatbed
• Offloading a machine from the side of a

To ensure a smooth and safe offloading process, follow these detailed steps.

Tools and Equipment Needed:

• ½” wrench
• Crowbar
• Hammer
• Drill
• 9/16-inch socket
• Forklift

Method 1: Offloading the Machine on a Skid

1. Prepare the Forklift:

•  Use longer forks to ensure you can grab the entire machine.
•  Ensure the forks are leveled and go right in the center of the skid.
•  Tilt back and lift the machine completely off the ground.

2. Lifting and Moving:

• Lift up slightly more once the machine is off the ground.
• Back out slowly and straight.
• Lift up slightly more when approaching the ramp.

•   Once off the trailer, lower the machine back down until it’s about a foot off the ground.

3. Lowering the Machine:

•  Tilt down first to let the front end touch the ground.
•  Level the forks again before backing out completely.

Method 2: Offloading the Machine from a Trailer

1. Prepare the Trailer:

•  Remove the nuts and washers from the feet of the machine at the back and front.
•  Lift the foot jacks to avoid getting caught during removal.

2. Under the Trailer:

• Chock the tires front and back.
• Remove the nails from the boards in the center using a pry bar.

• Remove the nails and boards from the front of the trailer, leaving the center board in place.

3. Preparing to Lift:

•  Attach the hitch to the front end of the forklift fork.
•  Secure the 2 1/2″ – 3″ hitch and ensure it doesn’t come loose.

4. Lifting the Machine:

• Level the forks and go in slowly, with a spotter guiding you.
• Tilt back and lift straight up, high enough to clear the trailer’s front studs.
• Once you have clearance, back out slowly.

• Before coming out, drop the trailer down about 6″ to the floor, maintaining clearance.
• Slowly work your way straight backwards.

5. Final Steps:

• Lower the forks and set the machine down carefully.
• Ensure both feet of the machine touch the ground before tilting down completely to remove the hitch.

Method 3: Offloading from a Flatbed Truck

1. Positioning the Forks:

• Level the forks and position them at the center of the pallet.
• Adjust the forks as needed while going in.

2. Lifting and Moving:

• Tilt back fully and lift the machine off the trailer.
• Move straight back, avoiding any sudden movements or turns.

3. Lowering the Machine:

• Once clear of the trailer, stop, tilt down to set the front end on the ground.
• Drop the back end and level the forks out, then back up.

Method 4: Offloading a Machine on a Trailer From a Flatbed

1.Spotter Guidance:

• Have a spotter guide you from the other side of the forklift.

2. Positioning the Forklift:

• Tilt back and lift the machine until it’s level.
• Slowly lift the trailer and back out carefully.
• Avoid sudden movements to prevent losing the trailer or damaging the machine.

3. Lowering the Machine:

• Once clear of the trailer, shift the forklift to neutral and lower the machine slowly until the feet touch the ground.
• Once the tires closest to the forklift touch the ground, tilt forward until the other side touches the ground.
• Level the forks so they have no contact with the machine or overhead, and back out completely.
• Position the forks underneath the overhead black frame, close to the front of the trailer.
• Move in slowly, following the spotter’s guidance.

Method 5: Offloading a Machine from the Side of a Flatbed

1. Positioning the Forklift:

• Approach the flatbed with the forklift and position it so that the forks are aligned with the skid underneath the pallet.
• Ensure the forks are level.

2. Adjusting the Forks:

• Make sure the mass of the machine and the pallet are centered on the forks. This is crucial to prevent tilting or falling over when lifting.
• Once centered, tilt the forks back all the way and lift the machine straight up.
• Aim for a clearance of about half a foot to a foot above the trailer.

• Begin to back out slowly and steadily, ensuring the machine remains balanced and does not catch on anything.
• Keep a close eye on the surroundings to avoid hitting any obstacles.
• Continue backing out until the machine is clear of the trailer.
• Stop once you have sufficient clearance from the trailer.

3. Lowering the Machine:

• Put the forklift in neutral.
• Slowly lower the machine to the ground, maintaining control to ensure a smooth descent.

4. Final Steps:

• Once the machine is safely on the ground, level the forks and back the forklift out completely.
• Insert the forks between the two middle 4x4s supporting the feet of the machine.
• There should be a total of four 4x4s, so position the forks between the two that are closer to the middle.
• Level the forks as much as possible and adjust them up and down to ensure proper alignment.
• Tilt the forks back slightly and lift the machine a little to check for balance.

Tips for Success:

– Always have a spotter to guide you during the lifting and moving process.

– Move slowly and carefully to avoid damaging the machine or trailer.

– Ensure all tools and equipment are in good working condition before starting.

For more information about our machines and additional tutorials, visit our Learning Center. Thank you for choosing New Tech Machinery!

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If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team. For information about NTM machines and accessories, contact us.