chaining down your equipment

[Don87]

I hauled a NH TD95D with 820TL Loader from Hagerman, NM to St. Ignatius, MT through the first major snow storm of the winter in the NW. This is how I hooked it up. The tractor never moved even when I blew a tire on Raton Pass.I used 3/8" x 14 ft chains on all four corners. I cut moving pads from HF to wrap aroud the chains so it wouldn't gouge the rims and wear the paint off. I used a couple of old tires under the bucket to elimate chaffing. I opened the rear window and placed a moving pad on the window and then closed the window on the pad trapped in the window frame to prevent glass breakage from flying stones. (The tractor was backed on to the trailer and the cg of the tractor was parked over the the point on the trailer that met the truck's rear axle load rating as best I could estimate them.) I also taped the exhaust over with duct tape to prevent the turbocompressor from windmilling without an oil supply to it's bearings.
The tractor came through with flying colors as I drove threough freezing fog in Wyoming and below zero temperatures in Montana on glare ice covered highways that should have been closed. The driver (me0 was sure glad to get home through all that bad weather.

Another scenario that makes a person sure that 4 securements on a rolling load is time well spent.

 

[Don87]

According to the rules, front end loaders also need a seprate securement.


"b.Preparation of equipment being transported.
1.Accessory equipment, such as hydraulic shovels, must be completely lowered and secured to the vehicle.
2.Articulated vehicles shall be restrained in a manner that prevents articulation while in transit.
"

 

[Deere9986]

Here is a few pics of equipment i haul. I usually use the 4 point tie down after paying a $350 fine. The last is my fuel and water trailer.

 

[Jerry/MT]

According to the rules, front end loaders also need a seprate securement.


"b.Preparation of equipment being transported.
1.Accessory equipment, such as hydraulic shovels, must be completely lowered and secured to the vehicle.
2.Articulated vehicles shall be restrained in a manner that prevents articulation while in transit.
"

I have never seen one restrianed before, regulation or not, and the Colorado State Trooper that told me my tire was blown didn't say anything about the loader not being restrained either. I think the reg is for trackhoe, backhoes, not loaders but maybe not.

 

[Don87]

I have never seen one restrianed before, regulation or not, and the Colorado State Trooper that told me my tire was blown didn't say anything about the loader not being restrained either. I think the reg is for trackhoe, backhoes, not loaders but maybe not.

According to the post above yours, the extra chain and binder may be cheaper, LOL


EDIT: I dunno, the regs say "hydraulic shovel", I just took that to mean a loader also. It is hydraulic, and used as a shovel.

Back in my logging days, we always put an extra chain on dozer blades, front buckets, backhoes, and even skidder blades.

 

[Deere9986]

According to the post above yours, the extra chain and binder may be cheaper, LOL


EDIT: I dunno, the regs say "hydraulic shovel", I just took that to mean a loader also. It is hydraulic, and used as a shovel.

Back in my logging days, we always put an extra chain on dozer blades, front buckets, backhoes, and even skidder blades.

let me tell you the extra chain and binder will not only save you money but alot of time. i was on the side of the road for 3 hours while the trooper did a full dot inspection. i walked away with 950 dollars worth of fines that day all because he saw i didn't have enough chains on my tractor. 350 for the chain, 200 for fire ext not properly mounted, 300 for no log book, and 100 for no gvwr sticker on trailer. he was driving 20 mph in the emergency lane letting people pass and he pulled out behind me, then passed me, then got back in emergency lane and waited till i got around him and pulled me over. so the more tie downs you have the better.

 

[crazyal]

Just to throw this out there but I thought I remember reading that a binder is required in each tie down point. The exception being if the operator of the truck can move the equipment (jump on the tractor and drive it forward or reverse). I think it was written because many people tie down the front or rear and then move the tractor to tighten the chains up before tying down the other end. If the chain loosens along the way the operator must be able to tighten the load back down.

The loader needs to be tied down however I've never seen it enforced and I'm not sure what the weight limit point is where it kicks in. However, and it happens more often than people realize, I read the news a couple of years ago about a trucker who ran into a bridge because the loader he was hauling raised it's bucket up. After loading it they left the engine idling because of the cold temps and as it hit bumps it just kept lift the loader until. The news report said that the operator was cited for not tying down the bucket.

Just remember it's usually cheaper to buy a few more chains than find out that you needed one more. Also I prefer the ratcheting binders and this style.

The regular lever style binders can pop free if the chain gets even the slightest but of slack making things much worse.

 

[crazyal]

I think you can find the federal standards here.
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:
Down towards the bottom there's a section call "protection against falling and shifting cargo".

I did find this "(b) Preparation of equipment being transported. (1) Accessory equipment, such as hydraulic shovels, must be completely lowered and secured to the vehicle." under the 10,000lb and larger equipment. So hydraulic shovels is just an example.

 

[Red Horse]

Further to the recent incident On I-495 in Mass. in which a National Grid truck pulling a 580 Case lost it, I went by the scene this afternoon and the State Police were back out there I assume checking things out again. One of the news photos by the way showed a binder still attached to the 580. This will be interesting as to a final determination. You can bet national Grid has nothing but first rate equipment. As to comments on improper tongue weight, I can't see how you can have that when you are talking about a 10 ton tag trailer that is set up for a TLB. Its not like you have a long deck that lets you move the machine too far forward or too far back.n One eye witness said the driver made a "sudden lane change" but we shall see. Most obvious thing could be that it was NOT properly chained down-and again, given the fact this was National Grid, I find it hard to believe good procedure was not followed.

 

[trailbuilder]

I haul my ASV PT100 around almost daily. I use 4 Grade 70 chains about 5 feet long. One end has a grab hook the other a slip hook. I hook 2 chains on the front head, normally the Fecon head and then the other end to the trailer and back up to tighten or ratchet binder. On the rear I use (2) 3/8 - 1/2 inch binders on the saftey rings and a chain to the trailer. 4 points of contact, the chains (and hooks) are of the correct rating...the only grey area is the front is hooked to the attachemt (the Fecon mulching head) which if 2 hydraulic cylinders broke or leaked would provide slack. I am waiting to get called on this one. There is a frame loop hook on the fron tof the ASV but it is hard to get to.
I have a mark on the trailer so I know where to allign the machine for the right weight distribution. My machine is about 12,500-13,000 pounds and I use a low boy 14k loadmaster 18 foot bumper pull or a Featherlight STL 24 foot gooseneck.