How do you tie down tractors when hauling on a trailer?

[foreman Etexas]

I'm not sure you've got enough trailer there, Foreman.


That's a mighty Big Load. :laughing:




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Yeah was dropping 2yr old off at grandparents and going to tractor place to pick up 12ft drag and son didnt wont it in back of truck,said he wonted it straped down on trailer like daddys tractor.It rode 70mph down interstate. I did get pulled over by DOT one time with CAT backhoe,said to be legal needed total of 6 boomers can use same chains on front and back of tractor aslong as it was boomed down right(If chain broke,both boomers didnt loosen).and one on each attachment(ldr,hoe).

 

[284 International]

That's a terrific picture, foreman! Your son will always remember things like that.

 

[aczlan]

It has four 10,000 lb break-strength straps attached to the loader supports holding it in place. Each strap has a working load of 3,333 lbs. I've made a dozen trips and the rig hasn't moved an inch.
Yeah, it COULD break loose, but, an asteroid COULD wipe us all out tomorrow.

Tiedowns (chains and straps) are strongest at right angles to the load, but in order to resist force in both directions, they should be 45 degrees to the load.
As you have it tied down, it will resist force going forward and backwards very well, but not so much in an upward or sideways direction (your straps 3300# capacity would be cut by at least 1/2 for loads in a vertical plane).
See: Sling Load Calculator for a chart dealing with strap de-rating when using a lifting sling.

Personally, I would run the front straps to where the loader support and the grill guard connect so that they were at least a 45 degree angle (going down and back) as possible.
I would run the rear straps to a point on the back where they can be at least a 45 degree angle going inwards and upwards.

Other references:
http://ehs.whoi.edu/ehs/occsafety/LoadCalcs.pdf

Its up to you, but my plan when tieing something down is that if the trailer flips, the thing being tied down should stay on. No ifs, ands or buts.

Aaron Z

 

[nunyabinis]

Aczlan, you are absolutely correct. If the trailer were bolted to the ground and a crane were used to lift the tractor, the straps would break at a much lower threshold with the way the straps are attached, however, the trailer isn't bolted down and if the trailer flipped the straps would then effectively be holding the trailer to the tractor. The trailer weight is 3,900 pounds. The straps will most likely hold.


It would be an interesting experiment but one I hope to never actually perform.



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[s219]

Update: I ordered my trailer today -- a 16' landscape trailer with tandem axles, brakes on both axles, reinforced tailgate, 1' high side rails, and welded tie-down rings along the sides of the frame. They had a 14' model in stock, but it would only have given me about plus/minus 1' of fore/aft adjustment with my tractor, and wouldn't have accommodated my box blade without playing games. So I went to 16' and it should be here in three weeks. It's crazy that the 16' is only $100 more and only marginally heavier -- it brings a lot more capability for very little penalty in cost and weight.

I went with a "Down2Earth" brand trailer, made in Georgia. I had looked at 4-5 different brands, and this one was among the nicest made for the money. Even with all the extras, it was very competitive on price.

 

[JB4310]

16ft tandem trailer; JD 3038e; 6ft flail mower; 5ft tiller; fuel cans; weed eater; cooler of adult refreshments and chainsaw in the metal box. 600 lbs of weight on the tongue.

Ready for work.




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I know you've been picked on already for this, but I think you could make better use of those web straps by going from the 4 corners of the tractor, down to the stake pockets.

I know it's not easy finding attachment points on the tractor, but I have never seen it done like you're showing here. The good thing is the trailer is some what closed in, if the tractor did move, looks like it would stay contained within the trailer, giving you time to notice and stop.

JB

 

[Diamondpilot]

I also believe he could move the straps down lower on the trailer to the stake pockets. I would think in a wreck that top rail would bend and give the straps slack allowing them to loosen.

Chris

 

[Willl]

Negative. Why would you think I'm kidding?
Just what the doctor ordered.

If you believe this is the best you can do, nothing I could/would/want to say, would change anything.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ill never use a fabric strap again after i had one tear on my while hauling a mini excavator. Nowdaze (for past 5-6 years) i use only 5/16" binder chains and ratchet binders....period.

It was only by shear dumb luck that that excavator didnt tumble out of the trailer.

 

[284 International]

Ill never use a fabric strap again after i had one tear on my while hauling a mini excavator. Nowdaze (for past 5-6 years) i use only 5/16" binder chains and ratchet binders....period.

I believe you, and that makes sense. However, I have seen chains come loose on a buddy's rock buggy when an unknown tire leak slowly deflated one tire, allowing just enough slack for the grab hook to fall off, even though things were properly tight at first. The adjacent straps had just enough stretch when taut they stayed attached. Coulda/woulda/shoulda: I think there are multiple good ways to secure a load, and as long as things are safe, there are no bonus points for technique or style.

Having said that, I used 4 3/8" transport chains on my last tractor move, a tiny B6000 Kubota, with ratchet straps besides.