When tieing down equipment and hooking trailers wrong kills people

[Diamondpilot]

Saw a guy bring a RTV900 into the dealer one day with 1 300 pound strap across the floorboard, cannot believe it sometimes.

David Kb7uns

My neighbor was on his way to Florida in his 3500 Dmax pulling his 38' 5th wheel. He said he got passed by a guy in a new Tundra with two 2x12's across the bed left to right. On top of the 2x12's was a UTV. About a hour later he came up on a crash in the median. Sure enough it was the truck rolled over and the UTV in the ditch.

Chris

 

[Renze]

Overturned a trailer once, the ties were so tight that the headgate bent down during the drive, putting the COG of the load of planks way back. When the fishtailing began i just saw the last cyclists, and when it overturned and i got out of the car, the first cyclists stopped asking if i was ok. Thank God there was no bicyclist around when it happened, it could have killed a good bunch at that shiny saturday when lots of people decided to take the bicycle...

Since then i have my own trailer, or i borrow something of which i know is not rusted through in any way....

 

[gengine]

My FIL brought his massey 165 down to my shop the other day on a 18' 7k rated trailer, with two 3" 2500lb wll nylon ratchet straps. It's not that he doesn't have the correct tools, it was simple laziness. It won't leave like that. I couldn't imagine that 6800lb tractor coming off the trailer going down the highway.

 

[medic0648]

On equipment like tractors I only use gr70 chain and ratchet binders for anything above 600lb. I will occasionally use 3335lb rated ratchet straps to hold the loader bucket or box blade while attached. I usually have at least 4 chains rated for at least 50% of the total weight on the tractor alone though.

 

[chopped]

I thought Nylon straps were perfectly acceptable?

On equipment like tractors I only use gr70 chain and ratchet binders for anything above 600lb. I will occasionally use 3335lb rated ratchet straps to hold the loader bucket or box blade while attached. I usually have at least 4 chains rated for at least 50% of the total weight on the tractor alone though.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I thought Nylon straps were perfectly acceptable?

IMO, nylon straps are fine, as long as they are properly weight-rated.

 

[aczlan]

IMO, nylon straps are fine, as long as they are properly weight-rated.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration agrees with you from what I have found UNLESS you are hauling crushed cars in which case you must use metal tiedowns for some strange reason .

Aaron Z

 

[JJZ 109]

When tieng things it is amazing how many people cheap out on tie downs and don't seem to understand the physics of mass/accelleration. When I worked at a motorcyle shop I saw several trailer queens that had been damaged by tie down failure. Spend 14 grand + on a bike. and tie it down with a couple of 3-400# cinch straps.

Guess I go overkill on my stuff. but I usually use 2" ratchet tie downs with a 3300# workload rating. Costs more than the 1" straps, but a more secure cargo.

Ken

Agreed. I spent a good buck on a kit from Powertye. ▪ TRAILER KITS :: 2" BIG DADDY'S PREMIUM TRAILER KIT - POWERTYE AMERICAN MADE TIE-DOWNS AND ACCESSORIES
Well worth it for the safety factor as well as when the value of the bikes is considered.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I thought Nylon straps were perfectly acceptable?

IMO, nylon straps are fine, as long as they are properly weight-rated.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but you may still find yourself in trouble.

Last year, my cousin was given a ticket for an "unsecured load." The officer was a La State Police "Truck Safety" guy. (aka: DOT, Weight watcher)
Load was a CAT D3 dozer on a 12 ton g/n trailer, pulled by a Dodge 1 ton truck. Had two 4" nylon straps on it. (his trailer has the big strap winches, just like a 18-wheeler trailer) One strap across the C-frame and another across the floorboard. Straps were rated at 40,000 pounds each. The kind officer pointed out that it must be tied down with two chains.

BTW, this is the same officer that wrote me a ticket because my Kenworth had one brake that was 1/8" out of adjustment.

 

[aczlan]

Last year, my cousin was given a ticket for an "unsecured load." The officer was a La State Police "Truck Safety" guy. (aka: DOT, Weight watcher)
Load was a CAT D3 dozer on a 12 ton g/n trailer, pulled by a Dodge 1 ton truck. Had two 4" nylon straps on it. (his trailer has the big strap winches, just like a 18-wheeler trailer) One strap across the C-frame and another across the floorboard. Straps were rated at 40,000 pounds each. The kind officer pointed out that it must be tied down with two chains.

Did he point to a source for needing a chain? Over 10k pounds you need 4 tiedowns, but the FMCSA does not specify what your tiedown needs to be made from unless you are hauling crushed cars.

Aaron Z