Best methods of Keeping a SCUT on on the trailer.

[RichM752]

I am friends with about a half dozen Cops. I asked them about proper tie downs. They all say the same thing, if its tied down and the truck and trailer look safe they dont bother.

If its a POS you are going to get picked on.

Same here. If it looks unsafe, you're getting pulled over.

 

[bdog]

Some of the things I know about tying down a tractor...
According to a post on here, a link showed that a tractor over 10,000 pound must have all four corners secured.
So... it is assumed that less than 10K means two straps are sufficient.
Now this is where my "trucking" background comes in.
Anything on an open trailer must be secured with at least two straps or chains, and that is for every 20 foot of length. So if your tractor is 20 foot long, and less than 10,000 pounds, two straps or chains should suffice.
Longer than 20 foot or over 10,000 pound, four have to be used.
There is a restriction of how much weight you can hold down with each strap or chains. The capacity of the straps has to be able to hold the weight of what your holding down. Can't buy 300 pound capacity straps and hold down a 9,500 pound tractor.
David from jax

The tie downs per length rule does not apply to equipment or vehicles. Only other things.

Two tie downs are legal if under 10k, four are needed if over.

There are also direct and indirect tie down rules. Going from say an anchor point on the tractor to the trailer is direct and you only get credit for 1/2 the working load limit of the tie down. Indirect tie downs like hooking on one side of the trailer going over a crate and hooking to the other side of the trailer gives you the full working load credit. The sum of the working load limits (either full or half) must add up to at least half the weight of what is being secured.

As to another poster saying cops don't care they just go by if it looks safe is true. Most cops don't have a clue on securement regulations. Get pulled over by the dot or go through a scale and see if think looking good is good enough.

 

[plowhog]

Axle,

I contemplated the same issue. I trailer my GC1710 between Nevada and California over Donner Summit at 7,000+. I bought a 20 foot equipment trailer and I find it is just barely long enough for the tractor, loader, and brush hog.

I found that many people do the minimum tie downs to be legal. Fabric straps, two tie downs instead of four, whatever. And, I believe most people evaluate the needed tie downs for normal driving conditions, not emergency conditions. But there are many stories here about someone towing a tractor when another driver caused an accident-- at highway speeds. That is my measuring stick for tie downs. If I have a severe accident at highway speed while towing, do I want any chance that the tractor will come off the trailer and be a missile coming at me? No. And the cost to ensure that is relatively small.

I chain my GC1710 on all four corners. 5/16 grade 70 chain, with a ratcheting binder on all four corners. And I chain each implement down. After towing a while I learned there is a round pass-thru between the loader arms and you can run a single chain through that. Yours might be covered with a rubber plug. My MF1758 has the same setup but I don't trailer it.

I can't control when a wrong way driver might be coming at me. Or when someone texting on their phone drifts into my lane and causes an accident at high speed. But I can control that the tractor will stay on the trailer even if it is upset. For a little more money, that peace of mind was worth it to me.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Axle,

I contemplated the same issue. I trailer my GC1710 between Nevada and California over Donner Summit at 7,000+. I bought a 20 foot equipment trailer and I find it is just barely long enough for the tractor, loader, and brush hog.

I found that many people do the minimum tie downs to be legal. Fabric straps, two tie downs instead of four, whatever. And, I believe most people evaluate the needed tie downs for normal driving conditions, not emergency conditions. But there are many stories here about someone towing a tractor when another driver caused an accident-- at highway speeds. That is my measuring stick for tie downs. If I have a severe accident at highway speed while towing, do I want any chance that the tractor will come off the trailer and be a missile coming at me? No. And the cost to ensure that is relatively small.

I chain my GC1710 on all four corners. 5/16 grade 70 chain, with a ratcheting binder on all four corners. And I chain each implement down. After towing a while I learned there is a round pass-thru between the loader arms and you can run a single chain through that. Yours might be covered with a rubber plug. My MF1758 has the same setup but I don't trailer it.

I can't control when a wrong way driver might be coming at me. Or when someone texting on their phone drifts into my lane and causes an accident at high speed. But I can control that the tractor will stay on the trailer even if it is upset. For a little more money, that peace of mind was worth it to me.

AMEN, exactly my attitude.

Ron

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

AMEN, exactly my attitude.

Ron

Mine too.

 

[TheMan419]

AMEN, exactly my attitude.

Ron

Mine too. I would not look at DOT regs as I want to comply with them so I don't get hassled by "the man". I look at them as a good guide as to what is safe in emergency conditions. Sadly people do stupid things (meaning the other drivers).

We were hauling over the weekend. Bringing two horses home from a show. We were on the limited access highway. There was construction so we were down to one lane. At the interchange someone pulled out in front of me. I had to brake so hard I locked the tires up on the trailer. Thankfully I avoided collision. You bet I wish the horses could have been strapped down. Thankfully they were not injured. Had we had collision... ugh.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Same here. If it looks unsafe, you're getting pulled over.

As I mentioned before; local LEOs are not experts on DOT highway regs and tend to do as Diamond related. New ball game when you get on the Interstate or State Highways. Here in WA the State Patrol has a group of officers that are dedicated to truck enforcement. The minute you hook up a trailer to anything you are their meat. I have never been stopped but know those who have; not a cheap experience.

Stay Safe!! Ron

 

[MESSMAKER]

I could be wrong but I thought DOT requires one strap/chain on each wheel/corner plus one for everything attached(loader + attachment).

I think that is true.

 

[bdog]

I think that is true.

Not necessarily. If it weighs under 10,000 lb only two are required though personally I always use four.

See 49 CFR sections 393.128 & 393.130

ｧ 393.128 What are the rules for securing automobiles, light trucks and vans?

(a)Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weigh 4,536 kg. (10,000 lb) or less. Vehicles which individually are heavier than 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) must be secured in accordance with the provisions of ｧ 393.130 of this part.

(b)Securement of automobiles, light trucks, and vans.

(1) Automobiles, light trucks, and vans must be restrained at both the front and rear to prevent lateral, forward, rearward, and vertical movement using a minimum of two tiedowns.

(2) Tiedowns that are designed to be affixed to the structure of the automobile, light truck, or van must use the mounting points on those vehicles that have been specifically designed for that purpose.

(3) Tiedowns that are designed to fit over or around the wheels of an automobile, light truck, or van must provide restraint in the lateral, longitudinal and vertical directions.

(4) Edge protectors are not required for synthetic webbing at points where the webbing comes in contact with the tires.

ｧ 393.130 What are the rules for securing heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery?

(a)Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of heavy vehicles, equipment and machinery which operate on wheels or tracks, such as front end loaders, bulldozers, tractors, and power shovels and which individually weigh 4,536 kg (10,000 lb.) or more. Vehicles, equipment and machinery which is lighter than 4,536 kg (10,000 lb.) may also be secured in accordance with the provisions of this section, with ｧ 393.128, or in accordance with the provisions of ｧｧ 393.100 through 393.114.

(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.

(c)Securement of heavy vehicles, equipment or machinery with crawler tracks or wheels.

(1) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, heavy equipment or machinery with crawler tracks or wheels must be restrained against movement in the lateral, forward, rearward, and vertical direction using a minimum of four tiedowns.

(2) Each of the tiedowns must be affixed as close as practicable to the front and rear of the vehicle, or mounting points on the vehicle that have been specifically designed for that purpose.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Axle,

I contemplated the same issue. I trailer my GC1710 between Nevada and California over Donner Summit at 7,000+. I bought a 20 foot equipment trailer and I find it is just barely long enough for the tractor, loader, and brush hog.

I found that many people do the minimum tie downs to be legal. Fabric straps, two tie downs instead of four, whatever. And, I believe most people evaluate the needed tie downs for normal driving conditions, not emergency conditions. But there are many stories here about someone towing a tractor when another driver caused an accident-- at highway speeds. That is my measuring stick for tie downs. If I have a severe accident at highway speed while towing, do I want any chance that the tractor will come off the trailer and be a missile coming at me? No. And the cost to ensure that is relatively small.

I chain my GC1710 on all four corners. 5/16 grade 70 chain, with a ratcheting binder on all four corners. And I chain each implement down. After towing a while I learned there is a round pass-thru between the loader arms and you can run a single chain through that. Yours might be covered with a rubber plug. My MF1758 has the same setup but I don't trailer it.

I can't control when a wrong way driver might be coming at me. Or when someone texting on their phone drifts into my lane and causes an accident at high speed. But I can control that the tractor will stay on the trailer even if it is upset. For a little more money, that peace of mind was worth it to me.

Exactly right. I trailered my B21 plus implements from Virginia to California the same way. Four G70 chains, ratchet binders, plus chains on every implement. It costs so little to have that extra measure of security and safety.