Hauling safety

[Egon]

It may be a small world after all. But it's pretty darn big when you're using a pea size brain.

It sure is a big world for me but then I didn't have any choice did I??? Or did any of us???

 

[patrick_g]

Patrick,

My comment was not how to chain safely but a response to Sound Dudes title of "HAULING SAFETY" Good info for the group however.

I'm sorry, when I read what you said,

"Sooo...................how do you chain down safety?"

I mistook that to relate to chaining down safely, hence my response. Oh well, like you said probably good comments for some of the readers.

Thanks to whoever said something about my "outside" of the pocket comment. My wording was too loose. I was thinking of the stake pocket as having an inside and an outside. The most "outboard" portion of the pocket is outside but NOT the desired location for the chain hook as was pointed out in a needed clarification to my comment. The forward or rear facing part of the rectangular stake pocket is the best location for the chain hook or just the chain if the hook is secured elsewhere.

Another poster's comment regarding being assured the truck is rated to safely handle the intended tow is extremely important. I have been in a couple discussions the last two days and am dismayed at the attitudes revealed by otherwise responsible intelligent folks.

Person #1 asked for my opinion regarding his paying 14K$ for a V-6 powered 2007 model F-150 pickup (14k miles on the clock) with which he would sometimes haul a stock trailer with gross loaded weight of about 8,000 lbs. My comment was not popular when I said I thought it was basically a bad idea.

When the above was related to person #2 he said if it wasn't done very often and you were careful it would be OK. Person #2 is usually pretty conservative and this comment seemed out of character.

My thought is that if it is not safe to do it every day twice a day it isn't safe to do any day. (not related to stress on driveline or accelerated uneconomic wear, but safety) How do you know which day will involve someone doing something stupid in traffic and involving you in an emergency avoidance manuever? If your tow rig is sub marginal you are playing Russian roulette with your safety and that of everyone sharing the roads with you.

I have towed overloaded trailers and used virtually untraveled back roads to avoid traffic which can do the worst possible things to you at the worst possible time. Even then, by myself with little or NO other traffic it is not preferred.

Among my pickup collection is a F-250 diesel 4x4 short bed crew cab 2008. It came with a receiver rated for 6000 max towing weight. I am replacing it with a Class V rated for 14,500 lbs. It doesn't make the truck stronger but it will prevent receiver hitch failure. I have solid drawbars rated for 15,000 lbs and my 2 5/16 inch balls are rated for 30,000 lbs. I really don't want anything to break, especially if it is something I added to the equation.

Pat

 

[cwilson]

Sounds like those drivers had a problem

 

[QRTRHRS]

I think I'd rather take a chance and chain around the stake pocket inside the rubrail than to have a portion of the hook or chain outside the rubrail and risk getting it hit. That's how I was taught to chain down loads of pipe and structural steel. If I'm not mistaken, that's also the way the DOT wants it done.

Just to clearify, you can pass your chain within the stake pocket and hang the hook on either side or you can drop the chain outside of the pocket and up through the pocket. Either way, DOT desires that your securment device is kept inside of the rubrail whenever practicable.

Why not always go down through the pocket? Sometimes you need that inch or so of forward/backward adjustment in order to protect the securement device and/or the cargo.

You can also use the rubrail if the pockets are already used. I have been scrutinized by DOT over this and passed through okay.

It is correct that hooks should hang so that in the event that the chain slacks, the hook will not come free. However, there are exceptions to that as well.

I worked with a roll off lumber trailer that had smooth sides with no rubrail. Equiped with 4" nylon straps, the "J-hook" was just hooked to a horizontal frame rail. Never had one slack and come loose.

 

[patrick_g]

Hmmm, I have never been stopped by anyone at any time for anything while towing. I have never had a tow inspected by any duly constituted authority such as DOT, ODOT, or any kind of police. Maybe part of this immunity is due to the appearance of my load securing equipment. I admit my chains and boomers are oversized and easily recognized as such. Maybe the general appearance of the way my load is secured deflects further involvement, or maybe I have just been lucky to have been overlooked all these years.

One of the favorite hangouts of the ODOT in this region is a 4 way stop at a highway intersection not too far from me. They stop a lot of 18 wheelers and some 10 wheel dumps, many of each of these are hauling gravel out of Davis, OK and are either overloaded, not up to snuff with all lights and such, or both.

Pat

 

[brandoro]

I always figure a day during which I learn something is a good day. Looks like today is one of those.
Even though having a chain hook knocked off the rub rail probably means I am missing two trailer wheels on that side I will keep that in mind when chaining down. Even if wheels are missing I would still rather have the tractor and whatever attachements still on the trailer and not making their own way through traffic or into the ditch.
Lots of good information on this site, it's why I keep reading.

 

[Soundguy]

Around my parts, DOT doesn't pay attention to non comercial vehicles unles they are grossly violating some law.. and I do mean grossly..

soundguy

 

[QRTRHRS]

Around my parts, DOT doesn't pay attention to non comercial vehicles unles they are grossly violating some law.. and I do mean grossly..

soundguy

Pretty much the norm though PA for one (where I recently moved out of) has been actively training and qualifying local police. More coverage on the local roads is going to increase the odds of being checked.

Anyway, DOT is not some entity to fear though the potential is always there for them to take a bite out of your wallet. The important thing is to know what the laws are and follow them. It could be the difference between a bad day and a really bad day.

 

[powerstroke444e]

One thing about chaining stuff on the trailer is that is should stay on the trailer know matter what direction the trailer is going IE upside down or on its side. I will get a shot this week of the trencher on my trailer if I remember to get a shot.

What I don't get is why people think a big motor makes pulling anything safer. IE We had a F250 with a 300 6cyl & it had the same brakes frame & axles as the one with a 460, the only differance was the 460 would get you there alot quicker. So yes if you tow every day the big motor will pull better but the brakes, frame & springs are very close to the same on all 3/4tons of the same make, only differance is how if you need low range to get it moving or high range. but with that said everything I own has a smoker in it other than the weedeater(still working on that one any ideas are welcome).

 

[patrick_g]

What I don't get is why people think a big motor makes pulling anything safer. IE We had a F250 with a 300 6cyl & it had the same brakes frame & axles as the one with a 460, the only differance was the 460 would get you there alot quicker. So yes if you tow every day the big motor will pull better but the brakes, frame & springs are very close to the same on all 3/4tons of the same make, only differance is how if you need low range to get it moving or high range. but with that said everything I own has a smoker in it other than the weedeater(still working on that one any ideas are welcome).

Once in a while more power will get you onto the interstate more safely but you are right, of course, the real issue isn't getting the load up to speed or flying up a hill, it is hauling it safely, stopping it safely, maneuvering it safely, especially if you have to take an avoidance maneuver to avoid a collision.

Pat