How do you tie your tractor down when trailering?

Soundguy · Aug 18, 2005

( it seems likely that at least some people use the term "nylon" when they are referring to any woven fabric tie down, regardless of its actual make up. )

Agreed.. I'm guilty of it. I havn't even checked the material in our straps.. just the weight specs.. etc.

As for the state trooper giving incorrect info.. it wouldn't be a first on a LEO or federal agent giving bad info. What did the IRS help lines average last year? 70% wrong answers or something like that /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif?

I've also been told blatently -wrong- info by uninformed police officers before.. I take it with a grain of salt. I don't expect a police officer to be aware of every law there is.. but i do expect them to not quote laws they are unfamiliar with.

For example.. had a local sheriff deputy inform me that civilians could not own class 3 weapons.. ( that only class 3 dealers, and LEO agencies could ). Guess he's not ever heard of the NFA back from the 30's nor a Form4 tax paid transfer.. etc... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Soundguy

Bird · Aug 18, 2005

Even lawyers sometimes give the wrong information, and I'll never forget watching a city judge on the bench telling a defendant what he was charged with and what it meant, and he wasn't even close.

GeneD14 · Aug 18, 2005

( I am a little curious about the X-ing of the chains on the red tractor. What's to prevent the tractor from rolling out of the cross chains? Seems either corner of the tractor could lift and as it lifts the chain gets looser. Never seen an X chain like that. I realize the tires are in the way of a straight chain but you could back the tractor up. )

Here is a link that may help: http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/trailering.htm

Also: if you look at the picture imagine trying to get the tractor to roll by picking up on the left wheel. When you try to do that you would be trying to stretch the chain that is attached on the other side near the top of the right wheel. The opposing chain won't allow the tractor to roll. The main advantage of crossing the chain is prevention of sideways movement and keeping the load centered.

Dargo · Aug 18, 2005

( had a local sheriff deputy inform me that civilians could not own class 3 weapons.. ( that only class 3 dealers, and LEO agencies could ). )

I had a deputy roll up at my house last, no, this summer and nearly have a full out crazy fit because I was holding and had been firing a fully automatic firearm. He told me that he was going to hand cuff me and put me in the back of his car and call for backup. Only when he was proceeding to hand cuff me was I able to give him my Class III license and stamp for that particular sub-machinegun.

He didn't cuff me, but he sure grabbed my fully auto firearm and sat in his cruiser for nearly 1/2 an hour before giving it back and apologizing. He really wasn't all that new, but he thought that it was illegal for any civilian to have a fully auto firearm. I asked him if he wanted to see others, or my firearms with sound suppressors on them. He declined.

On the tie down thing; I am the lucky / unlucky (you pick) guy who got taken for a wild ride when two straps that were rated at 10k snapped on the front of my tractor. I feel very fortunate to not have lost my tractor, and even more fortunate that nobody was hurt. I do not know the exact laws, and don't really care. After my experience, I'll just say that I feel that it is poor judgement to use straps to hold down any rolling load. I only use grade 70 U.S. made chains and ratcheting screw binders now.

SnowRidge · Aug 18, 2005

"Aut viam inveniam aut faciam." 

Nescio quid dicas. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RobertN · Aug 18, 2005

I chain and bind at each corner. After previous threads here, looking over Fed rules, DOT rules, and email with CHP Commercial division, I got the extra binders and chain. It didn't cost that much compared to my overall investment in truck, tractor, and trailer. What's an extra $100 of chain and binder compared to $40-50k of pickup, tractor, and trailer.

I set each chain and binder so they pull from the corner of the tractor to the corner of the trailer. It provides prevention of both forward/rearward movement, and side to side movement.

I use electric brakes and controiller. Only thing I find, is I'm always fooling with the setting. I haul the tractor, come home empty, then haul some long lumber, then something else. As the weight varies I have to vary the controls. Not sure if all electric controlers are like that.

I do not believe a come along is made to accept shock tension. It is one thing to put tension on the come-along. But looking at various ones, it does not look like it is made to withstand a jolt, like panic braking. Don't have solid data on it, but just by the looks of it I would not trust it.

Dargo · Aug 18, 2005

Oh, but you must. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Jstpssng · Aug 18, 2005

OK, I learn more every time I post here. I admit I was leery asking about tiedowns but thankfully it didn't start a "Chain vs Strap" debate.

My current trailer is a homemade tandem with mobile home axles and a 6x15 foot deck, built out of 2x6" channel. Being homemade (NOT by me) it is way too heavy, and the center point of the axles is in the center of the deck; so extra care is given to load distribution.

Tow vehicle is a '98 GMC 1500 with aftermarket; cooler, reciever hitch, and soon to be installed electric brake unit.
Tractor and trailer will probably weigh around 3500 lbs; in all honesty I've hauled heavier loads with this unit, (sans brakes)but a load of logs has a lower center of gravity than a tractor.

GeneD, special thanks for the link. I found it very educational.

RHW

Larstan · Aug 20, 2005

( Aut viam inveniam aut faciam )

If you find a way and you don't have to make one. What do you do with the one you find? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DannyD · Aug 20, 2005

10,000 pound straps on each corner of the tractor to the rails on the trailer.

Front ones go on the frame where the grill gaurd is mounted, back ones go on the frame where the trailer ball would be.

Pull them down till the tractor squats just a tad, set the parking brake on the tractor, bucket down, backhoe pinned. Never been stopped or had a problem.

Brakes, electric on both axles.........never will pull this weight again without them.