Safe loading and tie down

Whatswrong · Dec 20, 2011

How many "wannabe truckers" have had the jack on the hitch of a load that only weighs 4000+ lbs (tongue weight 2500) go through the planks because they don't have the forsight to put it on a cross member, I unloaded the third one yesterday that has come into our compound to be unloaded.(Make that 3rd for me don't know who else may have done it)

Diamondpilot · Dec 20, 2011

I do not understand you question? Can you re word it.

Chris

Whatswrong · Dec 20, 2011

They don't see the nessesity to place the jack over a cross member so the stress on the highway causes the jack to break the planks in the bed and fall through ,the first time it was a highway accident and I believe it was loaded correctly that was near 8 years ago ,2nd time brand new 5th wheel trailer ,3rd time yesterday ,light duty well use industrial trailer poor bed . The last two would never have gone through the bed had they been placed over a crossmember and secured well. To clarify I'm talking about agricultural equipment with jack on the hitch.

Whatswrong · Dec 20, 2011

When I roll a load on and the driver signals it is far enough I always move it a few more inches forward or back which ever is less to make double sure the jack is on a cross member for the extra support and strenth .

bdog · Dec 27, 2011

Jack of hitch on load? Are you putting a trailer on a trailer? Hard to understand what you are saying.

BandDcabinet · Dec 27, 2011

bdog said:
Jack of hitch on load? Are you putting a trailer on a trailer? Hard to understand what you are saying.

He's talking about the jack on the front of agricultural equipment such as a bailer or spreader, etc.

lostcause · Dec 27, 2011

of course it all depends on the weight of what you are transporting, but anything between the jack and the trailer deck could help with the problem. a chunk of 2" decking, 3/4" plywood, small piece of steel plate, etc. if it isn't practical to locate it where the jack is directly over a crossmember, anything that helps to spread the load to the crossmembers or to over more deck planks will help.

sandman2234 · Dec 27, 2011

The weight of the equipment multiplies manyfold when you hit a pothole and the weight is slammed downward. The weight absolutely has to be able to be absorbed without going thru the floor, which is what some people just don't understand. Over engineered floor capacity is what it takes, not weight saving, cost saving methods that spread the cross members apart and decreases the floor surface capacity. A lot of trailers built "on the cheap" have floor supports up to four feet apart. (YIKES). Some of the better ones are a lot closer, but even that isn't all it takes, because if the spacing is good, but the capacity of the crossmember is too low, it doesn't help. If you have a trailer that is suspect in floor spacing capacity, as was previously mentioned, put in a board to spread the weight to mulitple crossmembers and maybe even the frame rails.
David from jax