Securing Equipment on Trailer

[JohnDeere4300]

The straps are strong if you use them right, and don't have them going over something sharp.

Every flatbed tractor trailer on the road has straps on 95% of the time, and when i drove a truck i would rather use a strap than a chain any day.

I drove for this company that is in Iowa for 7 years.
____________________________________________

The loads in these pictures are secured with straps and a couple may have chains on.

 

[Dargo]

After reading what happened to you I actually thought that straps had the ability to absorb shock loads way better than chains. In fact some years ago ( no proof here of anything) I had a guy tell me that where he worked they did drop tests with weights secured by chains and straps. He said the straps held more than the chain due to their ability to stretch a little before breaking. I just wonder about the straps you were using. I've pulled hard on those straps loading vehicles onto my trailer pulling with a 12K MM winch and my new bridle is a strap. Never seen one ever break yet.

As I said, I'm sure some people will be as hard headed as I was before life proved to me that straps are crap for securing a tractor. The straps I used are the ones everybody buys that are 2" wide, yellow, and say "10,000 rating" all over them. Call me rude, but since I've broken most of the remaining straps with an ATV, I think anyone securing their tractor to a trailer with them is a fool if they've been told that such straps are inadequate. I worked on and with some of the largest equipment in the country. I've loaded hundreds of coal bucket trucks way past their limit based on the truck driver's insistence. I've seen truck drivers with 30 years hauling experience make stupid mistakes in securing their loads that I just shake my head and wonder how they've managed to stay alive this long. Thirty years experience of doing things the wrong way and getting more lax over the years doesn't impress me at all. I'd rather have a complete rookie driver right out of school over a "know it all" driver who has forgotten everything about safety or was improperly trained 30 years ago.

I know for an absolute fact that a Kubota 5030HSTC (forgot what one even weighs) weighs enough to easily snap two of those cheap 2" yellow ratcheting straps that say they have a 10,000 rating. If I'd been in an accident or if the straps had been old or if the straps had been over an edge I may have some doubt about how weak those straps are. The indisputable fact is that two of those straps snapped on a straight road with only trailer flex involved. If I'd been on any curve the tractor definitely would have taken a tumble.

As I've said many times before, do what you want. People always do anyway. Just don't try to convince me that those 2" ratcheting straps are even remotely safe for securing anything bigger than a lawn tractor to a trailer. Just stop and ask yourself if you can deal with it if your cheap straps break and your tractor falls off your trailer and kills a family driving behind you. To heck with laws, regulations and even lawyers. Now that I know such a setup is dangerous and inadequate, I wouldn't be caught dead hauling a tractor that way. I couldn't live with myself knowing that I killed a family because I wanted to save $50 and used inappropriate equipment to secure a load.

 

[SpringHollow]

I had weldable hooks attached to the front and rear of my tractor (tractor is made out of 3/4" plate steel so easy to weld to).

Ken

 

[wkpoor]

As I've said many times before, do what you want. People always do anyway. Just don't try to convince me that those 2" ratcheting straps are even remotely safe for securing anything bigger than a lawn tractor to a trailer. Just stop and ask yourself if you can deal with it if your cheap straps break and your tractor falls off your trailer and kills a family driving behind you. To heck with laws, regulations and even lawyers. Now that I know such a setup is dangerous and inadequate, I wouldn't be caught dead hauling a tractor that way. I couldn't live with myself knowing that I killed a family because I wanted to save $50 and used inappropriate equipment to secure a load.

I use the 4" not 2". I posted back a few on how they are strong enough to fold up a 7k trailer like the one I used to have.

 

[Diamondpilot]

How far did you have to travel?__How big of an employer?

I hauled through 21 states and hauled all different kinds of equipment, metal, pipe and ETC...

I was trained by the best flatbed division in the U.S.__T.M.C. and drove for 7 years.

It would be better to show a picture the way YOU bind one down.

I will continue to bind the way i do, because there is no problem with it.

I know your talking about my Avatar.
You can't tell in my Avatar what is chained down.

We need to see a picture of the way you bind one down.

That's the main reason for this thread, was to have pictures and not talk about a boat.

I will gladly take a picture the next time I haul it.

Chris

 

[QRTRHRS]

Take the time to download and thoroughly read over this document which IMHO is about the best overall "official" descriptive guide available on cargo securement.

As for the two vs four tiedown discussion, read the following qoute.

"Securing Automobiles, Light Trucks, and Vans (Section 3.7.2)
Tiedowns attached to the vehicle being transported are the most effective securement system.
Securement requirement
♦ Use at least two tiedowns at both the front and rear of the cargo to prevent movement.
− Side-to-side
− Forward and rearward
− Vertically"

Pay attention to the part that says "Use at least two tiedowns at both the front and rear of the cargo to prevent movement." Do you read this as a total of two tie downs or four?

I read four. This is the only place that I have ever read this info. Personally, I don't care what anyone else does as long as they do not disrupt my life or that of my love ones. In that case, things could change. As for myself, I go with four.

I would argue that properly rated and positioned nylon straps are a hazard having hauled more than just a few loads secured by them and having been through more than just a few level one inspections.

I do agree that only two nylon straps to secure a tractor is not adequate. My preference would be four chains but that does not mean that straps cannot be used. There is a heck of a lot of equipment and machinery that can only be secured via straps to prevent damage that gets hauled down the road.

Heck, if you want an eye opener, check out the requirements for big vertical rolls of paper. I can tell you that six rolls of paper weighing in at around 48,000 lbs sitting on 1x3 strips of friction material ride terrible but they don't move.

Lastly, cargo securement rules apply to non commercial as well as commercial. If you ever have an accident, your fault or not, you may find this to be true.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Gary has provided excellent photos. He is securing the tractor front and rear with opposing force and is also securing both the loader attachment and the backhoe attachment.

You might want to look back over Gary's straps and see if you see anything wrong with them.

One off them looks like it has a bad place in it.

It don't look secured to me.

 

[WantedWolf]

I use the 4" not 2". I posted back a few on how they are strong enough to fold up a 7k trailer like the one I used to have.

What are the ratings on your 4" straps
And Are you using deck winches or ratchets with the 4" straps
At least where I am anyway a 4" strap alone costs twice as much as a 2" strap with ratchet. Then I asked how much for a 4" ratchet. $78.00/pc
So $40 strap and 78.00 ratchet = $118.00
It cost $40 for 20' 5/16 gr70 and $20.00 for a lever load binder = $60

 

[JB4310]

Here are the 3-4 inch straps, looks like they are all rated at 5K WWL

LiftAll Cargo Strap Ratchet Tie Down w/ Chain & Long Handle Ratchet - 3" - Mfg# 20489

.

 

[wkpoor]

What are the ratings on your 4" straps
And Are you using deck winches or ratchets with the 4" straps

I'm using 4" w/ ratchets rated at 5600lbs WL. I paid 50.00 ea for a total 200.00 for all 4. I cut the length down so they are custom for my load. I'll take pics later as I'm loading it today