TIE DOWN locations on tractor for towing???

[4570Man]

How about the parking brake? Chocks are just a hazard to fall off the trailer.

 

[mred2]

When our drivers haul heavy equipment, they use 4 tie downs. One on each corner of the equipment. On a dozer, they never tie to the blade. I have never seen them cross the chains. They do pull at a 45 degree angle. We transport across state lines all the time. We are checked all the time. I am sure on some of the larger machines they use more tie downs. I saw them haul a backhoe. One chain on each corner and one chain on the bucket of the hoe on each side. Nothing on the loader.

 

[Wishbonez51]

When our drivers haul heavy equipment, they use 4 tie downs. One on each corner of the equipment. On a dozer, they never tie to the blade. I have never seen them cross the chains. They do pull at a 45 degree angle. We transport across state lines all the time. We are checked all the time. I am sure on some of the larger machines they use more tie downs. I saw them haul a backhoe. One chain on each corner and one chain on the bucket of the hoe on each side. Nothing on the loader.

I agree with you, I have never seen the FEL tied down, but I have seen the backhoe with a chain across the bucket knuckle countless times. But I have seen the chains crossed many times. I have yet to see it on the FMCSA site, but many have posted about it on Youtube under peoples videos stating they were pulled over by DOT and given a ticket for not having there load correctly tied down without the kriss cross of the chains. Another member posted theirs were touching and the DOT gave them a warning and made them correct the issue before letting them leave.

Here is another copy from the regulations.

Three ways to transport cargo (Section 2.2.1)

All types of cargo must meet one of three conditions:

Condition 1: Cargo is fully contained by structures of adequate strength.
Cargo cannot shift or tip
Cargo is restrained against horizontal movement by vehicle structure or by other cargo. Horizontal movement includes forward, rearward, and side to side.
Note: If the cargo is contained in a sided vehicle, the vehicle structure MUST be strong enough to withstand the forces described on page 7.
Forward force: 0.8 g (80%)
Rearward force: 0.5.g (50%)
Sideways force: 0.5 g (50%)

Fully contained

Condition 2: Cargo is immobilized by structures adequate strength or a combination of structure, blocking, and bracing to prevent shifting or tipping.

Immobilized

Condition 3: To prevent shifting or tipping, cargo is immobilized or secured on or within a vehicle by tiedowns along with:
Blocking.
Bracing.
Friction mats.
Other cargo.
Void fillers.
Combination of these.

 

[Wishbonez51]

Here is a good video from an Alaskan DOT Officer explaining some of the requirements and it also shows crossing the chains. OF course this is for loads "over" 10K which is over what most of us have. But it does state in the manual how tractors are considered to be approached from the heavy load section of the manual, however you can go by the car and truck standard. I always like to stay more on the safety factor side as I am retired from the Fire Department.

Tie Down - How ADOT&PF Operators Secure Heavy Equipment for Transport - YouTube

Load Securement demonstration - YouTube

 

[papachaz]

Can I use a 400 pound rated ratchet strap since the chains on the machine already equal nearly double the machine weight? I致e yet to find clear instructions on chaining down attachments.

my advice is going to be limited to A) call or check the website for your states DOT and any states you might be going into and B)don't worry too much about what guys in other states have to do, your state might be completely different. I've put hundreds of miles on a pickup pulling a trailer with a tractor with one chain across the back, one across the front. Nothing on anything that was attached to the tractor. I've passed police cars and a DOT truck here in GA with the portable scales and none ever gave me a second look....

 

[mred2]

Did you notice in the video that the chains on the backhoe did not cross. And later the chains on the excavator did cross, but they were touching. As stated, every state has their own rules.

 

[4570Man]

Did you notice in the video that the chains on the backhoe did not cross. And later the chains on the excavator did cross, but they were touching. As stated, every state has their own rules.

I noticed they chained the backhoe boom but not the loader bucket.

 

[MaineGuy1]

One thing to remember, just because one DOT officer or State Trooper let you get away with something doesn't mean a hard *** that knows the laws will. Ignorance is never an excuse, neither is "I've always done it this way". If something did go wrong and someone got injured a civil suit may be the least of your worries.

 

[mred2]

And don't forget that not every DOT officer evens knows to law. But that all think they do. I got stopped for not having a tag on a farm trailer years ago. At that times tags were not required for farm use. I got stopped on my tractor by the country, he thought that I should have a tag on my tractor. Was new and said he would give me a ticket the next time he saw it cross the highway. In my boat, I used to stop the lake patrol the first thing each spring and request him to check everything.

 

[Wishbonez51]

One thing to remember, just because one DOT officer or State Trooper let you get away with something doesn't mean a hard *** that knows the laws will. Ignorance is never an excuse, neither is "I've always done it this way". If something did go wrong and someone got injured a civil suit may be the least of your worries.

Great points and in my case, I have seen my fare share of disasters that were not due to a tow vehicle, but since the tow vehicle was involved they were cited and in most cases law suits followed. Let alone there insurance didn't cover them due to improper methods set fourth.

I think in a glance when officers time is occupied by more important matters, things look ok from a glance. But when a major accident and death occurs on a scene. Now all of a sudden heavy scrutiny is picked and probed at the cause or could of been the cause of the incident. I do not want to find myself on the wrong side of the fence "IF and WHEN" something bad happens on the road.

Where I live, DOT is out on the highway atleast 2-3 times a month with an entire inspection station making all commercial vehicles, DOT sticker vehicles and any commercial style trailers to pass through. Inspections and plenty of officers are on site weighing trailers and inspecting cargo. My chances of being pulled over for passing through without stopping is very high as I have seen other landscape companies pulled over about a mile pass the inspection station. So for me, I need to make sure I am on the up and up. I will post when I go through the inspection process and report back what happened. Hopefully I will be good to go.