Tie-Down Safety bulletin

[QRTRHRS]

"1. All Tie Down Users Must be Trained and Knowledgeable"

Don't get me wrong, I agree with that line and this info is from an industry group. I worry though about yet another endorsement or class to go through. I also have an issue with "percieved" strap wear and application. For example, when I hauled pole barn materials, the load might have a number of windows. Hauling a stack of windows on a flatbed is like hauling eggshells. You strap them but "loosely". I would use my more weathered (faded out not cut or starting to rip) straps for them. Perfectly safe of course. But I can imagine some gung ho ticket writing power hungry individual finding fault with them because they only know the regs not the real world of the cost of maintaining equipment. But then in the commercial world, it's about money but let's not get to political.

Anyway, there are leather sleeves available to slide over webbing to protect against chaffing. Old fire hose if you can find it works well too.

Webbing with a short chain and hook rather than a "J" hook, etc are the way to go. The "J" hooks will hang on a rub rail or pocket okay but the webbing is going to rub. Those bent round stock hooks are not much good for properly hanging from your securement areas. They rely on the webbing never slacking when you just snag them rather than to hang them.

 

[3930dave]

What's that line about Sabre Tooth Tigers..... you didn't have to be a fast runner, just faster than the next guy... :thumbsup:

Most of the enforcement here is targeted at commercial hauling. For the little bit of light personal hauling I do, I just have to look better than the average smuck.

They'll do a blitz here on light trailers, usually Spring long weekends.... the guys using Uncle Joe's homebuilt trailer that was hacked together 40 years ago, and never maintained since - hauling a fridge, stove, barbeque and ATV to the cottage, tied down with a couple of skipping ropes.

I too have no interest in having to attend a Trailer Tie Down course..... hoping more folks make use of UNcommon sense when doing personal trailering, so the powers that be don't come up with enough excuses to Protect Ourselves, from Ourselves (tm) any more than already exists....

Some rookie cop (who may have never trailered anything) likely has those pictures in a binder, or on a phone. Even hauling light personal stuff, good to keep this in mind, esp. when going through areas of heavy enforcment.

Rgds, D.