What am I going to need to secure my Bobcat to my trailer?

[dieselfuelonly]

Would this work for securing my Bobcat to my trailer? The Bobcat weighs about 5000lbs.

So, I'd get two of these, one for the front and one for the rear:

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

And then two of these ratchet binders:

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Would that work well, or should I be getting different chains/straps/binders/etc?

 

[MarkV]

Dennis, DOT wants to see a chain and binder on all four corners.

MarkV

 

[Cat_Driver]

It's not only the weight but you're going to have to figure travel and stopping speeds.
A 5000 lb tractor will weigh a lot more traveling at ( X) MPH and stopping.

Called FRONT PROJECTION limits.

Figuring too close to weight of the tractor is not going to work in an emergency.

While not strictly part of the trailer but worth noting is the transport chains and binders used to secure heavy equipment loads. Chain is not that large an investment; if your chain is the least suspect, better safe than sorry. Chain comes in various grades and thickness; the most commonly used chain in securing loads is Grade 70, 3/8 in., which has a 6,600-lb. maximum pull. For heavier loads, there is a Grade 70, 1/2 in. with 11,300 maximum pull.

Binders, chains, hooks and clevis pins all should be permanently marked with their capacity. If you find you need to upgrade your binders, ratchet binders have twice the strength of mechanical lever binders, and they are also much easier to tighten than the lever ones.

Whether its chains, ropes, wraps or webbing, whatever secures the load must comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Regulations regarding the Aggregate Working Load Limit. The basic requirement is that tiedowns must have the combined strength equal to at least 50 percent of the load being secured.

The way to calculate the aggregate load limit is to add 50 percent of the working load limit of each tiedown used to secure the load; and if the total is greater than 50 percent of the load being carried, it is secured within the limit requirements. For example, assume that a trailer is being loaded with an 11,000-lb. telehandler, which will be held with four Grade 70, 3/8-in. chains. Since each chain is rated at 6,600 maximum pull, the aggregate working load limit is 6,600 lbs. divided by two. The total of the four chains added together is 13,200 lbs. That's more than enough to hold the 11,000-lb. telehandler.
Loading methods

Centering a load in the middle of the trailer is a basic tenet in proper loading, but it sometimes is overlooked when adding attachments or loading a large piece of equipment with limited view of the deck. Using a deck board as a guide to keep the load centered is an effective method of keeping the load centered. Overall, the weight of the load should be slightly forward so that 10 to 15 percent is on the front tongue. Fifth wheel trailers can handle as much as 25 percent of the load on the front.

http:
//auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/information/overweight-load.htm

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/information/truck-tow-over-capacity.htm

 

[Diamondpilot]

Good advise given here. What I did was get 2 14' Grade 70 3/8" chain and 4 Lever Binders. I cut the chains into 2 each leaving me with 4 7' long pieces.

The ratchet style just take too long for me but nothing wrong with them. Grade 70 is transport category chain and will not get a second look from DOT. It is gold in color so very easy to identify and will not rust like the other types of chain.

Now to be totally honest I also have 4 27' 2" Ratchet Straps and 4 6' 2" wide Ratchet Straps that I use 90% of the time. I also got 4 21" axle straps. Much easier and its simply what I prefer but some say its not legal.

Here are some pictures of my straps.

Chris

 

[JohnDeere4300]

You would probably need to check your state laws and see how many chains you need.

In my state i use two chains, one for the front and one for the back.

I take them and hook one end in the stake pocket, run through a place on the tractor and hook the other end to the other side stake pocket. Then use ratchet binders and tighten the chain up.

My tractor weighs 6100lbs. with the FEL, backhoe and a full tank of fuel.

You want to use ratchet binders, if you use the other type you will need to carry a cheater pipe to get the chain tight.

 

[George2615]

To be safe hauling your 5K load you should use 4 grade 70 3/8" chains and binders. Two in front, two in back.
Legally for loads under 10K you only are required to use one in front and one in back. When securing a load like this on a trailer I believe more is better and safer.

 

[JoelD]

I use the 10000 lb ratcheting straps, I use 5, four corners and one on the center front. They are strong straps. Ultimately I'd like to go with chains and binders, but for my 5000 lb tractor I feel I'm good.

The straps were about 15 bucks a piece, much less than the chain and binder set up would be, someday I'll break down and get chains and binders.

Joel

 

[Willl]

I believe more is better and safer.

At what point would you call it 'over kill' ?

 

[Midsouth]

All good advice here. New dot securement rules say that any wheeled or tracked equipment must be tied down at all 4 corners and any movable parts must be secured also. Such things as backhoe arms and crane booms are good examples of these. I spent about 10 years pulling flatbed and lowboy trailers with loads up to 16' wide and up to 120,000 lbs gross weights there is no such thing as too much securement imho.

 

[Skyco]

Several mentions of DOT rules- question- are these state or federal rules? I've read the federal rules and there are requirements based on weight and length. The thing I noticed is they seem to address only commercial loads in interstate use. Now I tie my equipment down well, better than many I see on the road, but is a non-commercial user allowed to skate on these requirements? Seems so.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/truck/vehicle/cs-policy.htm

 

[George2615]

At what point would you call it 'over kill' ?

To be safe hauling your 5K load you should use 4 grade 70 3/8" chains and binders. Two in front, two in back.
Legally for loads under 10K you only are required to use one in front and one in back. When securing a load like this on a trailer I believe more is better and safer.

Willl, you didn't copy my entire quote. I said only 2 tie downs are required by the law but to be safe he should use 4. This is what I mean by more is better.
I wouldn't call 4 tie downs overkill. If you want to tie down a 5K load on your trailer with the minimum tie downs required you can do so. I choose to avoid doing things that way.

 

[dieselfuelonly]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone.

So heres my new plan:

Order two of these Grade 70, 3/8ths in. x 16 ft. chain.

Transport Chain Grade 70 3/8''X16' Short Link [TC381670] - $32.99 : Ratchet Straps, Tie Down Straps, E Track Tie Downs, Moving Blankets & Pads, Cargo Straps, U.S. Cargo Control

Four more of these Grade 70, 3/8ths in. hooks.

3/8 Clevis Grab Hook - Grade 70 [CGH3870] - $2.99 : Ratchet Straps, Tie Down Straps, E Track Tie Downs, Moving Blankets & Pads, Cargo Straps, U.S. Cargo Control

And this pack of 3/8ths in. ratchet binders (only need 4, but it includes 5).

Ratchet Chain Binder 5/16'' x 3/8'' (5 Pack) $19.24/each [(5) CB150] - $96.20 : Ratchet Straps, Tie Down Straps, E Track Tie Downs, Moving Blankets & Pads, Cargo Straps, U.S. Cargo Control

========================

Then, I will cut each chain in half, leaving me with four 8-foot pieces of chain. Now, I will take the extra hooks I bought and install them on each chain, so I've got four chains with eight hooks. Then I can secure each corner of the Bobcat with one 8 ft. chain, and have a ratchet binder on each corner. Sound good?

 

[Midsouth]

Sounds good to me. Also to answer the question about private individuals having to follow federal rules. They do not but they are a real good guideline for how to secure a load. Also in the event of a accident it would be nice to be able to say that everything was secured to federal regulations. Might help if there are injuries and lawyers get involved. Just my two cents worth

 

[CurlyDave]

And this pack of 3/8ths in. ratchet binders (only need 4, but it includes 5).

The link you give is for 5/16 rachet binders, not 3/8.

 

[dieselfuelonly]

Thanks for catching that .

Also to answer the question about private individuals having to follow federal rules.

I will need to follow federal regulations because the Bobcat will be used for my business. Theres a lot of other stuff I'll have to worry about too... commercial plates, insurance, etc...

 

[GreenWannabe]

Check into your state regualtions as well. They may be even more restrictive than the Federal rules.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think you will be covered well in the securing it to the trailer dept. Always the way it works though, you have to spend a ton of $$$$$ to do it right.

Chris

 

[mfreund]

Remember, if someone hits you head on and the tractor or skidloader becomes a projectile. YOU are liable because it was not secure.

It may never happen, but do you really want to test your insurance limits??

 

[wkpoor]

My friends think I went over board because I use 4ea. 4" ratchet binders from "D" rings bolted to my tractor. I feel they are as secure as chains only because they go point to point with no web contact and are or course 4" not the usual 2". In actuality they are about the same rating as 5/16" chains. The 4 binders cost me 200.00. Probably about the same as chain just a little more convenient to use.

 

[Skyco]

And this pack of 3/8ths in. ratchet binders (only need 4, but it includes 5).

The link you give is for 5/16 rachet binders, not 3/8.

That link is confusing- it states the binders are for 5/16 x 3/8, whatever that means. That being said all my binders are marked for 5/16 or 3/8 chain...apparently either size is acceptable to use with them.

Added in edit- looked around the net a little and apparently it is common for binders to handle both 5/16 and 3/8 in the same unit. There are also 3/8 and 1/2 combined units etc...