Why four binders?

[Farmwithjunk]

It all boils down to how the law is interpreted and enforced by the man with the badge and the gun. As with so many laws, you can argue extenuating circumstances, other viable options, and just "my opinion" until you're blue in the face. When "Smokey" has you sitting along side the road, and he's writing a citation that's longer than the GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL, MY opinion, YOUR opinion, and the next guys opinion matter little......only one that counts? SMOKEY's.

It's the law. Doesn't have to make sense.........Just has to be done that way.

My commercial liability insurance has a provision where certain claims can (and will be) voided if applicable laws are violated. ie.....4 chains, 4 binders, no matter if I think I can do it a better way or not.

 

[kevinj]

This is a question for all you trailer experts. Why do you use a binder on all four corners? I don't care what a law might say, I want to know the actual reason behind it. I put my tractor on the trailer where it needs to be for balance. Then I hook the two front chains as tight as I can by hand. Then I put one chain on the back and with the tractor in neutral and brake off, I use a ratchet binder on the back chain to tighten the front chains until the rear tire starts to flatten. I then use a flip over binder on the second rear chain. So what would binders on the front do except provide at failure point? The front chains are tighter than Dick's hat and there is no way they can ever come loose as opposed to flip over binder that can and have opened.

Since you are from Michigan read this.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cdlmanul_16090_7.pdf

 

[n8586m]

OK Kevin, I have just finished reading that. Here is the only part that refers to securing a load:

3.3.2 Cargo Tiedown
On flatbed trailers or trailers without sides, cargo
must be secured to keep it from shifting or falling
off. In closed vans, tiedowns can also be important
to prevent cargo shifting that may affect the
handling of the vehicle. Tiedowns must be of the
proper type and proper strength. The combined
strength of all cargo tiedowns must be strong
enough to lift one and one-half times the weight of
the piece of cargo tied down. Proper tiedown
equipment must be used, including ropes, straps,
chains, and tensioning devices (winches, ratchets,
clinching components). Tiedowns must be
attached to the vehicle correctly (hooks, bolts, rails,
rings). See figure 3.2.
Figure 3.2

The phrase "chain binders" is not present.

I also read the following: Federal Motor Carriers Saftey Administration, DOT Regulations; per 49CFR, Part 393The following is what the Feds say about securing a load: Use of tiedowns.

1. Tiedowns and securing devices must not contain knots.
2. If a tiedown is repaired, it must be repaired in accordance with the applicable standards in paragraph (e) of this section, or the manufac-turers instructions.
3. Each tiedown must be attached and secured in a manner that prevents it from becoming loose, unfastening, opening or releasing while the vehicle is in transit.
4. All tiedowns and other components of a cargo securement system used to secure loads on a trailer equipped with rub rails, must be located inboard of the rub rails whenever practicable.
5. Edge protection must be used whenever a tiedown would be subject to abrasion or cutting at the point where it touches an article of cargo. The edge protection must resist abrasion, cutting and crushing.

Once again no reference to a "chain binder". So, what law actually uses the phrase "chain binder"?

 

[JB4310]

JB4310 -

Those clevises look like a good way to attach your rear chains. It was hard for me to see, but I assume those are in the upper mounting holes for your BH subframe. Did the clevis pins fit the holes well, or did you use a bushing?

Also, any significance in the purple and brown color for your ratchet binders? Your tractor looks very secure.

- Marty

Yes they are in the backhoe frame with bushings, these are alloy ones rated higher than the grade 70 chain, the slip hooks are rated 6600 just like the chain.

I had a thread started about binding down equipment where I mentioned that if I didn't have these holes available I'm not sure where I would connect on the rear, also if I do have the BH on, not sure where I'll connect.

The purple binders are alloy from AWdirect which are rated for use with 3/8 grade 70 chain, I think they are 6600# maybe higher. The red ones are China binders rated for G43 chain (5400#) I got these for free with the trailer, eventually I'll upgrade them to the grade 70 stuff. I think I read somewhere that if your pulling one corner down with a certain grade/rated chain and binder then the opposing side should have an equal rating.




Regarding OP's question about binders on just the rear.

After looking at my picture of the rear of my tractor in post #12 of this thread, you can see how high the chains are tied to the tractor above the axle line. Now imagine no chain at all on the front, what would happen when you start cranking down the rear binders? If the brakes are locked like they should be, then the front would start rising as the tractor hinges on the axle.
So you can see the front chains would not be pulling the front of the tractor down they would be just preventing it from lifting, especially when the front chains are connected low on the front of the tractor and out in front of the tractor to the trailer.
Don't know if this idea makes any sense but that's what I was thinking looking at the picture.

This brings up another issue that has not been discussed as far as I know, that's the angle of the chains, I read on the warning tags on the new binders something about a minimum angle of 30 degrees down from and away from the connection point on the load being bound. That would be tough to comply with in all circumstances.

JB.

 

[kevinj]

OK.........then read this one. 393.112, 393.128, and 393.130

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Cargo_Securement_Changes_75611_7.pdf

 

[n8586m]

Kevin, now I have read those sections. No requirement for "binders". Section 112 says tie downs have to be adjustable. If my front chains loosen, I release the tractor brake, tighten the rear binders until the front is tight again and reset the brake. Letter and intent of the law met.

After searching the Heavy Equipment forum, I found the interesting comment from a user that had attended at meeting on this very subject. "Another thing that I found out....you would think that when using 4 individual chains you would use 4 binders. Lets take a roller for example...you can put the 2 chains in the front...back the roller up to tighten the chains, put the 2 chains on the rear with binders."

Now if you are hauling a tracked machine that would not roll, then to met the letter of the law you would need a device to take up the slack on each tie down. i.e. one binder per chain.

 

[George2615]

In response to those who posted about the rollback drivers securing their load (such as a car or truck) by the winch cable in front and 2 chains in back and the OP.

They are securing the load by not much more than the minimum required. If the load is under 10K the law says they only require one tie down in front and one in back. They usually attach the rear chains then use the winch to tighten them up. In my opinion this is wrong because if the winch brake or cable fails they can lose the load.

If you use only the minimum for under 10K loads of one tie down front and one tie down rear and either one fails then the other becomes slack and the load is not secure. With 4 tie downs and if one fails there are still 3 securing the load which is a greater safety factor.

The law does not state you must use chain either. There are other devices / materials that can be used for securing loads. They simply need to exceed the Working Load Limit (WLL)

 

[kevinj]

Kevin, now I have read those sections. No requirement for "binders". Section 112 says tie downs have to be adjustable. If my front chains loosen, I release the tractor brake, tighten the rear binders until the front is tight again and reset the brake. Letter and intent of the law met.

After searching the Heavy Equipment forum, I found the interesting comment from a user that had attended at meeting on this very subject. "Another thing that I found out....you would think that when using 4 individual chains you would use 4 binders. Lets take a roller for example...you can put the 2 chains in the front...back the roller up to tighten the chains, put the 2 chains on the rear with binders."

Now if you are hauling a tracked machine that would not roll, then to met the letter of the law you would need a device to take up the slack on each tie down. i.e. one binder per chain.

I guess you can pick nits all day. They clearly address tensioning devices in the laws. Chain & binder, rachet & strap. Some things just go together. As you said the driver must be able to adjust the tension, you can move your little tractor but it is not practical to unchain and move equipment for the want of a binder.

If you have a loader and a rear implement now you have to loosen many things and move the tractor. I guess that after many years of professional hauling that I just assume that it is chain & binder to be compliant. I for one will not loosen a whole load just to adjust one chain.

Never was cited for infraction other than a misload so I guess I tied the loads down well enough to make the diesel bear happy.

 

[JB4310]

If my front chains loosen, I release the tractor brake, tighten the rear binders until the front is tight again and reset the brake. Letter and intent of the law met.

n8586m,
That doesn't sound like the intent of the law, they could of worded it better by say something like "individualy adjustable, independent of the rest of the load".

Are you saying this has happened to you or only if it ever happens in the future?

If it has happened even once I would think that's all it would take to give up on that system, spend the $80. and get 2 more binders.

Another thought, why put the binders on the rear, why not the front? With chains only on the rear it would seem less likely they would get loose since the load is always trying to move forward with braking.

JB.

 

[n8586m]

The intent of the law is that the chains, or straps, have to be able to be tightened by the operator. It does not say that they must be able to be tightened individually. Binders front or rear does not matter. If the fail, they fail. Since they are rated as grade 70 then they should have the same strength. No law that I have been able to find says each chain or whatever, has to have a binder, just that they have to be able to be tightened. I don't want the tractor to fall off the trailer backwards. That will probably kill some one. If it moves forward, it is going to come up to the bulkhead of the trailer or the back of the truck. Not a great situation but better than falling off the back of the trailer. And, that will only happen in the case of a stop. It seems clear to me that having binders on all four chains is just a myth that cannot be substantiated by any reference to law, just opinion. I am going to load up the tractor on the trailer and haul it down nearest DOT enforcement office and show it to them. I will report their findings pro or con.