Why four binders?

[sandman2234]

Why four binders on two chains? Hmmm, might be due to the chain crossing the load, and the friction causing one side to be extremely tight, and the other not so tight, giving the false inpression that the load is secure. On simple loads like a tractor, the chain usually doesn't hang up on the load, or it is obvious when it does. The laws were written by people who don't have a clue, and are relying on their interpetation of what some expert told them.
Just because you see a wrecker driver using a winch cable as the front hold down, doesn't mean he is right or wrong, just his way of doing it. I don't remember the last time I saw a wrecker driver (rollback type) with anything except the front cable and the two rear chains. Cable breaks, and the car is coming off the bed onto the top of the mini-van tailgating the wrecker. I don't know about the rest of the country, but roll back drivers are the lowest paid people I know that drive for a living, and the quality of drivers is sometimes lacking. This experience was learned from a good friend owning a wrecker company that his Dad started and getting good help at a rate they could afford was always a challenge. Even when I was unemployed, he couldn't afford me, as my unemployment was about what they paid.

JB4310,
Nice job of securing your tractor!! Just nit-picking, but in the event of a huge accident where the tractor is trying to come off the trailer, it would probably be better for the front strap to be pulling rearwards, as the front bucket would want to lift under frontal impact. Since you do such a good job, keeping the bucket on the bed would be an added bonus. Not that it is going to do anything if it does go up, but keeping heavy things from moving is the main concern of why we use straps and chains in the first place. If everyone tied down everything everytime we moved it like you do, there would be a lot less problems out on the road.
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

I stopped to help a "Hotshot" driver on the bypass around Macon that was hauling a CNC milling machine, along with a harvester on a trailer. The mill had moved off the timbers it was sitting on, and dropped onto the deck, breaking the deck boards.Sitting uneven didn't do much for it's small base, tall hight. Being tarped, it was kind of interesting for me to have recognized the milling machine as one owned by a friend from another internet board, that I had tried to help secure transportation for. I did know that it was being moved on the route I was driving on the same day, so that helped.
Anyway, during the chaining of the machine, the driver added another chain and secured it on the side of the trailer, to the scrub rail. I explained to him that the flat bar running down the side of the trailer, outside of the pockets is not meant to be a point on which to attach any type of restaining device, as it is simply a scrub rail. D.O.T loves to catch flatbed drivers hooking to those rails, as it gives them a chance to get an autograph.
David from jax

 

[pennwalk]

I have had the flip over binders style release

I have seen guys that have a lot of experience wire the handle down. It hardly takes any time and it pretty much guarantees that the binder will not pop open.

Chris

 

[Midsouth]

When using snap binders it is best to wrap the extra chain arond it or wrap a bungee cord around the handle to keep it from coming undone. Personally i like the ratchet binders better. I have also had the snap binders twist when undoing them and that can really hurt.

 

[n8586m]

Pennwalk, Midsouth, I always tie the binder handle down, it's just that they can and have opened when not tied down. The tight chain won't come loose unless there is a catastrophic failure of some other component.

 

[Skyco]

I don't remember the last time I saw a wrecker driver (rollback type) with anything except the front cable and the two rear chains. Cable breaks, and the car is coming off the bed onto the top of the mini-van tailgating the wrecker.

Around here I don't think most even use two chains on the rear, usually just the winch cable and one hook and chain, in the back. I've seen some with nothing but the front winch cable holding it! But then I've seen a tracked Bobcat just parked on a trailer with nothing securing it but gravity The SC TP seem to be few and far between and the regular cop hasn't a clue usually I suspect.

 

[radioman]

Having four binders makes sense. Suppose the front is tied with chains only and moved back till tight and back with binders. What if due to geometry of the chains it got a slack on one side but you cant tell due to the amount of tension on it. the back is evenly tight due to binders. lets say the binders can exert 2klbs of tightness on each chain. But what about the front that is tight by hand or pulled back from the binders from rear? There wouldn't be 2klbs of tension on each chain. If there is 2klb of tension in rear, the tension would be divided in half due to "slack" in the front so in theory there would be 1klbs of tension on each chain.

 

[LoneCowboy]

393.112
Each tiedown..........must be designed.....that the driver of an in-transit CMV can tighten them.


Anything BELOW 10,000lbs requires at least TWO tiedowns at the front and the rear of the cargo to prevent it from moving in any direction. (side to side, forward, rearward, vertically) (393.128)

ABOVE 10,000lbs requires at least FOUR tiedowns (same as above for rest) (393.130)

The WLL limits of the chains must be correct, direct vs. indirect methods, etc. (393.100-114)

But almost all compact tractors fall below 10,000lbs and are less than 20' in length.

BUT, you also have to secure the loader and the backhoe arm if you have one and they must be lowered to the vehicle. (393.130.b.1)

Because hydraulics alone won't keep it from moving you must tie that down also. most people forget that. If it's pinned in place, it's fine, but most loader arms can move vertically and are not pinned in place.

US DOT only, don't know about Canada.

BTW, your G70 5/16th chain rates at 4.700lbs, your binders should rate for at least that. The weakest link and all that.

 

[DieselPower]

I see roll backs everyday hauling cars with 2 chains in the bed in the back and nothing more that the bridle and cable pulling to the front. Then there are the others I see with the wheel straps (which I hate) somewhat loose and the vehicle rocking back and forth as it goes down the highway. And these are supposed to be the pros!

If they don't have two tie down points on the front then they are breaking the law. Not all towers are professional and many drivers do it the "easy" way correct or not. As far as the 4 point tire basket tie down straps they may not look like they would work but they do. I had a friend actually roll a rollback a few years ago with a F250 extended cab P/U on the bed that was secured by the 4 wheel basket straps. The truck never moved on the bed. One of the advantages of this system to the tower is a slightly softer ride. The vehicle being transported on the bed still has a fully functional suspension system. Another advantage is that many new low riding cars and high end cars don't have T-slots or tie down points in the frame rails and you have to use the basket tie down strap system. A lot of my friends who own towing companies were hesitant to use the strap tie down system when it first came out but most all use them now. The one big disadvantage to them is they are not as durable as chains and have to be replaced rather more frequently. Get a cut in the strap or see that one of the red over stretch indicating threads has broken and you have to replace it.

 

[Q-Saw]

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