Re: Tie-Down-Strap Failed - and a fella was killed on the weekend ...

Posted by T.J.-N.J. on November 06, 2001 at 06:40:06 from (204.186.33.175):

In Reply to: Tie-Down-Strap Failed - and a fella was killed on the weekend ... posted by Alberta Mike on November 05, 2001 at 07:38:57:

There are standards that are in place for tying loads down on trucks and trailers. I drove tractor trailers for 8 years as part of my job as a heavy equipment and truck mechanic and there are certain places to use chains and certain places to use straps. I have seen some truly scary loads pass me going down the road and a lot at tractor shows. I think a lot of people spend a lot of time restoring old faithful and dont want to scratch her up with chains so they strap her down and lightly at that. Heavy equipment is meant to be moved on a trailer and usually has several tie down lugs to hook a chain to. I would tie a machine down weighing 40,000 pounds go a mile down the road and be amazed at the sight of loose chains in my mirror, I am 6'2 and around 250 and I can get a binder tight,but things shift and slide around a little and you have to re tighten your chains once or twice, and then they are generally good to go. My cub and allis c have big beefy draw bars on the back to chain to but neither of them had much in the front to chain to. I welded up some brackets with hooks on them so I could chain the fronts down too. A friend bought an old WD out of the paper, and almost lost it off the trailer, when all the air that the seller had pumped into a flat tire before he showed up leaked out. He said it almost tipped off the trailer before he could get to the shoulder and rechain it. A lot of straps in discount stores look like professional ones but are not dot approved and not rated as high as professional equipment. Chains are rated also and at first glance they are hard to tell apart but its like the difference between a grade 2 or a grade 8 bolt. I also have chocks that bolt to the deck on my trailer and keep my tractors from coming forward if I have to really bury the brake pedal to the floor. A little research can have you going in the right direction and hauling safely, machinery is replaceable but lives are not. T.J.

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