Equipment Tie-down

Mrwurm · Apr 25, 2002

My hydrostatic drive zero turn mower has a parking brake that is pretty effective. When I move it by trailer I am not concerned about it moving about on the trailer (it does'nt). What I am wondering is do I need to tie it down at all. The only reason for this would be to keep it on the trailer in the event of a traffic accident. I see a lot of professional landscapers in my area that just drive up on the trailer and go. Any thoughts ?

RoyJackson · Apr 25, 2002

I'd definitely tie it down.
Better safe then sorry...

Golfgar4 · Apr 25, 2002

I'd tie it down just for my own peace of mind. And besides, that'll slow down the guys who would want to steal it! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Mrwurm · Apr 25, 2002

I need to take in this machine for warranty work today, so I guess I'll have to make a trip at lunch time to get a nylon rachet tie down. I usually tie stuff down to my trailer with a chain and a come-along. This process takes too much time and it scratches the paint. Any thoughts on nylon rachet tie-downs? (I think they're nylon ??)

Dozernut · Apr 25, 2002

Hears a thought, IT ILLEGAL NOT TO TIE IT DOWN! Unless you like meeting policeman and paying tickets you must tie your equipment down. The tie downs must be of adequate strength to keep the equipment from coming off and killing someone. There are laws in all 50 states mandating securement of loads. If you lose a load and someone is hurt or killed, the litigation will last for years and you stand to lose all your earthly possession and future wages. I think I would tie it down!

Golfgar4 · Apr 25, 2002

I wouldn't think that you'd need chains for around town driving. You'd use those for highway travel.

The only concerns for the kind of tie downs to get is that they are properly rated for the weight you're hooking to. I haven't had to buy any for a long time, but IMHO each tie down should be rated for more than the weight of what you're hooking onto. Also remember that nylon deterioates in sunlight, so maybe you can find tie downs made out of some other material.

Mrwurm · Apr 25, 2002

Dozernut, I had a feeling that what you stated might be the case. Thanks for clearing that up. I am not a professional driver so I don't know the rules for 'trucking' loads on a trailer.
Jerry

Dozernut · Apr 25, 2002

In my state the Illinois revised statutes clearly states about load securement. There are no provisions or exemptions for not securing your load because you are "in town". I have been to accidents in town and out of town where trailers were not safety chained or the load not secured. These were not pretty!

rdln · Apr 25, 2002

your not answering your fone Jer, just get four keeper straps, the ones that cinch and put them at the corners

the ratchets are a pain IMO

Thomas · Apr 25, 2002

Good to tie down any piece of equipment to keep it from bouncing around which might cause damage to the trailer,or the equipment your hauling $$$ /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Just figure out the weight of the equipment than purchase strap,rachet etc.. twice the strenght and you should be all set.

Golfgar4 · Apr 25, 2002

Dozernut,

I didn't mean that he didn't need to tie down at all in town. I just meant that if he was driving around town, he could use the non-chain type tie downs for those short trips.

I agree that anything on a trailer should be tied down, regardless of how far a person is driving.

Dozernut · Apr 25, 2002

Sorry, I didn't mean that to sound like it came out in print. I am not a proffessional driver, just someone who has to sort out and pickup the pieces after one of these messes. I enjoy your writings, please don't let me put you off.

beenthere · Apr 25, 2002

Just for additional information, friend of mine tied down his JD 425 with mower (about $10k) onto his trailer. When he turned onto a side road, the front wheels of his van caught some mud, and he slid forward into a ditch about 8 ft. deep. The lawn tractor and equipment stayed on the trailer with the single tie down strap. Without it, he would have had the lawn tractor on top of his van. Not a pretty sight, any which way one would look at it. He was close to home too. Same thing could happen if a sudden stop was made.

Its the same story with a seat belt. You don't need it until you need it. And then it is much too late to go back and put it on.

Golfgar4 · Apr 25, 2002

"...please don't let me put you off."

You don't need to apologize for anything. After I read your response, I went back and re-read my posting, and sure enough, it did sound like I was saying he didn't need any tie downs for highway driving!

I agree that sometimes our intent does not come through in our writing. That can happen to anyone at any time, and it never hurts to have someone else ask or comment about what we really meant. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Mrwurm · Apr 25, 2002

Ok, just got back from the store. I have some of the skinny tie-downs that you secure a four wheeler with or a motorcycle, but I don't think they're strong enough. So, I got a couple heavy duty 2 inch tie-downs.
Jerry

Dozernut · Apr 25, 2002

Were proud of you!

Golfgar4 · Apr 25, 2002

"Were proud of you!'

Ditto!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Mrwurm · Apr 25, 2002

Reminds me of a story. I saw a pickup truck going down the road one day with a refrigerator standing up in the back. Funny part is, there was also a young guy standing up in the back. His job apparantly was to steady the refrigerator as they drove down the road. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Dozernut · Apr 25, 2002

Them are called redneck tie downs, a self correcting problem.

Golfgar4 · Apr 25, 2002

"Them are called redneck tie downs, a self correcting problem."

Them is called STUPID! And you're right, they are self correcting.....but generally only one time! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif