I Beam Hauling

Deere Dude · Sep 19, 2018

I am hauling maybe a dozen 20' 6,8 and 10" I beams on a 28 gn trailer. How is best to tie them down? Lay them flat on trailer or on 2x4s? Circle them with chain to bind them together and then chain over the top with heavy chain and binders? I have a location for a scale to make sure it is not overloaded but was mostly concerneed about them sliding around.

Rustyiron · Sep 19, 2018

I like to haul steel up on lumber, I'd only support that load at 2 spots a few feet in from each end and crank down on a the center binder (over an area where the steel is un supported by a block) real tight. This can slightly deflect the load and seems to work for me. Snugging steel up against a headboard is another thing and "nesting" the I beams as tightly as you can is another.

Tractor Seabee · Sep 20, 2018

Rustyiron said:
I like to haul steel up on lumber, I'd only support that load at 2 spots a few feet in from each end and crank down on a the center binder (over an area where the steel is un supported by a block) real tight. This can slightly deflect the load and seems to work for me. Snugging steel up against a headboard is another thing and "nesting" the I beams as tightly as you can is another.

Add to this: always load steel on wood dunnage and tied down with chains (especially structural shapes) put dunnage between layers of steel. Nothing worse than steel sliding on steel.

Ron

4570Man · Sep 20, 2018

I’d also stand a piece of plywood up on the front of the trailer to prevent them from sliding forward.

Deere Dude · Sep 20, 2018

Thanks for the tips. I'll scrounge up some old 2x4s for in between layers. I don't think the beams will be at the front of the trailer, maybe the the rear of the trailer to 4 foot from the front. I have 2 come-a-longs and 7 load binders so I should be able to keep the steel from moving around.

Deere Dude · Oct 8, 2018

I made it home with no problem. It is a big trailer with a 28' bed so the stack seems inconsequential looking at it from the end. I sandwiched them together and had 5 load binders with heavy chain. Now I can begin my bridge.