Ratcheting tie downs BROKE in transit!

RobertN · Mar 27, 2005

FWIW, on a vehicle or tractor, Calif-DOT requires four independant restraints, one at each corner. This can be chain/binder or straps. CHP Commercial enforcement said this is based on Fed-DOT regs. If one chain point breaks, you still have three others holding at the other three corners of the tractor, vette, 'Cuda...

I used to chain my Kubota like you mention. But, if one chain point breaks, that whole chain is loose, and so is the tractor.

I use two chains and four binders. I chain to one corner of the tractor in the front, and set a binder from the chain to a trailer hook point. I run the remaining chain to the other front corner, and then pull the remining clack to the second trailer attach point, and bind there. I do the same in back.

I used straps for my Farmall, because of the nice paint(parade rig), and it has more rounded surfaces. I need to get two more straps. I had been settin one on the front, and one on back, before I found out the correct regs.

DirtHauler · Mar 27, 2005

Rumor has it, that driving around or near large wheat fields while talking on a cell phone also causes STRANGE patterns to occure in the crops! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · Mar 28, 2005

( Anybody else use the 2" wide ratcheting tie downs? I've )

Wow.. how odd. First.. glad you are ok.

Makes you wonder what happened. I work for a GC and we haul BIG equipment and cargo on flatbeds all the time. Our units have built in 2" ratchet straps ever 10' on each side of the bed, to comply with FL dot standards ( minimum of 1 strap + 1 strap for every 10', and a the straps for for front and rear corners should be seperate, or independently affixed so that 1 coming loose will not loosen both ).

I know for a fact that we are moving loads up to 80K# .. I think the issue is to keep the load from moving.. as in.. if the load can move back and forth.. you can have 'shock' loads on the straps that exceeds their ratings.

I'm surprised your tractor rolled?.. did it pop out of gear AND have the parking brake fail? all at once /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I generall also chock at least 1 front and rear tire, if not both rears and 1 front.. never hurts.. and only adds about 5 minutes to the whole deal.

Depending on if the tractor has a front bumper ( or if it is a show tractor ) I sometimes, but not always hook a chain from the bumper to the trailer... that pretty much prevents loosing the tractor off the back of the trailer.

So far I've been lucky to have no bad misshaps, however of the few scarry ones I've had.. it was a 'sudden stop' situation, like when a car pulls out in front of you.. and you are hoping the rear strapping holds.. etc Probably the most lod I've had was a 30hp tractor with FEL and 5' mower. I'd guess around 5K# or so.. 2 straps seems to hold that fine.. not sure what weight you were hauling.

Again.. glad you and everybody else are ok. And my condolences for your shorts! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Soundguy

bczoom · Mar 29, 2005

( I'm not sure why, but I79 through central WV seems to nail a lot of out-of-state drivers towing trailers.)

Darren,

If I recall correctly, that stretch of road is listed as 70mph. On some of the corners you have to take, that speed isn't even comfortable in anything other that a sports car.

I don't want to stray too far but I have a couple questions.

Based on Dargo's experience, I did just purchase (4) 3/8" grade 70 chains for TSC but... they are made in China. Each is "rated at 4,770#. My tractor with FEL probably weighs about 3500#. Think I'm OK with these chains?

As for towing in general, does anyone know where I can get specifics on fastening and "stuff"?

hhw said ( I use a (4) point hook-up. In PA they require that they be seperate. Also, I'm told the bucket must now be secured seperately. I haven't verified this yet.)
Can someone point me to towing specifics for either PA or the USA? I've tried our state DOT site as well as the national and can't find anything on requirements.

I have thought about stopping at a weigh station while towing to see if they'll give me a "courtesy" inspection and let me know if I'm OK but I fear that they'll ticket me if I'm not doing something right.

Speaking of weigh stations, can someone provide the requirements on who has to pull in? I've heard all kinds of conflicting info having to do with weight, whether you're "for hire"...

Thanks
Brian

Darren · Mar 29, 2005

I can't offer an opinion about the suitability of your TSC chains. It would seem that you have a large margin of safety. The factor that can defeat that is the "jerk" that a load can be subjected to in an unusual situation. The forces that a chain has to resist can be very high in those situations.

In the past I've worked on projects where the strength of the steel was critical. Not that it isn't normally. In that instance, we had to use the mill certifications which involved tests on the steel batch to determine the actual properties. The steel actually tested much higher than the spec which meant the steel was suitable for much higher loadings than were originally used in the design.

I doubt you would ever be able to get mill certifications on Chinese sourced steel. That tells you something about their quality control.

I would stay away from a weigh station unless there's a regulatory reason you have to cross the scales. I have stopped and gotten DOT info. But I wouldn't give them an opportunity if you catch my drift. I've been to court twice due to DOT inspectors. In each case the DOT inspector was wrong. It still cost me $500 the first time for a lawyer. The second time I represented myself.

I79 is posted for 70 mph which means if you have WV plates you can do upwards of 80 mph. I'm not sure why so many accidents happen, but I think it has something to do with individuals' driving abilities. Lots of folks think they're good drivers until the fecal material hits the fan. The details of the accidents I've gleaned from talking to the local tow company owner usually point to acts of outright stupidity or carelessness.

As for who's required to go across the scales, unless you're driving a commercial truck (by federal regulations) you don't have to cross the scales. Note that a commercial truck could go down to 10,000 GVW as compared to the 26,000 GVW most people consider. The only exception is that all rental trucks are now required to go through the weigh stations due to homeland security regulations. The rental agencies are required to tell that to everyone renting a truck. It's also posted in the offices.

When you go through a weigh station they can have you open up a truck to inspect the cargo loading. Once you deliver yourself into their hands, it can get interesting. If you're stopped along the road, it seems to be a different story. If you're not driving a commercial vehicle they can't force you to open the truck. What they can do is get a drug dog and sic it on the truck to see if they get a hit. I've been through a couple of those situations too.

The dogs regard drugs as a toy. If there's nothing in your truck the dog doesn't want to "play" with it. The dog will leave the truck. The officers will continue to draw the dog back to the truck until the fact that there's no drugs onboard finally sinks into their head.

bczoom · Mar 29, 2005

Thanks for all the info Darren,

Considering the chains I've used in the past (I believe they were referred to as "farm chains" earlier in the thread), even though Chinese, I would think they're stronger than what I'm probably using now.

I'll avoid using a weigh station as a source of info on what they require as proper loading/binding techniques.

I'm not known for driving slow but still don't think I'll take some of the corners on I-79 in WV at 80mph. I think WV drivers can handle it much better since they know how sharp each curve is. US-19 through there gets pretty hairy in a blizzard as well.

Brian

LBrown59 · Mar 29, 2005

1*I doubt you would ever be able to get mill certifications on Chinese sourced steel. That tells you something about their quality control.
2*all rental trucks are now required to go through the weigh stations due to homeland security regulations.

Darren

1*You can't trust Chinese chains
2*Does this include pick ups?

Darren · Mar 29, 2005

I'm not saying you can't trust Chinese chains, but personally I won't buy foreign made chains or load binders. China is probably where Japan was in the 50's when the joke was the toys imported from Japan were made from recycled beer cans. Japanese products have obviously taken the quality lead since then. I wouldn't be surprised if Chinese quality improved over the coming years. The problem is makers of products that meet standards are faced with low-priced stuff that the average consumer looking for a deal has no way of evaluating other than price. Hopefully the quality of Chinese products will improve before they run all the manufacturers who have invested in QA/QC out of business.

I have no idea whether a pickup rental is subject to the same requirements as box trucks. I've never seen a pickup available through UHaul, Budget, or Ryder. I know Enterprise rents them and possibly the others in large metro areas. I'd call Enterprise and ask.

Dargo · Mar 29, 2005

( I'm surprised your tractor rolled?.. did it pop out of gear AND have the parking brake fail? all at once /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif)

If I had to guess, I'd guess that it hopped. It was in low range and in 4X4. I always use 4X4 when on a trailer. The parking brake was also set. Apparently while bumping down the highway enough to break two tie downs, there was enough of a bump to move the tractor as well.

I've now made 5 trips with my new trailer and new chains and binders holding on my tractor. Nothing has moved in the least bit. Now, that's the way I like it! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif