Securing Equipment on Trailer

[Marlowe]

I've towed trailers as part of my job all of my adult life. I can tell you from that experience that without a doubt an improperly loaded trailer can hurt you or someone else when you least expect it. You might get away with it once, or twice, or a hundred times, but sooner or later it's gonna' bite you. Load it right and tie it down every time.

 

[SouthernX]

I've towed trailers as part of my job all of my adult life. I can tell you from that experience that without a doubt an improperly loaded trailer can hurt you or someone else when you least expect it. You might get away with it once, or twice, or a hundred times, but sooner or later it's gonna' bite you. Load it right and tie it down every time.

I'm new at this game. I'll be loading a gooseneck with a NH2420. I want to do it right. Any online resources that you want to suggest or perhaps share your insights with us?

 

[john_bud]

Actually my point is a 10K fully loaded trailer at 15% would be 1500lbs of tongue weight. Even at 10% and a 1000lbs. your into 1ton territory. So how are all these 1/2 and 3/4 ton bumper pulls able to do it? Then there is me with the 14K trailer. I have a titan hitch with a 2000lb ball mount which isn't the norm for most people. I guess thats where I'm coming from. Then think about all these SUV's out there supposedly towing 6-8K and there is no way they can handle the 10-15% tongue load.
I'm guessing may be at 1000lbs tongue when I'm loaded to 12K. I know thats considered light but it pulls perfect and I'm saying that because my axles are quite far back.

How are the 1/2 ton and SUV's doing it? They aren't. It's just that simple. They don't allow straight bumper pull with over 5-6000 pound trailers. UNLESS they use a WD hitch, then they can go 7500-9000 or so. So, YES, they do it by using the correct equipment - a weight distributing hitch. Or better yet a gooseneck. And a goose gives higher tongue weight (but less lever action on the towing vehicle).

Also, a typical soccer mom SUV towing a 10k equipment trailer with 5% tongue weight is a catastrophe waiting to happen in so so so many different ways. Just not bright in my opinion.

By the way, my 3/4 ton is rated to tow 14k on the bumper with a WD hitch, so most 3/4 tons can do it.

jb

 

[JohnDeere4300]

JB,

here is the way i bind mine down, i only use 2 chains and binders and that is legal in my state, but it is probably different in your state.

I use high test chain and i use ratchet binders, but in my pictures i have the manual binders, just to show you how i bind it down.(a lot quicker)

In some pictures it shows how i bind through the loader arms.

on some it shows how i bind it with a BH, and when i haul it i put my pins in to keep the BH from swinging and letting down.

If i haul a bush hog on the back, then i bind it different with high test straps over the bush hog and a chain at the back of the tractor.

I had my chain cut to 12ft. lengths and still have slack if needed.

In your pictures, it looked like you did a great job and i wished they would have put something on tractors to make it easier to tie one down.

 

[Mundy]

JohnDeer4300,

Maybe its the angle of the photo but your chains look to be both pulling the tractor to the rear of the trailer rather than pulling against each other.
Like this / / rather than / \ or \ /.
This // configuration will allow the tractor to move rearward and losen the chains.
These configurations: / \ or \ / are pulling against each other and keep the tractor from moveing.

I like how you wraped the excess chain around the snap binder. No way that could come open with that wraped like that.

 

[wkpoor]

This pics is a good example of my situation. When I hauled this car I just pulled it forward till the truck started to sink just a little. But for the most part its still level. It pulled perfect on the highway. Whats the tongue weight, have no idea.

 

[em14]

JD 4300 - It is my understanding that your tiedowns are not the way the Fed Guide Lines intented or require. It is fine to the way you have the bucket if you are intending to tie the bucket down only. The backhoe is not tied down ... if that chain is to tie the tractor, it is not pulling againist the front which is required. The back hoe should be tied down so that it can not rotate nor liftand requires it's own tie downs. (IMHO and myunderstanding of the Fed Guidelines.)

 

[JohnDeere4300]

OK. Now that I finally got an Equipment trailer I need to learn how to secure loads properly. For now it's a JD4310 and a ford 1700.
What I would like is pictures of how you connect to machine.
Pictures help me get the idea quicker if any one has any.
I'm going out now to experiment.
Thanks
JB.

JB,

The way you did it is fine, it looks secured enough.

You wanted pictures, but no one has any but have advice on how to, but its hard to know what their talking about without any pictures.

JD 4300 - It is my understanding that your tiedowns are not the way the Fed Guide Lines intented or require. It is fine to the way you have the bucket if you are intending to tie the bucket down only. The backhoe is not tied down ... if that chain is to tie the tractor, it is not pulling againist the front which is required. The back hoe should be tied down so that it can not rotate nor liftand requires it's own tie downs. (IMHO and myunderstanding of the Fed Guidelines.)

1) I know the FED GUIDE LINES in my state and my brother-in-law is
a Sargent with the KSP, and i have talked to plenty of Kentucky-Vehicle-Enforcement officers and they have also seen my tractor loaded and didn't say nothing about it, the way i secure it down is the way the dealers deliver them.

2) The backhoe is tied down, and did you read about me saying that i
put the pins in to keep it from swinging from side to side, and the pin
to keep it from going up and down, *On the main end of the backhoe
it wouldn't move up and down, unless you took a jack and jack it up.

3) The bucket wasn't the only thing tied down, if you looked at where the chain went through and the tractor has never moved an inch every time i hauled it and been hauling it that way since 01.

I also use to drive a tractor trailer flatbed division all over the U.S. and hauled tractors, steel, large pipe etc... and know how to secure a load.

*Do you have pictures?__That would help JB.

JohnDeer4300,
Maybe its the angle of the photo but your chains look to be both pulling the tractor to the rear of the trailer rather than pulling against each other.
Like this / / rather than / \ or \ /.

It was the angle you was looking at.__It has never moved.

If you look at the way JB has his, you might see this / \ also.

Pictures would be better than // / \ or \ / Do you have any?

JB was needing some pictures.

JB,

here is the way i bind mine down, i only use 2 chains and binders and that is legal in my state, but it is probably different in your state.

In your pictures, it looked like you did a great job!

JB,

I pulled my pictures off, there is more experts than me with no pictures

 

[garydc]

this is how I tie mine down using straps 2 on the front and 2 on the back of the tractor 1 over the loader and 1 on the backhoe (and pin the hoe so it can't turn side to side) or whatever implement I have on the back and I use pieces of fire hose over the straps in areas where they may rub.Gary

 

[Mundy]

I have been formally trained by my employer to haul large excavators backhoes and dozers according to FEDERAL Regulations but I have no photos to offer. I am not an "expert" by any means and did not offer input on this topic until I saw your photos of an improperly bound piece of equipment.

Even in your Avatar the rear chain is hooked behind your trailer fenders which is pulling the tractor to the rear of the trailer and the chain across the loader attachment arms is hooked so it is pulling the tractor toward the rear of the trailer. If your parking brake failed or released the tractor could roll back and cause the chains to loosen. The tires could also slide. I am glad it has never moved on you and I hope it never does.


Gary has provided excellent photos. He is securing the tractor front and rear with opposing force and is also securing both the loader attachment and the backhoe attachment.