Attaching Loads

[howardm]

Hi,
Has anyone found a website on securing loads to a trailer.?

Many times I have got home to find a loose or moving load on my Ifor Williams flatbed, even though I used 6 of my ratchet straps.!.
There must be some black art involved.
Next week I will be collecting palleted concrete blocks from 60 miles away on country roads, my scariest load yet.

thanks
Howard

 

[Pete.]

Too many straps can be as bad as too few. You can distort the load or the trailer and if you put multiple straps close together oddson the first one will be loose when you've tightened the last.

 

[mike os]

no site that in know of best way on a flat surface is use straps to pull against each other... so one pulling load forward, one back, one left one right... not always nessesary for all directions, sometimes onlt one needed, but that comes with experience

also check all are tight once you have finished, then drive a mile or so and check again

 

[Pete.]

I was on a add what Mike just said. Don't put straps diagonally across the load. Straight across if the load is solid, pulling against each other if you can. Remember that braking forces are far greater than acceleration forces.

 

[Shox Dr]

As well as what the others have said, placement of load, and the quality of the straps play a big part. If the straps are cheap and stretch the load will move

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Mate taught me how to do carters hitches. They were used before ratchet straps and just as secure.

Paul h

 

[Shox Dr]

This is a good site for learning knots

http://www.animatedknots.com/

 

[howardm]

Thanks,
I know how to tie knots.

I thought there might be some website I couldn't find, explaining the theory of holding loads down.
The dynamic forces are obvious, but some shapes are just awkward to secure.
Howard

 

[the snooper]

those small 30ish mm ratchet straps are terrible and are very elastic, no good at all where any real weight is involved, you can easily snap them if you try to get them real tight

 

[Pete.]

Thanks,
I know how to tie knots.

I thought there might be some website I couldn't find, explaining the theory of holding loads down.
The dynamic forces are obvious, but some shapes are just awkward to secure.
Howard

For odd-shaped loads a couple of short loop straps are really handy when used with ratchet straps. Think about how a personal harness works.

 

[cecotto479]

With a car on the trailer, I always pull one wheel to the front and one to the back. Most important thing in my view is to stop after 5 minutes and re tighten the ratchets.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Mate taught me how to do carters hitches. They were used before ratchet straps and just as secure.

Paul h

Is that the same a wakos transport knot?
Make a loop,
pull a bight through,
tighten loop around bight,
twist new loop, pull a bight through that and secure round anchor
half hitch to finish?

 

[octo0072000]

With a car on the trailer, I always pull one wheel to the front and one to the back. Most important thing in my view is to stop after 5 minutes and re tighten the ratchets.

cars on trailer you are better off front straps pulling back back straps pulling forward so you cross the straps in the centre of the car
that's how all the car transporters do it
because you cross the straps it also pull the car downwards as well assuming you are fastening to the suspension/ body not wheels

 

[octo0072000]

Is that the same a wakos transport knot?
Make a loop,
pull a bight through,
tighten loop around bight,
twist new loop, pull a bight through that and secure round anchor
half hitch to finish?

we used to call them dollies knots
nothing like roping and sheeting on a wet windy day

video on dollies and chains and straps

 

[Pete.]

My old man reckoned he could snap a rope with enough dollies in a row but I never managed it yet. I either run out of rope or room or patience.

 

[cecotto479]

cars on trailer you are better off front straps pulling back back straps pulling forward so you cross the straps in the centre of the car
that's how all the car transporters do it
because you cross the straps it also pull the car downwards as well assuming you are fastening to the suspension/ body not wheels

Yes. Physically very difficult to put the front strap fulling forwards and the rear backwards. My trailer bed is only 17 ft. Both pull to the middle. Proper strap through bridging loops on wheels. Rock solid if done properly.

 

[AndyStobbs]

My old man reckoned he could snap a rope with enough dollies in a row but I never managed it yet. I either run out of rope or room or patience.

Always braced for something to snap. Tied many'a load of haylage down and waited for the inevitable rope snap. Hasn't happened yet but one day I'm sure I will end up on my ass.

 

[Shox Dr]

My old man reckoned he could snap a rope with enough dollies in a row but I never managed it yet. I either run out of rope or room or patience.

Manmade rope is very strong, The blue 6mmish rope is 1 ton (that seems to have taken over from baler twine).
I've 150' of 5/16" Amsteel Blue (Dyneema) rope and that's rated @13700lbs.


But I bet you could snap a new Hessian rope, with multiple dollies. I fallen on my **** often enough with Hessin ropes that were past best using just one



(Edit; You as well Andy)

 

[Shedendman]

"Tie your dollies high",that will always stick in my head from my old army driver instructor, rule i have or was told was to tie down 1st then tie back or forward movement after.

 

[octo0072000]

My old man reckoned he could snap a rope with enough dollies in a row but I never managed it yet. I either run out of rope or room or patience.

if you put your dollies up high and make it a triple you can easily break good wagon ropes