Any tips or tricks pulling a conastoga?
Do I need to do any maintenance on the wheels and tracks? If so how often? What kind of oil?
How would you outfit it equipment wise? I just pulled a load of 4 skid steers all over 10k lbs. Came to 16 binders. I can imagine a load in a conastoga needing that much.
Conastoga tips and tricks
Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Chewy352, May 26, 2016.
Page 1 of 8
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
Cant speak to roller care, but securment shouldn't change, a flats a flat
-
The conastoga is the flat bed with a framework around it that has tarps like stage curtains, right?
Chewy352 Thanks this. -
-
I had a fasttrack: rollers do need some 3in 1 oil type product every now and again to keep free.
You want to get that tarp as tight as you possibly can for travel. Loose tarp flaps on framework wears out fast.
Set your mirror brackets out as far as they can reach from the sides of your cab- fasttrack on a 102" wagon is 107" outside to outside and it's a wall. Tougher to see round. Like a van I suppose but 5" wider. I gotta be honest I got out an looked a whole lot more pulling that wagon.
Make sure product is lined up good n straight if it's near the edges of the trailer. And get things good and tight: a slight shift and the frame will get caught up.
When that happens loosen front and back of system, slide as close to the issue as possible, lift up edges of tarping system between framework and hae a forklift push product inside together to tighten it up, so you can slide past..or climb inside and grab hold of the framework, do your best King Kong swinging from the rafters impression and try to work the framework past the offending area.
In all likelihood you're gonna sweat just as much as tarping, you'll just be cleaner when you're done.blairandgretchen, Mattflat362, MJ1657 and 1 other person Thank this. -
If you have the chain rack inside the nose, fill it full of chains and binders. Your tare weight is higher than a reg flat. May as well have all if what you need.
Build a little 4x4 w chain bulkhead up front, you can store all your straps & extra securement devices between that and the nose plate. I had edge protectors on a bungee (like a candy necklace) and poked 2 little holes in the framework of the nose to set the hooks of the bungee in. Gets them out of the way, but close-by and handy.SoDel, blairandgretchen, tsavory and 2 others Thank this. -
What he said ^
Depending on what system you get, the setup will be a little bit different as far as the latching and roller mechanism goes. We have 4 different systems by Conestoga and they change things (for the better) every couple of years. The newer ones take 1/2 the time and effort to open/close than the older models.
As far as a tip- if you use the 4" straps with the flat hooks, crush them down -it makes them easier to pass thru the bottom rubber weatherstripping without getting jammed up all the timeProfessionalNoticer, blairandgretchen and Chewy352 Thank this. -
-
As far as securement goes they are no different than a flat. Same securement rules apply. If you pull one and it is suitable for the work you do, I suspect you will not want to fool with tarps anymore from that point on. -
I get no say on which trailer so I'm just crossing my fingers that I have a door in front. Can you tie the back flap up to have an overhang or does it have to be fully attached?
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 8