chains binders?

At first I kept all of my chains, binders, ratchets, tarps, bungees and corners in my two boxes mounted under my trailer. It didn't take long to find that it is much easier and faster to store my chains, binders and soon, my coil racks on a headache rack mounted to the truck. And if you have a nice looking tractor, you can get some really nice looking racks from Sturdy-Lite or Road Gear to match. Even if you get a mid roof truck, they can make the size you need.

But why would you buy a mid roof truck and sacrifice living space?

 

There have been many of times in the Chicago area that I was glad to have a mid roof.

 

i love a mid roof. drove a mid roof pete for about a year the one in my sig pic, had a 63 inch sleeper and a double bunk loved the space in the sleeper, before that i drove a 680 volvo with a tall roof, it was just a waste of space over the mid roof catch more wind ect no more usable space unless your going to try to stack 5 feet worth of junk on the top bunk. unless your pulling trailers that are 13'6 all the time i personalty would not get a full roof. mid roofs are ideal in my book. I don't mind flat tops ether however it is nice to be able to stand all the way up like you can in a mid roof. I like not being blown allover in the wind or the extra wind drag and rarely having to be worried much about overhead clearance.

 

That is good to know

 

Lot of guys find, myself included, that the functionality of a rack will prevail over the form of no rack. Fortunately in my opinion the Brunners enclosures take care of both issues. I recommend going without the rack like you originally wanted and suffer the slings and arrows of minimal storage, then if you realize a rack will make your life much easier the purchase will be completely justified and the rack will be appreciated for all the conveniences it offers.

On the other hand you might get along just fine without one and end up saving a good chunk of change however, if you plan on running in the northeast you will need one anyway for compliance.

 

Compliance in the Northeast??? It's not the law up there.
Most companies still require it but not the law.

 

here...

You don't have to have a bulkhead. You are required to have the "headache rack". I pull flatbeds - I have seen plenty of trailers without bulkheads, but never without a headache rack.

Bulkheads can interfere with certain types of large loads. If you are pulling a flatbed without a headache rack, then you are required to have more securing devices - chains or straps. It goes for both weight and length. I personally am not a fan of bulkheads, but darn I would never haul a flatbed without a headache rack.

A vast majority of OTR and Regional trailers do not have bulkheads - but they all have the racks. Probably more local trailers do not have bulkheads - but it's only by my observations as some types of dedicated fleets have material they are hauling that have bulkheads as extra added security.


or direct from the DOT>>>
§ 393.114What are the requirements for front end structures used as part of a cargo securement system? (a) Applicability. The rules in this section are applicable to commercial motor vehicles transporting articles of cargo that are in contact with the front end structure of the vehicle. The front end structure on these cargo-carrying vehicles must meet the performance requirements of this section. Code of Federal Regulations464


(b) Height and width. (1) The front end structure must extend either to a height of 4 feet above the floor of the vehicle or to a height at which it blocks forward movement of any item or article of cargo being carried on the vehicle, whichever is lower. (2) The front end structure must have a width which is at least equal to the width of the vehicle or which blocks forward movement of any article of cargo being transported on the vehicle, whichever is narrower. (c) Strength. The front end structure must be capable of withstanding the following horizontal forward static load: (1) For a front end structure less than 6 feet in height, a horizontal forward static load equal to one-half (0.5) of the weight of the articles of cargo being transported on the vehicle uniformly distributed over the entire portion of the front end structure that is within 4 feet above the vehicle's floor or that is at or below a height above the vehicle's floor at which it blocks forward movement of any article of the vehicle's cargo, whichever is less; or(2) For a front end structure 6 feet in height or higher, a horizontal forward static load equal to four-tenths (0.4) of the weight of the articles of cargo being transported on the vehicle uniformly distributed over the entire front end structure. (d) Penetration resistance. The front end structure must be designed, constructed, and maintained so that it is capable of resisting penetration by any article of cargo that contacts it when the vehicle decelerates at a rate of 20 feet per second, per second. The front end structure must have no aperture large enough to permit any article of cargo in contact with the structure to pass through it. (e) Substitute devices. The requirements of this section may be met by the use of devices performing the same functions as a front end structure, if the devices are at least as strong as, and provide protection against shifting articles of cargo at least equal to, a front end structure which conforms to those requirements. [67 FR 61225, Sept. 27, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 35833, June 22, 2006]

 

My stacks are 11'6" tall.... so i fit under the 3rd exit off the Skyway to sneak around the messy 94 interchange and get to my old loading station at the oil refinery. Now they come in handy sneaking under low power lines at jobsites and under tunnels at power plants. I have actually thought about making them shorter to just make it even easier. Was going to have them about 10" higher than the roof and that's it. Not sure yet, prob wait till I have to replace my mufflers as the top stacks on there now will require me to cut them off since I welded them to the mufflers (clamps wouldn't clear the bracket since I went to 7" pipes. I sold my 8" straight set-up i had to a farmer friend. i might go with some straights once I get an APU, but right now I idle my truck and don;t want to keep other drivers awake...... then again i could always go park between 2 reefer trucks and pay them back LOL