The Truckers’ Report flatbed Hall of Shame.

On this smaller lighter machine. What would be your cutoff point weight wise for larger heavier? Where you’d add cross chains

 

Those first 4 chains keep the machine from moving side to side, that’s the point of cross chaining in my opinion. As long as your anchor points on the machine are somewhat inside (or outside) the edge of the trailer, Cross chaining is not necessary in my opinion. Your chains will have a good angle and be shorter. On a load like that, if it was heavier, I would be looking for a point to get an indirect pull like a hitch or winch frame. After that I would try to fine more direct points on the undercarriage like I did with this mini.

 

Lets see,
ICC bumper, check
Mud Flaps, check
Working Lights, check.
Secured load, fail

 

thats how I secure mine like you have stated. I understand on smaller machines like the 450 dozer I knew it would ride but wasn’t 100% sure in my mind if it was frowned upon. I try and learn something new everyday that’s why I asked. When I stop for the night I always look at other loads for ideas and how they secured it. Always learning. The guy made the 1100 mile trip and he said that’s how he’s chained them for the past 15 years. On larger ones though I do start crossing chains. And yes that machine digs into my aluminum deck big time. I’m getting ready to move up to RGN so I’ll be crossing all of them unless it’s a legal sized wheel loader.

 

I would like to see more examples of this, if anyone has some. Lotta food for thought.
I've never seen a logger put a wrapper around the bunk, at least around here. It sounds like a good idea tho.

 

i haul utility poles up to 70 feet long. I don't strap anything under the bunk/over the load; all the straps go directly from the securement point on one side of the trailer, over the top of the poles to the ratchet binders on the other side.

 

I'm talking about a long logger off road going up or down 20-40% grades. Nice load of poles on a flatbed driving on the highway, flagged & lite.

 

Ahhh ok thank you, yes that makes sense for off road logging.

I will be busy the next few weeks supplying replacement poles which were destroyed in the various California complex fires.

 

@REO6205
You hauled logs in the PNW? Did you use a strip wrapper on steep spur roads?