Fat guy hauling cars..?

Discussion in 'Car Hauler and Auto Carrier Trucking Forum' started by FallenStar, Jun 19, 2021.

  1. BigBob410

    BigBob410 Road Train Member

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    6A7A6329-E261-408D-BB7F-5D297D4DE7C0.jpeg I use one of these and have it numbered so I know which key goes to which car.
     
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  3. FallenStar

    FallenStar Bobtail Member

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    I like that better than the fanny pack idea to be honest. Thanks for all your help.
     
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  4. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

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    I use two of these in different colors. One for the top deck and one for the bottom. They clip easily to my belt loop when loading and unloading. When I get done loading I count the keys and place both in a sliding heavy duty freezer zip lock bag. 981E86CD-C8A4-4D74-B91D-09CD1A6C54CF.png
     
  5. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

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    I always take a picture of the fobs when I night drop. I also video them going in the key drop slot. One unscrupulous dealer who shall remain unnamed tried to get me for a set of fobs. The TM sent him a still picture of the video with each fob numbered. He decided that “someone must have taken one off his desk” and I never heard another word about the alleged missing fob. F59264AD-51ED-4E11-A49E-469DCD61A5D9.jpeg
     
  6. BigBob410

    BigBob410 Road Train Member

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    Aaahh yes unscrupulous dealers!! Lol! Maybe we should start a thread.
    I was unloading in Richmond, Va. I am 6’5” s rarely do I have to climb on a vehicle to check a roof. There was a very vertically challenged young man checking in a SUV. He grabbed the roof rack to pull himself up to check the roof and had the keys in the same hand he pulled himself up with. He put a pretty good size gouge in the roof and a scratch on the underside of the roof rack rail. I watched him do it and he knew I was standing there watching him. He proceeded to walk in and tell his manager I must’ve done it. After a bunch of arguing and showing him the keys with the paint on them that were in his porters pocket. Well let’s just say we didn’t pay and I’m not allowed back at that dealership after the porter and the manager tried to attack MY integrity!!
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
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  7. FallenStar

    FallenStar Bobtail Member

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    Training has been going pretty smooth. At first, things were a little intimidating, but every trip up and down the ramps and in and out of the belly has been a confidence builder. Our class is a little bigger (6 people) for one trainer, so we don't get a ton of reps, but we go out with trainers next week, so we'll get plenty then.

    That said, I did have my first scare this morning. My confidence was decently high, so I volunteered to go first. We had a Mini Cooper, so they're already on the more narrow side. I started up the ramp and the floor mat slid up to pin the accelerator open. I FLEW up the ramp, in this little narrow car, trying to keep on line and brake to a more manageable speed. I didn't really panic, but after the fact, my blood was PUMPING. We were practicing on the stinger, so when I got up to the #2 position, I hard braked to figure out what was going on. It was not great fun. lol

    Also, one guy in our class is experienced and swears by loading heavy up front on the stinger - pickup, van, whatever. We have done a couple of mock loads on paper, so I used his tips and tried to load a Dodge Grand Caravan or Chevy Silverado 1500 in the #1 hole and was shot down by the trainer - too heavy, too tall. I'll be on the east coast (kind of SE regional), so they're pretty strict about the 13'6" limit. Is it just not possible to get those larger vehicles down to legal height? The experienced guy just waved him off when I mentioned it, but I haven't had a chance to see for myself. For reference, the truck I'm learning on is a Pete 389 with a 9 car stinger. Steers are rated up to 14.6 but they want us to keep it under 14.5.
     
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  8. BigBob410

    BigBob410 Road Train Member

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    Glad it’s going well. It’s definitely a good idea to try and stay 13’6” in the northeast. That’s why I miss chains sometimes. We could pull big loads down. There are plenty of pictures of big loads in the post your pics section in the car hauler sub forum. Don’t go by @Hammer166 s loads. His area he can run tall.:D Figuring out what will fit where will get easier over time. The only problem in the beginning for you is the mix of cars you’ll be running. Hauling new cars we have the advantage of looking at the loads other guys are doing and we usually haul close to the same freight all the time. And as far as front axle weight in a car carrier it is essential to keep up on checking your steer tires! We usually run close to max up front.
     
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  9. richardson918

    richardson918 Light Load Member

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    That’s awesome & that’s true up north mainly depending on where you go I don’t chance it but down south we run heavy & tall I always load a truck over my head 14-3 on the head rack but certain states you can run tall always keep a map book gps can be tricky
     
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  10. NuCar Carrier

    NuCar Carrier Light Load Member

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    Take a zip tie, close it to make a loop if you have to, and slide each key onto it. That keeps them in order and easy to take with you into the hotel. Quick down and dirty.
     
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  11. FallenStar

    FallenStar Bobtail Member

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    Looks like they flipped it up on me today. I've been training all week on a 9 car stinger, but they told me today I would likely get a condo truck with an 8 car trailer, so I better not be putting anything over the truck. lol

    Also, I met my road trainer today. He's got one of the older chain trailers, so the ramps are WAY steeper than what we've been training on. It's going to be pretty interesting, but I'm not worried about it. Just another learning lesson and more experience.
     
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