The Truckers’ Report flatbed Hall of Shame.

I have a couple of them and I don’t use them very often. They aren’t the friendliest things to use. I really only use mine at the very back of the trailer because Reitnouer has that gusset that makes using a sliding winch a no go. I typically use my 4” ratchet straps before the pocket winch.

 

Although I don't have any, I've always thought the one place I could use them was on the front and/or back pockets (if available) on the trailer for front to back X type securement or as a front to back securement, but that would mean at least a 50 - 60 ft strap..don't even know if those are easily available for purchase or if they're like a custom made item. Using them for let's say hay bales or like gypsum, etc, something you'd like to have the extra comfort of knowing you had full immobilization of the load.

 

I have 6 2" chain end rachets for that. With the chain ends, you can pull at an angle and they don't bind.

 

Still, some of the following pics depict the requirement of two or more on the front and back, and as a company driver who never knows what they're going to get to load, these things help keep us legal if we run into them.

 

That's the other nice thing about the chain ends, you can link them together indefinitely.

 

Not the best pictures but I think this trailers had a few too many hot suppers to haul that heavy load. Look at the back deck to well relation. The rear deck is probably 10” higher at the back then the front. The driver was standing out side looking at the rear transition, then got in and down i40 he went.

 

That’s a flip on there and that’s not uncommon when the eyes get wore out.

 

The whole back deck was level/flat with the flip. Although looking at the pictures again the flip is slightly under shimmed. If you look at the wheel wells you can get a better idea. Here’s a pretty heavy load on a similar trailer. It still has some arch left.

 

Anybody else see the problem here?? Photo was taken by my wife not me.

 

Yes. Aside from not pulling equally to the right on the counterweight, I really don't like pulling sideways on a hook like what he has on the back left for starters.