Flatbed equipment

First I'll answer the last question. Why would someone use a 53'? Because they're hauling long loads and have a bulkhead. You can overhang the front of a 48' but you can't overhang a 53'. The vast majority of loads fit on a 48'. I can't remember when I last hauled more than 12' of deck space.

When I had my sidekick down, I had 2 4' steel tarps. I have 8 chains and 10 binders. I have 7 straps and 7 3" ratchet straps.

 

There are threads about F/B equipment on the Flatbed Trucking Forum as well as discussions concerning tarp sizes and types. as far as the 48 vs 53 debate goes the 53 is used completely for very few loads and the restrictions that a 53 has in different states concerning W/B goes away with a 48 foot trailer.

 

You’ll need a metal stick for tightening down the straps, and maybe as a secondary tool for whooping up on some old boy harassing ya.

 

Tighten straps with breaker bar , whoop was with a do-rite stick. Can be one in the same.

 

My apologies on the nomenclature. I don’t pull flatbed (tanker). Is the second also known as a “Tire Thumper”? That’s what I have in the pocket behind the driver seat. It’s a wooden stick very similar to what cops used to carry. It’s a wooden stick very similar to what cops used to carry.

 

Friend, you’re going to have to be more specific. You just can’t go spending money and set up a business. Well, you can but odds are you will be broke soon.

1. What’s your home 20? You don’t want to go into a hole every time you go to the house. If you don’t have your specific freight for your setup, you will have to dig deep in pockets every trip to the house.

2. Your freight lane determines the equipment needed and what kind of trailer. The goal is to pull the most versatile trailer for your freight lane.

3. Regional or OTR? OTR requires you to be much more versatile and thus carry much more equipment. At 1 time, I carried 11 tarps, but I was roaming all the US, Canada and the Territories.

 

In my operation tarps aren’t worth it. The loads aren’t enough better to justify the extra time/work and maintenance of the tarps. At least for me. We haul primarily oversize pipe products and unfortunately usually brick or shingles the other way. At least 20 4 inch winch straps and a bunch of edge protectors will cover 90 percent of our loads. Half a dozen 3/8 by 20 foot chains and 12 binders cover the rest or combine with the straps. You need the binder bar and personally I would get or make a short one too. Don’t forget 4-6 2 inch straps with ratchets if you don’t have winches over the tires. If you’re trailers is built for them j hooks for the floor are nice to

 

Better to learn the flatbed stuff on someone else’s dime , driving for a company .