Flatbed equipment choices....

You will need to figure out what you're gonna haul before you go and buy anything. You don't want to load up on stuff that is basically useless to what your doing.

You only need one binder pipe which is also a winch pipe.

Snap binders can be nice but you don't need that many, you will mainly use ratchet binders.

 

Don't forget the Strap Roller and Pry Bar.

Sounds like you have a god list and you will pick up other tricks of the trade along the way.

 

I have seen guys get a good size piece of PVC pipe and hook their bungees too it. I always tied 25 or so together and hanged them inside my cabinet. Sometimes hanging them on the outside of the rack or underneath the trailer they come up missing. That is how the guys that haul cheap can afford to get their securement equipment.

 

Okay, I bought some of those corner protectors when they first came out and didn't like them, I couldn't get them to stay on the corners which was mostky flat steel. I threw them in the dumpster one day and went back to the good old stand by carpet.

Check around on the binder that is just what I was told. The manufacture might say one thing and DOT another. Like I say I never talked to the DOT it just came from another driver.

Flat hooks is all I ever used so I don't know about the others.

Get some type of lube and keep your binders lubed so they work better. I would open mine up all the way and spray them down and close and open them back up so they were good to go.

 

My ratchet binders were still good after a year. When I pulled flats I carried 12 5/16ths chain and 12 snap binders maybe over kill but I had plenty if needed and then 6 ratchet binders. Then when I got into heavy haul I replaced them with 10 3/8 20ft chains, 6 1/2 inch 10ft chains, 2 1/2 inch 20ft chains and all ratchet binders.

 

On the 4" straps, get about 4 longer ones. 30' only sounds like enough until it isn't.

I always carried a mixture of the 2" straps. Flat hooks are easy to use but sometimes you need the wire ones.

Ratchet binders are great for vehicles with large squishy tires but snap binders are so much quicker. I like to have both.

Loads are usually set up so you need 8 chains and binders, like 4 bobcats. So I'd have at least 8 of each size, or 10 of the larger size.

I don't store my bungies outside at all. They dry out and start cracking very quickly. Keep them inside and they last for months.

 

As far as my experience goes, the corner protectors are useless. Nothing beats a piece of 2'x2' piece of rubber matting. IMO it's better than carpet because it doesn't hold water like carpet when it gets wet.

IMO flat hooks work the best. I've used the wire style a time or two and thought they were garbage. The grab style is good, just heavy and more stuff to store.

A couple of our o/o's bought those same ratchet binders w/ folding handles. They said the folding handle broke off of a couple of them. They're a good idea just seems like more complicated design so more prone to breakage.

Long story short, I agree w/ John. Unless you're doing heavy haul, 1/2" chains are overkill.

Oh yeah, w/ ratchet binders just make sure you have a ton of penetrating oil or spray lithium grease.