Flatbed equipment choices....

If you do not know how to pad the sharpe edges and or don't keep padding(furniture blankets or carpet) on the truck then you're not equipped to haul machinery. Guys that do what you are suggesting in my opinion are wannabes and probably are not getting paid enough to do the job the right way. Could be a little lazy also.

 

That is how you loose a customer. If you can't do the job right in the first place you don't need to be doing it.

 

We want pictures.

 

Well that is one of the reasons I didn't take the load it had so many sharp edges and it was a one time load for a customer and I couldn't see going out and buying furniture padding plus an 8ft tarp to cover it. The other O/O had an 8ft drop tarp so he thought he was good to go and used some carpet but it didn't hold up for some reason. The tarp charge more then paid for a new tarp but if it was done right the first time he could have put all that money in his wallet.

 

SHC
I agree with the corner protectors. Your carpet, rubber, rags cardboard will do the job just fine, and IT'S FREE. As you go along, you will learn from other guys and you will figure out what is best for you. I realize I only have a covered wagon, but I haul big coils. I have a set of 10 each, ratchet binders, and 7/16 10' chains. I have 8 out and 2 spare. They are my origionals from when I bought my trailer 11 ys ago. They are getting rusty and don't want to "flow" as well, so I'll be getting some new one here shortly. I also have 4 snap binders. They are quicker, but for personal safety, they can be dangerous. What I mean is they can slip out from the binder pipe if you are not careful. Trust me, we all get in a hurry, or get comfy using them, or don't notice the pipe is not on correctly, and find out the hard way. You'll live, but you'll learn. I wapped my forhead securing a load of sheets, and my head bled all over the sheet and trailer. You'd a thought I slaughtered a pig in that trailer. Well, MY fault, I didn't realize the pipe was on crooked.
Oh, and BTW I know alot of guys who use Tarpstop for covered wagons, and sliders. No complaints, except price. And why are you getting 4 sets of wood to start? I wouldn't do that until you get a feel for what you are going to be doing. I think 2 sets might suffice. However the CO. you are leasing to should be able to guide you on that for the area you'll be running.
And, those fancy ratchet binders..... not so much. Just one more piece to break, and with the amount of force you use to tighten a load, it looks like there is an oppertunity for the handle to move while tightening, causing you to lose your balance, smash a finger, ect. As far a tripping on the handle,you will learn how to walk around your trailer when it's loaded.
Believe me you will keep "falling off the trailer" in the back of your mind at all times.
There will be sooo many things that you'll learn as you go and experience yourself, and from others. If you buy everything, you'll be over weight by the time you have a load on . Oh wait.... theres a permit for that.

 

Semi Crazy- Really???? You really posted that????? Omg!!!!!

 

And that's why you don't use a pipe.

 

This is what I call a binder pipe, and this is exactly what I was using when I bonked my noodle. I admited it was all my ignorance, I'm just saying.... poop still occures.