Flatbed mods to make it easier to load / unload

Will not have a flatbed without a dunnage basket .

 

For me, between the frame rails with door on the front. Never have to secure anything down in there and keeps things more secure from theft like my long vee boards.

 

a question to you step deck yankers.....The step I pull has steel over the wheel areas and of course no pockets for a porta winch. If you have to tie down in this area, what are some of the different things you do to have a safe tie down?

 

You could use a portable ratchet strap but wouldn't want the hooks over a tire. Otherwise hook in front or behind the wheel. This is a disadvantage of a step.
In most cases there is a stake pocket closer than you can get a winch underneath so I use the porta winches there and at the very rear but still does not allow for a winch centered over a tire.

 

A 4" ratchet strap with chain hook from the front or back spool on the rail diagonally to the other side. The rear one is usually near the end of the load anyway, so it's usually a criss cross setup, whereas the front one can be a single strap if it's not the rear end of the load..

 

a chain from one side of the wheels at a stake pocket to another stake pocket on the other side then a rachet hooked in to the chain.

 

Hey fireball, if you're still pulling a red lead sled, a standard two inch ratchet works just fine. If you have a 51 combo, there's not much you can do with the rounded wheel well.

 

The majority of what we haul on our step is hay. It never fails that the center of the bale is right over a dang wheel well. To add insult to injury this trailer has a well in the middle for a third axle (but no axle there). I've been contemplating building something to either bolt or tie into the stake pockets on either side of the wheel wells to hook a flat hook to since all I carry is straps to keep the weight down.

 

I also like to carry a short peice of pipe to release my flip chain binders. Works quicker and easier than my bar for unloading. About 12" long and 1.25 dia.

 

I carry few Porta-winches that fits into the stake pocket and few short chain w/ hook + triangle at the other end that a 4" strap hook goes into.

But if that area is a big or ongoing issue with you, I would get a triangle at one end w/ (2)separate hooks + chains at the other end - wrap the hooks at each sides of that wheel well plate (around spools) w/ the triangle coming up at the middle directly over that plate. 2" - 4" ratchet strap directly over the point you need/want it.