Four Points Of Contact

That's ridiculous.

 

Not at all, if you drive tight to the step and chain it there how can it move? It won't , there isn't much weight in a backhoe or bobcat and rubber tyres, granted if you have it sitting in the middle of the deck you need more lashing forwards and backwards to stop it moving

 

I'm not worried about things moving while I'm driving. I'm concerned that in the event of an evasive maneuver or a accident where my freight is going to be. And 1 chain on a backhoe that requires 6 points of securement you may as well walk into a crowd of people and open fire

 

Left in the middle of the deck I'd agree, unless u use a very weak chain it won't break, in a crash if it's against the step it can't come forward so the chain can't come loose or because it's pulling forward it won't break, it would be fully on it's side before it would ever come off the trailer

 

Well, I haul under 20k usually, not 80k machines like you guys. I don't need the big 1/2" chains. Gravy requires less securement

 

in addition with the weight rating of most pockets and spools on standard flats and steps anything over 5/16 is a waste of time. as a half inch chain wouldn't increase weight rating at all.

 

When I was doin heavy haul I was running at 330,000lbs+ and I'd very rarely use 6 point securement Unless the load wasn't sitting directly on the deck like 120 tonne excavator which is wider than the trailer so you'd sit the undercarriage on blocks, 4 points is plenty on most loads, def don't need 6 points on a backhoe unless your chains are very light, 4 points on the middle of the deck, 1 chain and 2 binders on or near the back or centre if it's up against the step

 

You're supposed to secure the boom and the buck and each corner so yes 6 points of securement. I'm not saying 1 chain pulling against the step won't work. I'm just saying you're a danger to society

 

Odds are if you're tugging a "normal Flatbed" you wouldn't be hauling too much requiring the WLL of a 100g 1/2" chain anyway! I have no real use for light weight chains with the exception of securing my dunnage and some smaller buckets or booms and such! Everything has a place in this industry, so Im not picking on anyone's use of this chain or that chain at all, it's whatever you're hauling that's gonna dictate what chain and how many you'll need to meet legal requirements!!

 

Yup. All our flats and steps securement points are 5,500 lbs, so all I carry is 3/8 G70. No use for 1/2 unless I start to pull the heavier trailers.