Advice for Hauling Steel Coil

No law against crossing your chains unless it's loaded suicide. "X" chains on a shotgun coil(s) is a common and preferred practice.

 

What I would have given to have Coil Bags tonight!

We only load Shotgun style, and I will only "X" my chains. Unbelievable how many guys come over when I'll load in St. Louis area to tell me how to chain the load. 3 small (15K) coils on tonight and putting them rags on kicked my "you know what"!

 

Smart man to recognize that.

Buy a trailer with j-grooves that have blocks welded every few inches to prevent chain plates from sliding in the groove.
These chain plates allow you to maintain a higher WLL per inch chain than the spools or pockets allow. And when you load shotgun, the securement point will spread out more and the chain will try to pull or slide the plate. So the welded blcks in those j-grooves stop sliding plates.

You need a strong trailer to haul big coils and have a balanced ride. Mine is a 4" arch rated 50000lbs in 4' with reinforced floor in that center spot.

 

I haul coils, pickled, suicide, shotgun, eye to the sky, you name it I do it. Most of my work comes from a processor and then I haul in from Delta or Middletown. Like so many have said use proper chains and methods, but just take your time. Ask questions, if your loading and find yourself questioning how your doing it ask another driver, think about what your doing. Coils are not bad as long as you take your time and check, check, check and double check your work. That coil has a mind of it's own, it's your job to control it. Best of luck.

 

Yes. You don't need a long trailer for coils unless your doing the big permitted coil loads then you might have bridge laws to deal with. Lots of guys run small trailers for brick and coils.

 

Watch your bridge law with a 42' trailer...the back axle has to be right at the bumper and the pin should be 24" setting to give you minimum 39' axle 2 to 5 measurement (for max weight).

you may run into an anal retentive DOT man with a tape measure in IL or IN.
I have found both.

 

That's a great link.

 

Did those pic's scare you out of the coil hauling business?