Straps too tight?

How do you measure how much torque you're applying? Do your winches have some kind of instrument for measuring torque, or is it your cheater bar?

 

that's one of those guessing games. no need to get this thing confusing he asking about getting straps to tight, not how much torch is needed on them.

 

Beam's...as in steel beam's? with straps? I hope you used edge protectors. Why not to tight?.... edge of the steel beam could slice through the nylon strap. Like the other driver said, tight enough to make a guitar like sound, with edge protectors and if a tall stack, a twist on each side. (Aireal's Husband)

 

Giver the ol pinch test.

 

Hi Calregon, welcome to the wonderful world of flatbed. Flatbed is probably one of the hardest jobs in trucking, simply because, yes, things can fall off. I didn't do a lot of flatbed, but did plenty of machine hauling(dozers, front end loaders) and like the others say, after tightening, a tap on the strap with the bar, should make a sound and bounce back slightly. And by all means, stop and check your straps(or chains) once in a while. I can't tell you how many flatbeds I've seen with loose straps or chains! Oh, one more thing, do you still have your front teeth? Years ago, you could always tell a flatbed hauler by their missing teeth.

 

one way of knowing if they are to tight or to loose. if your going down the road and yer load is falling off one pc at a time and the straps are flapping in the wind. guess what - too loose.

 

When I did flatbed, I made them tight enough that when you tap them with your winch bar they would sound like a guitar string. On soft loads like hay, that's not gonna happen though, in that case you use your judgment, and check them often

 

My 2 cents is use chains whenever you can, save your straps.

And the only way a strap can be too tight is if you're jumping on the bar or doing something in an unsafe manner to get it tight. But putting your full weight on the end of the bar in a controlled manner is fine.

The other exception would be pvc pipe, insulation, rickety wooden crates, etc... where over tightening could damage the product. Then you want to put extra straps, plenty of edge protection and watch the corners as you tighten + check your securement often til you get a feel for correct torque to apply

 

FYI to any new drivers...this is completely false

 

that would be a pretty long bar!