Tips and Tricks of flatbedding

Tip: Your drive tires are slippery when it's raining. Don't use them as a step to get off of your trailer. Actually just don't use them as a step ever. Ouch.

 

best work gloves I have ever had. waterproof and insulated, impact resistant, good to -20º and keep you from banging your knuckles and fingers.



http://www.amazon.com/Glove-Impact-...qid=1427245589&sr=8-2&keywords=ringers+gloves


also I love my strap winder. what a time saver!



http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Cargo-Control-7028-B-Painted/dp/B002Y4EYWU

 

trick when windy and you're running around trailer trying to get straps tied before they blow off. you can stick a loop through rub rail and run the tail through it quick to hold them til you can put them in the winches.

 

There is a certain product I haul that I like to chain from side to side. The problem is that there is often times something sitting next to it that I can't run a chain over. I had these made to use when I can't use a chain.

There is a guy that travels around to threshing shows and flea markets custom making straps and slings. I was at a show yesterday and had him sew these up for me. I'll take some pics and post them when I get a chance to use them.

 

View attachment 83115 View attachment 83116 A couple of guys had asked about strap winders. This is the one I use. With a few super secret modifications, it also doubles as a hole maker and a screw tightener/loostener. PM me for details on how to make these modifications..... On a serious note, it's just a pawn shop black and decker with an allen wrench. Works like a charm--just leave the drill on low setting lest you get wracked in the shins by your hooks.

 

Pics didn't work. Go advanced.

 

Dont need pics. It's a cordless drill. Throw a 3/8" Allen key in it and tighten the chuck. Cordless drill is a handy thing to have.

 

Use it on high
-stand to the right of the winch instead of in front of it. Use trigger with left hand and keep strap straight into winch with right hand.

*if you remove your straps from the winches when not using them this trick doesn't work*

 

I thought everyone in here took their straps out of the winches and rolled them up and stored them in their special secret hiding spot? Lol!

I always do that myself, however, the other day I unloaded in Hobbs and was going to reload an hour away, so, I thought it would be quicker to leave them in the winches. So I used my Dewalt cordless drill and Allen key to wind them up. I have done this before and it is indeed a time saver.

However, when I strapped the next load down, I not only had to throw the hook ends of the straps (which I hate doing), but I also found myself taking every single strap out of the winch in order to roll the slack correctly and tuck it behind the strap. Also, a couple of the pallets were slightly over the edge of the trailer, and I couldn't get the hooks between them and the rub rail. A hammer fixed that, but it took extra time.

In the end, I don't think I saved any time at all by leaving them in the winches.