High rail loading tips

9 equinoxes 1.25 hrs. 15 minutes if that was talking to a couple drivers. Pulled all units on foot, 4 strapping and pinning everything off in air. 13'4 under 4' on rear.

 

With 9 mine is fairly easy, but I'm not sure if a sleeper changes it for you. I load the first 2 and strap the wheels while I am up top. Slide 2 all the way forward. Flip all my flippers except on the front of the first deck as the front flippers never are in my way with 9 units. Load 3 and slide all the way forward. Load 4 and slide forward. Load 5 and lift back end slightly. Start at right front corner of tractor tightening straps and work my way all the way around the rig to finish at the left front corner. Start truck turn off electric and engage PTO. Raise tractor decks and pin right side, raise trailer and pin right side, flip jump skid right side, walk up left side pinning as I go, flip jump skid left side, pin left side of tractor. Disengage PTO and turn tractor off and electric on. Load 6, flip both jump skids. Load 7, 8, 9, slide skids in. Start strapping on right side of #6 and un pinning as I work my way towards the rear and back up left side. When I was hauling 9 units of the same size every day I could do it in one hour. If I haul a mixed load of 7 or 8 now it takes me 2 hours no matter what I do, but when you are moving straps every load I don't know how to do it any quicker without taking shortcuts or running which I won't do. I'm sure there are better ways than mine and I am open to suggestions.

 

Also on clearing a pickup or Suv in the belly, I don't have a problem with SUVs, midsize can be loaded with belly all the way up, but with a full size pickup I leave front of deck almost all the way down and gradual slope from tandems.

 

Basically how I do it except I leave PTO on. And I load bottom lift rear of #8 bottom boae of trailer to make it easier to strap. I start throwing straps from controls around back to controls throwing straps and dropping pins.

 

Yep but I can load it all the way up. I don't but I could. I hate putting pickups behind cab.

 

Unless it's a small pickup it won't go behind my cab.

 

I used to leave PTO on for the entire process, but now that I pay the bills I found ways to idle less. It's not as much about the money with cheap fuel, but I want the engine to last me as long as possible and the less idle time the longer it will last. My electric works fine for sliding so I really only need PTO to lift quicker.

 

There is many variables to some of the info that has been given to you. As Skinny said the flippers make a difference as to what is done. Your trailer also has a bit of a factor....ex CS12LTB has longer first top deck. If it's a CS12LTA then it has shorter first top deck on the trailer. CS10 is the post forward all which are chain trailers. The strap high rail trailers all have the short decks. Placement of the vehicles on the decks determine a lot of what you can do once the unit is on and can be slid around. I see quite a few put the first 2 on the top of the trailer before strapping or chaining but that normally requires you to slide the decks. I personally load #3 secure then raise it up out of the way so that I know there is no issue. Then put #4 unit on and secure raise. Everyone has different loading styles and most are normally within 10 or 15 mins of each other finishing,

 

All good info. It's all about personal loading style. By working off that to eliminate all wasted motion.

 

I strap and tighten each vehicle as I load them. Depending on 9 or 10 and what mix of vehicles it is. I always raise each car on the trailer after I load and strap it. I don't like leaving all 3 cars down on the trailer, too close to each other, rather just strap and lift. You will always find some way to tweak how you load no matter how much you have it down pat.