Up and running an old 48' curtainside

Authority is active as of yesterday and my 1998 NuVan curtain side is ready to run.

I'll pull my first load up to Fort Lee, Va next week. I called Ft. Lee, thank god, and was told the online commercial vehicle gate is closed and I have to use the main gate. No special anything needed---just DL.

It'll be my first time delivering to a military installation and my first load under my own MC/ DOT. I'm expecting a scale house inspection based on new MC number.

Hauling steel roofing that is crated. I'm set up for lumber. No chains.

12, 4" straps and 6, 2" hand straps. I bolted 7 winches to the trailer. There are 5 sliding winches that I left at the front 8'. They have a bar that keeps the strap to the rail so they go under the curtain. The bar keeps a 27' strap from being on the winch unloaded. So, the first 6' of the trailer has 5 empty winches that have to have straps thrown before the winch can fit the strap.

It takes a bit to pull the curtains. Hopefully shipper won't mind too much.

I see old curtainsides rolling around here all the time. Any of you guys pulling one? Any tips/ tricks? I'm a blank slate with this thing.

 

Thanks for the tips.

Those roof supports are heavy duty. I can't imagine dropping one straight on my foot like that.

Mine have chains that tether them to the roof. I don't know if that's good or bad. Guess I'll find out here in a bit.

 

Well,
Got loaded. Shipper had to ship shorter sections than they planned. They originally wanted to ship some 20' pieces but that would have meant moving two ceiling supports which is a no-go. One at a time.

Thought I'd be turned away but they grabbed some shorter sections for me.

I'm guessing moving the curtains probably took 45 minutes longer than if I had a regular flatbed.

Unload tomorrow and it'll probably be an extra 30 with the curtains.

Not too bad.

 

Got unloaded today at a construction site on an army base.

They had a lull (so?) lift so I only had to slide one side. Easy unload but cold as a witch's nose.

250 mile run of flooring in the morning. 40,000 pounds. Should be home by 4:00 pm.

 

Yeah, I can tell that I was faster unloading today than loading yesterday because I knew where and how to pull.

Trial and error

It should really get easy in the warmer weather when the canvas is not frozen.