Flatbed question

You have too much crap in your sig, and it's pretty annoying.

I have a securment question, though I've been flatbedding a few years now. Which of course doesn't mean I know everything, but I have paid attention.

Sometimes I pull all-aluminum Reitinouer trailers. The one I pull came with these annoying bracket things thout you're supposed to slide into a rail in the bed, and use that to loop the chain through.

I usually ignore them, and just wrap the stake pocket.

Here is my question

Must I use these annoying bracket things, or is wrapping the stake pocket good enough?

I can't see how a bracket with a little lip on it that fits into a rail in the trailer is better than a chain wrapped around two or more welded pieces.

 

Actually I throw about 13 straps on a load of pipe, 2 belly chains, takes me about 8 minutes. Rolling the straps back up? I gots me a fancy home-made roller-upper, takes me about 2.5 minutes to roll em all up.

Now something more awkward and somewhat fragile, an oil well pump unit. took me about 3 hours my first time to figure out where to put the chains to:
a) keep the heavy weights secure without damaging the lighter sheet metal
b) not scratch TOO much paint off it

those were fun loads, too bad oil production is taking a dive....

 

I always use the spools on mine for chains....But that's all I have since it's a Utility.

 

I have heard that running chains through the pockets will eventually rip the pockets out...I haven't ever seen it though....

 

The strongest securement is to go around 1 spool and then into the inside of the state pocket with the hook facing out. Also the state pockets are 2 foot apart so it is a quick measure to set up for your load.

 

Sinister
I have little chain securement points on my trailer since it used to have a side kit. but in your case I wouldn't use the stake pocket, don't want to break a weld or two. The round rubrail supports I would use tho. Like using the two between the skate pockets to make a triangle. I have a couple stake pockets with broken welds, and never put pipe stakes in them anymore.

 

Back in the good old days, when we had freight. Like, I don't know....a year or so ago, we'd load all kinds of excavator buckets. Big ones weren't bad, but a load of bobcat buckets usually required about 14-16 straps. Huge pain. At least you don't have to tarp them though.

They never really seemed to care if we scratched these either. Except the show buckets that went into a conestoga for the construction show in Vegas. They got pretty nuts about those.

Spools for chains? Huh?

 

You can't belly wrap Gas pipe since it will damage the wrap on the pipe.
Most plants will stand there and supervise while they load you and will not allow chains on wrapped pipe....

Nothing more annoying when after you just placed a couple thousand feet of pipe in the trench and when you "Jeep" it, the #### "Jeep" buzzes every other foot...Yep....I have done pipeline work in another life....straps.....chains are for plates, beams, and tanks.....not gas or crude pipe....

 

Not if you go around a spool and then into the state pocket. Doubles the WIL on the rub.

 

I've only hauled coated pipe twice, had to belly wrap that too, with straps.. and yer right no chains. but drill pipe and casing, sometimes I'll even chain the whole load if I'm feelin frisky.