Advice for Hauling Steel Coil

Grade 8 chain is actually grade 80. Half inch grade 80 wouldn't do any better job than 3/8 grade 70 on a flat and stepdeck. Normally your spools and stake pockets will have a WLL of 5000-6600 lbs. so the only thing you're going to get by lugging out the big chain is a workout.

 

For the most part flat bedders are quite happy and friendly lol. Maybe its because we all know flat decking is labour intensive and we have respect for that. Just my thought.

 

You will use multiple chains to multiple hook points on the trailer. Spools or stake pockets. Don't cross your chains over each other either.

 

They can cross if loaded shotgun, seems to spread load over the length of trailer more, not as much sag or bending when going around curves. It may freak you out the first time you look in the mirror and see the trailer bending when going around a curve. Also shotgun gives you more room for your binders. I prefer shotgun but that will mostly depend on where you pickup and deliver. If loading or unloading with a forklift they will require you to load suicide. If hauling stainless coils they may require you to use edge protectors, go ahead and get the steel ones. Never had to use edge protectors for carbon steel coils. Also with stainless the May want a rubber pad for the edges of your beveled 4x4s, old mud laps work good for this. For the 45000 - 47000 lb coils I use 8 3/8 grade 70 chains w/snap binders and if shotgun 3 straps or suicide 2 straps. (Overkill maybe but i don't worry about it moving). Check every stop to make sure chains haven't loosened up. I see many using only 6 5/16 chains, not enough IMO, But I see a lot of things I don't agree with
for tarps the coil tarps are the way to go.

 

I normally only wrap each end of a chain around 1 pocket or 1 spool. Putting it around 2 will only take up more space and not give you a higher rating.

 

The way you load it (suicide, shotgun) may also depend on the location your picking up from. They may specify which way they want it loaded (usually shotgun) I ran into this when I first started and was sent to u.s steel in Gary In they told me the size of the coil and said it was to be loaded shotgun. I called another of our drivers not wanting it loaded shotgun and he told me just set your bunks the way you want them and they will load it that way. So I put bunks suicide and they plopped the coil down and nothing was said.

 

Ive seen a lot of good advice on this thread which is a nice change COODOO's to everyone But the most important rule to flat bedding hasn't been touched!

THROW AS MANY CHAINS TILL YOU FEEL SAFE THEN THROW 2 MORE!