Chaining vehicles

4, four, or fore

 

Funny, a bunch of the supposed carhaulers hauling metro's think the correct number is zero, nada, none.

Busy Dad, go to Truck-n-Tow's website. They used to have pics of the straps in usse.

 

I guess you could do 2 on opposite corners, but to cross the T's and dot the I's, stick with 4.
Isn't going to take much longer.

 

thx guys...helpful info

 

OH and NJ have both told me to its legal to just have two straps per car, as long they are on opposite corners. .. IMO you need four.

 

Car Haulers ..... cheating ???? Never !!

That said, I'll do a 'city load' running two straps. I'll do it because current law in my 'city' allows it. I've run city loads of F-350 duallies on two straps. Have any of you ever tried to move a cargo unit that still had a strap on it ? The strap you forgot to peel off ? One strap will hold that sucker on like it's welded there !! And I'm talkin' duallies here too .... not AVEO's. I've got pictures of strap units that have turned over in the weeds and all the units are still on the decks.

All that said, our rules say that on the highway, inter-state, or inter-province, we use four straps or four chains. I find ratchet straps the best. NextGen strap type units are ok, but you really have to get to know your units and your riggin to know where to lay out the webbing. Ratchets I like because I just walk down the sides and drop rolled up straps next to the approximate location of the unit's wheel.

I also always strap on the same side if it's only 2. Why go cross corner ? I would think that IF the unit was to bounce, then 2 on the same side would keep it straight .....

Bottom line is 4 is safer and more secure. Chains or straps. Chains will keep your units sucked down and it will not move. Straps will secure a unit to the decks BUT allow the suspension some flexibility. Straps thru the frame, suspension, tow hooks/eyes, or trailer hitch harness simply defeat the purpose of straps, which is to minimize preasure on the suspension, frame, or uni-body, especially if it's an active air suspension like a Linc Navigator, Benz product, Land Rover product etc etc.

The time will come when we won't even be allowed to chain down bulldozers on floats anymore.

JMO - SL

 

Don't use chains on vehicles with air supensions, you'll find out how expensive those systems are, like the guy who threw chains on a Bentley and pulled it down, blew out all the air bags and burned up the compressor. $7000 repair. Or the guy who put chains on a Nissan GT-R and pulled all the anti-lock braking senosor out of the spindle.

Oh, and if you use 4 straps, make sure they aren't the 500# straps you buy at Home Depot for $20. (Yes, I saw a wedge hauling three vehicles using them, I hope they never have to slam on the brakes, or their days is gonna suck real quick.)

 

From FMCSA 393.128
Securement of automobiles, light trucks, and vans.

1. Automobiles, light trucks, and vans must be restrained at both the front and rear to prevent lateral, forward, rearward, and vertical movement using a minimum of two tiedowns.
2. Tiedowns that are designed to be affixed to the structure of the automobile, light truck, or van must use the mounting points on those vehicles that have been specifically designed for that purpose.
3. Tiedowns that are designed to fit over or around the wheels of an automobile, light truck, or van must provide restraint in the lateral, longitudinal and vertical directions.

I guess you could read into that opposing corners but one could argue...but as we know, truckdrivers never argue.

STRAPS ARE FOR SISSIES. REAL MEN USE STEEL.

 

Guess you don't haul VWs, Audis, Mercedes or any high end cars? Because if you put any chains on those, you'll get the bill for damages.

 

I use chains as tie downs on all kinds of differant makes and models. Old to new........ Ooooppppssss wait my car loads probly don't count they are in big cubes when I haul them