decking trailers and tie down defect chart

I’ve never cross chained decked up trailers.

 

Just looked at it again. Your correct. Is that the way you would secure a 48 spread? I'm loading one tomorrow. First time for me.

 

Was thinking just going up and over indirectly with chains... Ya or No?

 

I just hooked to the stake pockets on the top trailer, drop through the rails on the second trailer and hook to the bottom one. I use 4 chains, just run them so that it pulls forward and backwards on both trailers.

 

I'm only loading 1 trailer.

 

4 chains pulling both directions.

 

I usually cross chain to keep side to side movement in check. Straps or chains over the top or pulling straight down do not directly stop side to side movement.

It goes back to the “basic” rules I apply to every load.
Direct securement when possible Indirect securement when thats the only option.
Stop movement side to side, front to back, and vertically.
Straps over the tarps make you look lazy.

Chains crossed, angled front and rear, and down cover all possible movement.

I usually won’t even strap a trailer for length. I say falls under the cargo specific regulations for wheeled equipment over 10k pounds.

That being said I usually have tarps, tires, and cargo with my stack of trailers.

 

thank god im not the only one who thinks this..i swear i see more straps over the tarps more and more each day, i always thought it looked tacky and lazy... I seen a couple guys today didnt even throw bungees on tarp to hold it down just put a strap every 2 ft and hammer down, look like a parachute goin down the highway... I feel like if ppl is that lazy they shouldnt be pulling a deck it makes us all look bad

 

Yup, tears tarps up also.

 

I strap over tarps for stuff like super sacs, skids of bagged material and such. Mostly so I can unroll tarps as they load and I don't have to crawl up on them to spread them out. Walking on super sacs covered with a tarp is not easy and adds a lot of risk for falling. Keeps the ballooning to a minimum which saves the tarp wear and tear from wind. But then again I am lazy and couldn't care less what anyone else thinks of me.