PUT DOWN ON TRAILER... NOW NEED HELP WITH EQUIPMENT

Your call on the rack, the enclosed ones are nice, depending on how they are layed out. If you keep your tarps in the boxes on the trailer, you will need some boxes on the truck anyway. I like to keep my straps in side boxes though, instead of in a headache rack, much less than climbing up and down.

 

That is usually only a big issue on stepdecks. On flatbeds, there is enough room to slide a winch along the track above a tire. And while you dont want a winch directly above a tire, 8-10 inches either way is enough to keep you from damaging a tire with a winch while driving.

 

I'd go with the 4 set pictured. Just to know it'll cover everything that isnt overdimensional that you may haul. The guys mentioning 6ft drops are right. Most ofthe time 6 footers are adequate. But to me, tucking that extra couple of feet of tarp on each side isnt a big deal. Not as big a deal as losing freight opportunities because you dont have 8 footers, and certainly isnt as big a deal as the freight claim could be from trying to cover an 8 foot load with 6 foot tarps.

 

No big deal on a step deck, because you can't do it, on flats is where the problem comes in. Every now and then I have had to be right above a tire. I always carried 2 four in ratchet straps, for those rare times. I will admit I probably used them more on a step above drive tires, but have had to have them on flats too over a spread.

A couple of weeks back I picked up a loaded flat with two winches above the tires. I said ef it and tried it, I stopped and checked after about 10 miles one had wore through the strap except for about a 1/4 inch on the very edges of the strap. lol Never seen that before.

 

Thats what I meant. It isnt an issue with flats. Too easy to do something else. Steps needing a strap near a tire is an issue because you cant. And you cant even just move a winch 8 or 10 inches. I have one 4 inch ratchet. Never use it unless I have one of our steps. Then I use it almost every time.

 

Tarp padding (old blankets, moving blankets, felt, whatever)
2" or larger rachet straps. I carry 6 on my truck.
Push broom (snow shovel in winter)
4' or 6' tarps. You'll get real tired of breaking out those 8s for short loads real quick.

I didn't read every post. So, these may already be covered by others

 

I run both kinds. However I preferred the exposed kind. Hung 20 chain and binders went into the clean side box. The rack must have a bottom tray or pocket capable of keeping the chain where you hung them because if they escape.. your drive shaft will catch wrap it and try it's best to kill you.

 

So over your drive tires you use the sliding winches on a flat?

 

It depends where you run, but I hate the headache racks with a tray to contain the loose ends of the chains.
I have been in wyoming and in need of a jackhammer to get a chain out of them.

 

Yeah. All the time. And the only time the winch will hit a drive tire is if you screw up and jack your trailer around so far it leans. I've been flatbedding for almost 27 years. And I've never had a problem with winches hitting drive tires in normal driving situations. Maybe if you ran tall rubber you might. Not with short rubber or with super singles. There are winches that are taller that may hit. But any winches I've ever used dont. Now I have had issues a couple of times with winches over trailer tires hitting. So I dont put winches in the 10-12 inch wide space above a trailer tire. A little bit in front or behind the tire is enough to keep it out of trouble. Now, having said all of that, equipment is highly variable. Different trucks, different trailers, different size tires, different winches, different winch tracks, etc. Due diligence is in order to ensure what you can do with your equipment. You may not have clearance over drive tires with your equipment. I do. And in the 3 flatbed companies Ive worked for, I always have. Maybe I wont at the next one depending on their equipment specs. We shall see. Currently have no plans to leave where I am at now.