The journey begins - purchased a truck.

Oof. Yeah, I’d have cross chains of some form front and back on that.

I don’t have a headache rack, but I’d imagine 5,000 lbs of steel razor blade would cut through an aluminum head ache rack with enough force.

 

I get what you’re saying.

My first flatbed load was 2 Bass boats. I probably warped the trailer frames heaving on the straps and watched them like a hawk like they were going to bounce off the trailer with the slightest brake tap or turn.

It took me a while to get comfortable with open deck, but came to realize that 10 years driving with a sleeping wife behind me was the perfect training - I drove with an internal gyroscope, - it’s like the coffee cup on the dash trick, but we had to do it - else neither of us could rest, work, or be safe.

What I never know , is the brick wall scenario. When the load pictured by @Old Man ”worst case scenario “ is hit head on by another semi, or runs into a bridge abutment - what happens?

Not having the energy to set up the experiment, but having $1000 to bet - I’ll bet that an aluminum headache rack would offer only the slightest resistance to a poorly secured slab of steel in a high speed impact.

In which case, I’m just repeating your comment - yes, the engine is in your lap, and the ambulance won’t need to run the lights or siren on the way back to the hospital.