torque bar

You'd think common sense would kick in hauling those insulation panels- You know the ones- They got a huge picture showing what happens when TMC driver plays "He-Man" And literally put a 4 inch crush into the bundle panels WITH edge protectors too-

Probably Never a Claim because those Panels are pretty cheap- But Still- Use the Grape!

 

Winch Bars

 

I have hauled several loads of sheet styrofoam, you can't put much pressure on them at all.
I did learn a good lesson in the first few miles on them though.
As soon as you get up to highway speed they will seperate as much as a foot , making an 8000 pound load feel like you are grossing a 150,000 putting a lot more pressure on the front straps. It pays big time to throw a smoke tarp on the front, and I hate tarps.

 

Load Securing Technologies - Quick Winch

 

Yeah only bad things happen when u try to get that last click. But if ur gonna do it , then put ur full body weight on the bar, not just ur arms.. I saw a western express about a month ago driver tighting his winches, using only his arms and he was standing facing the winch . the only thing between the bar was his face. I almost threw up a little watching it.. Me i want my whole body on the bar. If it slips out its gonna hit me in the stomach or chest . may knock the wind out of me or worst case scenario break a rib . but its a hell of a lot better than taking a metal bar to the dome or jaw. Seen a guy get knocked out cold more than once because the slip on ice or water . it will give u a concussion

 

Saw a bar get thrown from a Winch. The chrome glistening in the sun light. It was a beautiful thing.

 

Lol, I like the demonstration with drywall. The guy is just going to town tightening the strap, the extra cinch at the end was good. Nope, not going damage the product tightening it like that....

 

"...and as I watched the glistening winch bar on its flight, I wondered to myself, 'Why is it getting so BIG so FAST!!!???'"

"Then it hit me."

 

Were you the guy that admistered CPR? Lol

 

The first time I hauled them I thought it would be an easy trip home with a load that doesn’t weigh anything. Turns it they are like pulling a boat sail down the interstate. It’s even better when there’s a strong cross wind that makes it feel like an empty van trailer. I learned the lesson of a smoke tarp that day, and won’t haul that evil stuff without one. Had to stop about 5 times to push the stacks on the front of the trailer back together. You eventually calibrate your arm like a torque wrench to get that perfect tightness on the straps.

At 6’1” and 240# I’ve learned that as tight as I can get the straps with one arm on the winch bar is generally tight enough on solid loads. I’d rather not stretch my straps piano tight for longevity sake.