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To me, this is a nightmare load. 68 5" round posts bundled with one metal ribbon around the whole bundle plus two ribbons each for the top and bottom halves. A strap or chain(s) across the top will only add pressure to the ribbon. Each post is, I guess, 20lbs so about 1400lbs total.
It'll be fine just sitting there, just drive carefully. XD
But actually, I'm not sure. It depends on how many and how strong of straps you have. I guess, being someone who doesn't normally haul loads like that I'd think one strap around each end backing up the factory strapping if you are worried about it and then your favorite method of holding it down, maybe two more straps holding the whole load down to the trailer. On the other hand those posts have probably already traveled a bit, and the people that make them probably have them fastened securely enough that they make it to their destination most of the time.
My thoughts..
Break it down and stack flat across the trailer
Get two of your favorite 3 inch ratchet straps and make it tight.
Enjoy the drive to the new home of the poles.
Remember take the turns to the right a bit wider.. you are pulling a trailer today.
Have a cold beer or two upon successful arrival and unloading of poles.
Yes, I did consider breaking open the stack and piling them into a pyramid for the drive home. In the end, my tractor forks couldn't lift the stack anyway so I ended up pushing/rolling them off the trailer. The metal straps actually held while I did that!
A. Leave trailer home.
B. Have forklift set them in the truck.
C. One ratchet strap over the top.
Funny you should ask......I just went with a friend yesterday to do this very thing.......But he had to go about 200 miles to get them. That was the closest place he could find any.
It'll be fine just sitting there, just drive carefully. XD
And get a large ticket for unsecured load!
The law says 2 straps for 10 foot of load and 1 strap for ever 10 after that.
I would use 2 straps around the bundles like the metal ones are now as back up to the metal ones.
Then 2 straps (or more based on how long the load is) over the load to secure it to the trailer.
You are only going 30 miles but I would have seen if I could have gotten the load back farther on the trailer so the axles take more of the load.
Dave ----
Chains and chain binders. Ratchet straps stretch and require periodic tightening. I have chains, so it's an easy decision for me. If all I had were ratchet straps, I would use three.
My concern is that by strapping down the load on the top, it compresses the load which could weaken the hold the metal strapping has on the posts. That could allow a post to slip out.
I would use 2 straps around the bundles like the metal ones are now as back up to the metal ones.
Then 2 straps (or more based on how long the load is) over the load to secure it to the trailer.
You are only going 30 miles but I would have seen if I could have gotten the load back farther on the trailer so the axles take more of the load.
This is basically what I did and it worked out, but I never felt like every post was 100% secure.
The situation loading the trailer prevented us from moving them backward. I would have preferred that, too, but this was well within the tongue capacity of the truck so I let it go.
My concern is that by strapping down the load on the top, it compresses the load which could weaken the hold the metal strapping has on the posts. That could allow a post to slip out.
This was the big problem I had identified. Even after strapping together the top half and also the bottom half, then strapping the whole thing down, not every post was locked in as well as I'd like. If I was going further I probably would have broken the bundle and piled them on the trailer directly where I could control every post.
I transported a load of posts very similar to that inside an enclosed utility trailer. As I was approaching an intersection, a fire truck came screaming through and I had to slam on the brakes. I swear I locked up all eight tires. The unsecured load inside the trailer was fine. This was a load of posted our Boy Scout Troop used for pioneering projects. They were well cured, so not as heavy as your load.
I would put a couple of ratchet straps around the bundle (like the steel straps, but an adjustable ratchet strap). Then, I would put three straps, over the top, and compress it. Then, relighted the two straps around the load. Go back and forth, between the sets of straps, until slack is removed. Drive two miles, pull over, re-check all ratchets.
I would put a couple of ratchet straps around the bundle (like the steel straps, but an adjustable ratchet strap). Then, I would put three straps, over the top, and compress it. Then, relighted the two straps around the load. Go back and forth, between the sets of straps, until slack is removed. Drive two miles, pull over, re-check all ratchets.
Well, it seems that it is all over but the crying at this point. The load has been home for several days.
BUT.........if anyone else looks and searches for the easy way........see post #5.
Leave trailer home, load the posts in the back of that Sooper Dooty, throw a ratchet strap over the top and drive home. If the Sooper Dooty is too fragile to do that, maybe need to trade it for a Prius and hire the job done.
As stated, I rode with a friend to do the same job, almost 200 miles.......with an F150! That was 60 5” X 8” posts. No problems, yeah, the half ton squatted a bit, but with them riding like a car it is expected.
Well, it seems that it is all over but the crying at this point. The load has been home for several days.
BUT.........if anyone else looks and searches for the easy way........see post #5.
Leave trailer home, load the posts in the back of that Sooper Dooty, throw a ratchet strap over the top and drive home. If the Sooper Dooty is too fragile to do that, maybe need to trade it for a Prius and hire the job done.
As stated, I rode with a friend to do the same job, almost 200 miles.......with an F150! That was 60 5” X 8” posts. No problems, yeah, the half ton squatted a bit, but with them riding like a car it is expected.
I wasn’t supposing the guy was still in the parking lot. Just offering my two cents, if it would be useful to anyone, in the future.
You’re making a lot of assumptions, with your way being the “easy” way. The bed might already have something in it or the trailer may need to stay loaded, for a while.
Personally, I wouldn’t have put it on the trailer, either. Again, assuming there wasn’t a reason to do so. I can put just over 5,000 pounds, on my flatbed. That’s where stuff goes, if I can skip the trailer.
Chains and chain binders. Ratchet straps stretch and require periodic tightening. I have chains, so it's an easy decision for me. If all I had were ratchet straps, I would use three.
My concern is that by strapping down the load on the top, it compresses the load which could weaken the hold the metal strapping has on the posts. That could allow a post to slip out.
Maybe the OP did not want marks in the wood from the chains?
Originally Posted by claf
This is basically what I did and it worked out, but I never felt like every post was 100% secure.
The situation loading the trailer prevented us from moving them backward. I would have preferred that, too, but this was well within the tongue capacity of the truck so I let it go.
Good it worked out for you with out issues.
As for the loose ones in the center I wonder how the log trucks do it?
Then again they were brought to where you picked them up from, unless they were made there, and they stayed in place and they would look at the truck they came in on a lot closer than your set up.
Dave ----
ps as for putting them in the pick up bed how do you think the fork lift would do this?
I am guessing the fenders on the trailer is why it was placed where it was.
