Are you considering the purchase a tractor, a vehicle, or other piece of equipment?  Or, did you buy something with the idea of having it hauled ......... and then kind of wonder about hauling it yourself?  This guide is intended to offer  basic guidelines to some of the most important things to consider before hauling.  For the purpose of this guide, we’ll assume that you are using a pickup or other light truck with a trailer.  And as an example, hauling a tractor. When I use the term tie down in this guide, it’s just a figure of speech and is meant as securing your load.  Almost never would you use a rope or anything else that could be actually tied, to secure a load for transporting.

Consider the logistics       the size of the item, both dimensions and weight. Is your equipment (truck and trailer) suited for it?   Then consider the distance, weather, and terrain.  And, all possible costs including fuel for the round trip, food and motels, tolls, and trailer rental.  A few hours trip even across flat land can be a whole different experience on a windy day when pulling a load!  On the flip side though, picking up your item yourself can be a welcome break or mini-vacation of sorts. Aside from saving some money by hauling it themselves, many people use the trip to visit someone, or even pick up another item that was purchased in the same region.

Getting it loaded          Try to position your load in such a way that the weight is distributed acceptably on the truck and trailer.  With most items and in the case of our tractor example, you will want to position it so the center of the weight is just slightly ahead of the trailer axle center.  To far ahead and it puts too much weight on the tongue and truck.  Too far back and it becomes very hard to control and may start swerving and swaying even at low speeds. Also, be aware of and know the laws on height, width and overhangs. 

Secure the load            Tie down your load in such a way that it is prevented from rolling or moving any direction.  All to often I see accidents and/or damage caused by improper tie down or the use of the wrong tie down items.  If you go to haul a tractor, for instance, don’t assume that the ratchet straps you just bought at Wal-Mart are going to be sufficient.  There is almost no substitute for the use of chains when hauling machinery.   And that doesn’t mean the same chains that you use to tie the dog or fix the kids swing set!

          Here’s a rule of thumb for securing almost any load hauled on a flat bed……..

You may be checked        Some people will load a truck and/or trailer and think that’s good enough to get by or I’m only going ____ miles.   And, chances are they will make it back, and everything went fine.   But bear in mind, you may be checked by law enforcement while going down the road, and, in many states you may be required to enter truck weigh stations or be pulled over by DOT truck inspectors. 

Here are some additional tips
1.    When you load down the back of a pickup or a bumper hitch trailer, it brings the front of your vehicle up. If you have people flashing their high beams at you at night, maybe that’s why!
2.    Check your tires and tire pressure.  Tires with low air pressure run hotter and pull harder.  When loaded, the chances of a tire blowing out increase considerably.  
3.    And remember these two things ………

If you think you may not look cool with a lot of chains or straps on a load ……. Well then think how cool it would look to be standing on the road looking at your load lying in the ditch!
Think how you would feel if one of your family was hurt bad because something came loose from another driver’s load and struck them ….. OR….. you are that other driver and you’re wondering if the person there in the ambulance is going to make it after a piece of your load came loose and hit them!   
Have a safe trip!

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