Tie Down Your Equipment! Truck and Trailer Tuesday 

I’m a retired truck driver. What I see you’ve done is overkill and I personally did the same. More on tie down can only be better. Hats off to you

Great info and good reference and description of how the calculations are done. I like that you over do the requirements for carrying your equipment!!! Stay safe...

Well done. This video answers a lot of questions. My tie down method will definitely improve .

Thanks Tim, that was exactly what I've been looking for in information. Good Video!

Thanks for the video Tim. Great info for a new tractor/trailer owner.

Very informative! Another great video, thank you Tim

I got 4 of those ratchet straps for Christmas last year. They are FANTASTIC. So Handy for so many things .

We always called those ratchet binders and the other type snap binders back in my steel hauler days. Good video Tim,God Bless 🙂

Truck and Trailer Tuesday is a great addition to your channel Tim. Thanks for providing all this information.

Good stuff! Can't ever be too cautious when securing your loads. Me personally I use a shackle through the drawbar plate, an axle strap through that and 1 10K ratchet strap to each rear corner. Up front I use an axle strap around each axle, inboard of the knuckle; 1 10K strap to each corner. I do like the chafing gear you showed! I'll get a set to go around the corner of the bucket. And your est. for 1025 weights was spot on with mine. Thanks for the confirmation!

A very helpful demonstration; a good start! Thanks.

Enjoying these Truck and Trailer Tuesday segments on Tractor Time with Tim. Keep on posting videos Tim, the more you post the quicker I can get rid of cable tv for good!

Tim, thanks for an informative video regarding a very important safety related topic!

Please remember GRAVITY is NOT a tie down. As a retired police officer you would not believe the number of people who would use gravity as a tie down and were surprised when they turned a corner and the tractor, track hoe, backhoe, trencher, bobcat or whatever came off the trailer.

Your on the mark with that info, and yes it can get confusing when looking at anything FMCSA. We have to watch training videos now every quarter for our safety program and although we knew how tie down for years the Gov had to come in an create instructions and guidelines. I’m not upset that they have done this because I remember the days when landscaping contractors and fly by night excavation outfits tied their equipment down with one chain or rope,yes I’ve seen it, I’ve watched two zero turn commercial mowers come off a trailer back in the late 90’s thank goodness it didn’t cause a catastrophe. Here in upstate NY the DOT watches the small contractors more than us class 8 guys you don’t see the crazy stuff you once did years ago and the fines are heavy as well.

I love the research you have done. Perfect video. Usually the way I find out is by state police tickets. It is so hard to find the laws, just when you think you have it, you get another ticket. I have found out in the past not to ask the police officers they will tell you one thing only to find out the hard way he was wrong. Keep up the good work!

When you first started your Tuesday videos I wasn’t sure your material could be very interesting, but this was probably one of your top 10. I found that I am drastically undersized on my 1025 tie down. Very nice job, thanks for sharing.👍👏

As usual you did a get job clearing things up Thank you Tim

I think you're the first person out of all those people that have ever talked about securement on RU-vid that are actually said there's a regulation handbook manual talking about that stuff and the actual guidelines on FMCSA and of course your state Indiana.I'm so so glad that you actually talked about that because it's so different how few people understand

I'll also add as a commercial driver the only time I know that chains are required is when you are hauling steel coils or structural steel. Straps are find for everything else as long as the straps meet the weight requirements. Hope this helps.

I know every 72hrs need check tiedowns if long haul.your right about your tie downs. I drove t/t 18yrs nice vid tks gary

I’m not sure you mentioned it, so I will. If you are hauling anything behind you that it taller than your vehicle, measure the highest point and mark it in a piece of tape. Then stick that piece of tape on your dash or top of your windshield so you know if you will clear that bridge or overpass up ahead. Or in Tim’s case maybe that drive through Cheeseburger place. Good video. I prefer chains.

I'm glad that you actually mentioned that the abrasion protection on those straps that's the only reason why some people are kind of shy of straps is because they've had large abrasion issues but with having appropriate protection like that that is that is appropriate so very very good on that

Great video, as always. Thanks for doing the research and sharing.

Great video Tim. God bless you'll

Great information on equipment tie downs. Hope you get a thumb for Casey all the plumbing is there. Thanks for sharing Tim.

This is a great video. It’s a tuff topic to address and appreciate the time you took to make it. Those straps are awesome.

Very informative video. We have both style binders at work the same exact ratcheting ones you have I like them very nice. I also do still like the old style snap binders for some occasions aswell.

Good content as usual. Nice job.

Your doing great Tim, your using quality equipment which is essential, besides I’m very jealous of that backhoe ... Years ago I did a lot of lashing on cargo ships & rail flatcars, first of stick with chains and always cross them so they pull against each other, I like those ratchet straps but have had them let go on me on bumpy roads, just say’n ... Also never trust d-rings, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen them break, just consider the load you put on those lashings if you had to make an emergency stop, stick with chains whenever possible, these are just things I found out over many years & are too be taken with a grain of salt & I still would like to have that Case backhoe :)

I was really looking foreword to a tie down video, thanks:-). I’m curious about the other options you mentioned to secure the front of Johnny. If the time ever comes I’ll look into those.

Them are nice rachet straps Tim never seen them before thanks Tim

Just checked your amazon store for those nice retractable ratchets. I then realised they were nearly as expensive as the product itself to get them to me in the uk! I will have to find something similar here!

the cargo buckles are going on my Christmas List

I love my hydraulic driven post hole digger on my KX 41 3v Kubota excavator because it makes me over 5,000 a year in post holes and sonotubes. Good for filler work, thanks again for all your entertainment

I have watched many of these videos on how to tie down your tractor, I think you were the first one that did it right! I play by the rules unless I’m going a short distance. Then use one chain and one binder in the front and back.

On 1025s I always hooked my straps in the front part of the frame. I hauled brand new ones from the dealer to the customer

Good info Tim. Thanks!

Nice video tim and good information 👍

Tim!, I would have been tongue tied doing this!! Very well done video!

Thanks for this. I commonly see folks witn unsecured loads. I tend to give them a wide berth.

A good protective cover for the straps is a piece of fire hose. Thick and very abrasion resistant.

Several years ago, I pulled flatbed semi trailers and we used both chains and straps. We had 10000# chains and 7000# straps. I can't remember if it was federal regs or company policy, but our rule of thumb was to secure the load at a minimum of 150% of its' weight. For example: a 40000# steel coil would be secured with six 10000# chains, or a 30000# load of lumber with seven 7000# straps. Thanks for ALL of your videos and thanks for introducing me to so many great products. PS: artillian grapple is being delivered tomorrow. Yeah!

Thank you for the Cargo Buckles tip, I ordered a half a dozen to start lol. I have a jd x575 at 1000 lbs (approximately) so they should be fine and very convenient looking.

Good info.I just use the old school chain and boom system on 4 corners.

Well Tim I don't know what people are talking about. I live in California one of the most strictest states and yes you can use straps. As long as you use strap protectors as you have. One thing I can pass on is that in California the Department of Transportation likes to see booms or any other attachments strapped down. Preferably straight across. The purpose of this is to prevent them from moving side to side. The concern is that with hydraulic bleed down they could move and strike something or someone next to your vehicle. You can always check your Department of Transportation website and or speak to a Department of Transportation Officer. I find that they are very helpful, willing to help and enjoy helping you understand the requirements. As I have been told. They would rather you ask than them be forced to catch you doing something the wrong way and having to site you for it. Great video keep up the great content and God bless.

this is a very good tie down video

Nice set up I have a Kubota compact tractor la2505 and a old case 1835b skid steer

👍 Good Job Guys!!!

The brush guard on the front of that tractor I was told by my local dealer will not hold the weight of the tractor during a tie down. You really need to get something like I got which mounts to the three bolts on the side of where the loader attaches. I wished I could send you a picture of them but unfortunately I don't know how to put a picture in the comment. But I found them on eBay they was pretty inexpensive and well worth the money. I got the ones that goes from front to back. In other words they have two holes in them and a tie down for each side. Therefore I can put my four point tie-down connection at that same point. They are awesome. Now I do like your straps for Johnny. I wish I could find some that heavy to use on mine. I may have to check out your store but I do not and have not ever used Amazon. Because they do not accept PayPal.

I owned and operated a commercial transport hotshot business for around 5 or so years on and off. And am now a tow truck operator. Your tie downs match the legal requirements in Canada. The only thing I myself do differently is I like to criss cross my chains or straps on my trailer when hauling equipment or vehicles as they help prevent the machine from literally going in any direction. 2 crossed in the back and 2 crossed in the front plus the additional needing tie down on an attachment prevents the machine from going sideways, up, down, forward or backwards. Also really helps limit body roll when in wind or taking corners I find. Just my own personal preference that I like to use.

Thanks for the info!…planning on purchasing a tractor, but also need a trailer

Well Tim my wife says it’s your fault that we are getting our first new tractor . A 2019 1023 e with loader, bush hog and box blade. Thanks. Your videos are a big help.

Very good video. Tieing down any machine can be a challange if the attachments get in the way. My tractor is 10 times the weight of Johnny and the factory made 4 eyelets in the frame for tiedown. Unfortunately the front shovel is in line with my trailers "D" rings and chassis eyelets. We had to have additional "D" rings added to the trailer to keep tiedown chains uninterupted. The backhoe can lock to the tractor but we chain it down to have a lower transport height. You don't want to loop over or under ever.

Thanks Tim & Christi for this video. I have to haul my tractor to the other sIide of town and it will be my first trailering. This video is a great referenceand I did go to FMCSA as suggested. Thanks.👍🏽🙂.

People see that I used 10,000 lb straps to secure my Harley Davidson (with bags/fuel/oil/tools etc. around 750 lbs) and say "over-kill much?". LOL What they don't see are the other things I haul, ie. full size truck's, cars, boats.... What it comes down to: I'm not worried about me or my equipment, it's if my load were to shift and cause someone else to be injured or killed. Prevention of that is worth any extra money I spend on my "over-kill" straps, chains, links, or D-rings. Last: ALWAYS, yes, ALWAYS secure to the frame. Great information, thanks for making this video for others to learn from!

Tim a suggestion for Johnny why not just hook you straps to the chain hooks in your loader bucket they are way stronger than the grill guard. Keep the great videos coming nice work.

Great Informative video Tim. You have a lot of good information and products to use on this video. I must admit when you were going over the calculations of the aggregate working load limit i got a headache LOL. Tim please pray for my mother in law. Hope you and your family have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving. God Bless!!!

Ok, call me a nerd, but I had to point out 11:20 you talked about having protection on the rubbed areas of the straps. I'm sorry, but my mind had to go to something dirty. Hope you don't mind me commenting that and thank you for the info. I am actually trying to learn how to safely haul equipment as I like running it and pulling stuff. Thank you for taking the time to teach us this.

Tim, what would the WLL of the front brush guard be? Wouldn't that be much lower than the other points? I would think that best would be the front axle would be the best, but also think that the hooks on the bucket might be higher limits at least than the brush guard. Thanks and keep up the good work. Really appreciate the amount of time and effort you put into the videos.

You can use 1 chain on the front and 1 on the back but you do have to use a chain binder for each corner. Two chains and 4 binders now haven said that it does have to be two separate points of contact on the equipment not just looped thru as you mentioned I am a ex-flatbeder and over kill is always safer and doesn't take that muck more time really Great videos keep up the good work and we will keep tuning in to learn something new

Not sure about y'all, but I got two John Deere commercials and one of them was useful, I do need a compact wheel loader for a future farm🤣

great video Tim …..never forget the farmers rule over kill is always the best be safe bother and god bless

Another great video Tim. I try to ride my exercise bike 30 minutes in the evening. If I watch your videos while riding, the time goes faster. Maybe you should start a new series "Exercising with Tim". Figuring if a person exercises then they can eat more cheeseburgers.

great video as always. I didnt want to fork out the money for a ratcheting turnbuckle but boy am I glad I did. People have to keep in mind usually these chains and turnbuckles you only have to buy once (not so much for the straps as they can deteriorate after a while especially with the UV rays from the sun. Normally you don't leave your tractor or equipment tied down for days and days in the sun either ) But I really like auto retract straps and yes if they make heavier duty ones Id buy them.

The WLL of any webbed straps (Such as those cargo straps you have) is also listed under appendix A of the cargo securement manual. You need to scroll down the table.

Great comments on using facts. A good rule is "Don't mix your opinions with the facts" Know one owns the facts. great vid

those ratchet straps are awesome

Should've, would've, could've. You see the hydraulic post hole digger that attaches to your backhoe? You know if you search RU-vid for jd 1025r your name comes up frequently? Hmmm. I wonder why. I'd give all your videos a like, but it fills up my que. Another great video from the stars of southern Indiana.

Makes me wonder how many laws I've actually violated over the years by not knowing any of these rules and just going by what I've learned from folks about tying down my stuff. Thanks for the very useful info gonna be changing how I secure my stuff.

I 💗your videos!!! Keep it up!!!

Personally I use chain, I do use straps on the implements; The machine gets chain. I can't quote from any published information, however it was my understanding that implements required binding of some sort. I do know that articulating equipment has to be made ridged for transport, because I have had to make plates to secure a machine for transport. I couldn't tell you what the law is, and that really depends on how the cop interprets the actual law. I get held to a higher standard just because I have a class A CDL, make no mistake; I'm not a truck driver. So I tend to go overkill when it comes to securing a load and I check my trailer and load at welcome centers and fuel stops. I have had my car trailer from VA to FL and back a few times now without any issues. When you get to your destination you can feel the tires, if one is hotter than the others, chances are it's low; Low tire pressure is the #1 cause of blow outs. You can feel the hubs, again if one is hotter than the others, you have a problem. I find it's better to keep an eye on your equipment to keep it in proper operating condition. It only takes a few minutes to walk around, check lights, tires, hubs and tie downs. Loads can shift, straps slip

I personally would find a better spot to tie to on the front of the tractor. In an accident I don't think that grill guard would be an adequate anchor point. Good info though! Stay safe out there.

When I bought my 1025r the first thing I did was build tie down hooks. Reason being was I might put tractor on one side of trailer and load materials on the other side of trailer. The heavy equipment generally has tie down hooks why nothing else does I can't figure out.

I tried using big ratchet straps to tie my tractor down. I did not find the ratchet straps to work reliably so I picked up grade 70 chain and boomers. I use a breaker bar to latch the boomers and NOTHING moves now. This is a great video, I'm glad you're doing this series.

Great info. The biggest problem I have found in different regions, is the officers who enforce them, do not really know. You could ask any 2 officers in the same region, questions, and 75% of their answers are different. Best to error on the side of overkill I have always found.

When I used to ride Harley’s the motto was Trailers are for boats silly nilly lol Great info. They must have changed since the last time I hauled heavy equipment

Though I don't know if those rules apply in all states, the way you explained it sounds sensible and logical. I'm not all together sure about the tie down straps, but I've never tied down a load like you have, only small loads on pickups, or huge loads on flatbed semis. They would not be acceptable on a large semi truck, unless the load was extremely light but bulky like large diameter PVC pipe or something on that order, and even then I'm not certain they would pass muster. Been a long time since I've needed to do anything like that, and hopefully will be a very long time until I need to try it again. However, those straps are head and shoulders above the usual kind. If they could make them heavier and or wider, that might be a real boon for semi drivers too. The regs do not specify chain or straps, just how strong they need to be. There are some straps with carbon fiber strands in them that I hear have terrific working load characteristics, but they're mainly used by the military I don't think the average joe could afford them when chain would have a similar capacity at a lot less cost.

I haul heavy equipment and throughout the country if it’s over 10,000lbs you need 4 separate tie down attachment point and if it had an arm, boom or bucket that needs a separate straps.

I love your new exscovter

I have the same chain binders and I love them of you were not aware they have a neutral position with the forward reverse lever so you don't have to listen to the ratcheting when spinning them by hand

In case you where wondering immi is Indiana Mills Manufacturing Inc. , they make most of the seat belts in American cars. I designed some equipment for them in one of my previous lives (aka jobs)

Dang it. Now I have to get some new straps. Thanks Tim.

Works for me Tim!

Tim, I will try to find the website reference to share with you, but when I first got my 1025R I did a little bit if digging to make sure I was legal when I would haul to friends and families houses to do work. I found that it was called out that not only does the machine need to be tied down with the appropriate WLL, but your implements do as well. So you would need a strap on your loader/bucket and post hole digger as well.

Also check with your insurance company about towing. I have State Farm and if an accident occurs my trailer is covered- but not the items loaded on the trailer. I had to take an additional policy (very reasonable at around $30 a month) to cover accident loss.

Well done sir... the d.o.t Officer would be proud.... Just remember to keep your trailer Deck clear of any dirt or rocks When transporting machinery

great information thanks

Also, as I keep hearing, it's never bad to over exceed the straps just in case someone doesnt fully understand. Nothing bad ever came from using a heavier tie down or heavier duty trailer.

Very good video. Suggestion for when you unload your mini excavator to keep from beating up the grass with your bucket by allowing it to slide try to work your controls like you pulling your bucket in towards the machine and boom down while reverse walking off the trailer. We do this manuver unloading off the trailer even on pavment it's not to hard to learn and it saves ripping up the ground and scratching the road not to mention your bucket. Keep the great videos coming love your channel.

At work we transport a John deere 410 l backhoe almost daily and to my knowledge florida law requires a 5th tie down over the bucket our mini crews also tie down the buckets

Those are nice straps.

I cant wait to see the new excavator in a video soon!!

Great video!

Great video, Tim & Christi. I like the yellow ratchet-style turnbuckle boomers and the quick nylon hook tie-downs. Thanks for explaining National regulations. Hey Tim, what is the proper spelling for Christie, Christy, Kristi, Kristy, Kristie.........? I'm sure I messed it up on numerous occasions. Sorry. Thumbs up. 👍

Snap binders are alot better for wheeled equipment cause you can squat your tires a bit. I have 3 snaps and 4 ratchets. So i use 2 snaps and 2 ratchets. The 3 bottom i use 2 ratchets on it. I then like to put a 2 inch strap on the loader if i have 1 available. My tractor wieghs around 7k

Good job!

Great video! This is overlooked a lot, I really appreciate all the time and research you shared here too. Well done!

For my JOHN DEERE 335 And GT235 there are holes in the front of the main frame I hook into and for the rear I use the holes for aligning the rear attachments or you can use the hitch hole but I tend to not use it to prevent from enlarging it as they tend to if your not using the correct size pin

All great info Tim i like a chain most of the time but them tie downs are nice ! have you thought about putting jacks on the back of the trailer ? where you got the bigger casey so you dont have to block it ! hope the post hole digger work out for you this time ! and are you to get snow this end of the week ? they say we may have up to 6" coming for thursday ! have a great day and take care !! Kioti Curt :-)