Horse Strap Down

[Tonytoro416 1,034]

Hey guys been good while since I posted anything at all really but I still been working on the herd. Some may remember I made up a sprayer and spreader apparatus for my 416. This has worked out well but has also evolved into more spreading and spraying naturally. So I have been hauling the tractor quite often on my 12ft utility trailer.  I have x track across front of the trailer and across the rear. I’d like to see how you guys strap down your horses and other tie down systems that may or may not work. I just haven’t found a good way to strapping the tractor down that is fairly quick and doesn’t loosen up a tad from tractor scooting a little. Any ideas and pictures I’m open to. Just interested to see what others use for hauling adventures

[Retired Wrencher 5,469]

@TonyToro I only use one strap from the center of the tractor loop so it goes to the front on both sides to the hold downs. I have a van so I even do it this way in the van. I have seen many ways people do this with me scratching my head saying  why all the straps. ONE does the job.

[Achto 27,639]

I haul my tractors on an open trailer, Each tractor gets held on with 2 straps, One pulling it forward & one pulling it backwards. Normally I hook the forward pulling strap to the 3/4" cross bar that supports the foot pads. The rear strap will get hooked to the hitch or will be looped around the rear axle. 

 

 

 

These are my favorite straps, they have a handle that a guy can get his hand in, a good working load for garden tractors, & a handy Velcro strap to tie your tag end up with.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SmartStraps-14-ft-Orange-RatchetX-Tie-Down-Straps-with-1-000-lb-Safe-Work-Load-4-pack-349/320689826

Edited September 9 by Achto

[peter lena 8,653]

@Tonytoro416 prefer  RATCHET STRAPS , prefer  end to end pull as well as side to side pull , if that were to start moving , in any way , the rest would follow  very quickly , rather over  do than risk a pile up , pete  

[953 nut 55,393]

I have replaced 3/8" the bolt that holds the front axle pivot pin with a welded eye bolt. Ratchet straps hook into it going out to both sides at the front. At the rear I connect the trailer's strap winch to the trailer hitch of then Wheel Horse.

[WHX?? 48,853]

2 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said:

 ONE does the job.

I beg to differ Wrencher. I have seen first hand the carnage that happens when a horse jumps it's stall at highway speeds. Not to mention the liability to other motorists. Happened to @Achto's brother with a Ford. 

I subscribe to Dan's method of tying down.

Old saying when tying down is when you think you have enough straps on it go back and put more on. Never tie down a tractor to another tractor. 

Stop and check them often especially after the first few miles or particularly rough roads. The possibility of have a issue always happens when nearing your destination.  

 

Don't buy cheap tie downs ... yeah I know how expensive good ones are these days but worth it. We have about as much invested in tie downs than tractors. Watch for sharp edges that can cut them and protect accordingly.

Edited September 9 by WHX??

[parsonsponyz 120]

I'm following what everyone has already said.  I use four tie downs per tractor usually (2 front/2 rear) it eliminates "scooting" around during driving at highway speeds.  A ratchet strap is the way to go and choose one with a high rating.  My philosophy is "if you have a high rated strap and don't need it no big deal but if you have a low rated strap and need more there's a problem."  I had a load shift and come off the trailer one time and that's one time to many when you're on the highway with other motorists, fortunately nobody was injured other than my pride.  It does cost a little bit more than a "generic" strap from box stores but well worth the few extra dollars, it's usually not much.  When buying look at the webbing/cable and mechanism.  I've had many of mine for several years which pays for itself with the couple extra dollars.

[Gasaholic 224]

Agree with WHX. We lost a brand new tractor once on a delivery when the delivery driver (not me) had to take evasive maneuvers - tractor (on trailer) was strapped down front and back, but it still rolled over sideways from G-forces at highway speeds. There was not a whole lot left to salvage but to use it for repair parts. Since then company policy was 4 straps per tractor. Later on near the time I left we modified trailer for efficiency so that there were D-rings bolted to trailer (to trailer frame) so that we could use short webbed straps to simply strap down the all 4 wheels to the D-rings 

[ebinmaine 67,766]

3 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said:

why all the straps. ONE does the job.

 

As a highly trained Professional Commercial Driver I can assure that is NOT legal on an open trailer or pickup bed. 

INSIDE a box or minivan the regulations vary. 

 

 

Federal Department of Transportation laws and regulations DO APPLY to non commercial  towing and carrying vehicles in many states.

Definitely  Maine and New Hampshire. 

I believe also Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut. 

 

 

51 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Never tie down a tractor to another tractor

 

This is worth mentioning twice. 

NO cargo can be attached to other cargo. NEVER. 

 

 

52 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Watch for sharp edges that can cut them and protect accordingly.

 

Also worth mentioning twice. 

 

When choosing a method of securing cargo, the cargo AND THE SECURING DEVICES must be considered.  

Sharp edges that will damage a strap must be accounted for with protective things (like plastic corners).

 

 

We normally use a strap pulling each direction as stated above. 

I've tried multiple ways. 

Lately I've been wrapping a forward pulling one around the base of the steering tower and using an old shirt to protect the paint. 

Another goes the opposite direction wherever it's convenient. 

 

I've also use the  3/8" holes in the frame as attachment points. Or wrapped the 3/4"  bars under the frame. 

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,618]

I have a mounted cable winch up front. Two winch straps off rear tractor hitch to rear corners of trailer. Two winch straps to front corner of trailer. Cable winch sets tension, then others tightened up... Nothing moves.

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,352]

15 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said:

 me scratching my head saying  why all the straps. ONE does the job.

Yikes! Just one? @Retired Wrencher
  I’ve arrived to a couple shows to find one strap has busted. I ALWAYS use more than one, usually three, so the other straps pick up the slack (pun intended) when one strap lets go. 

[76c12091520h 3,625]

 When my wife and I married in 1996, she had 2 brothers that I was very close to. In 1999 that # dropped to 1 because of the negligence ( failure ) of another party to properly prepare and secure their open trailer and cargo for use.  He was 34 and left behind a wife and 2 boys aged 9 and 6. Enough said.....

[Tonytoro416 1,034]

I appreciate everyone’s input.  I have done most all the ways mentioned here as well. I just value you guys opinion and all these responses are another reason I love this forum. 

[kpinnc 12,174]

I will add only one thing: if you jam the brakes and swerve at 60mph, it is not possible to have too many tie downs. As many have already said, a tumbling tractor in the rear view is a really bad day. 

[Retired Wrencher 5,469]

7 hours ago, Sparky said:

Yikes! Just one? @Retired Wrencher
  I’ve arrived to a couple shows to find one strap has busted. I ALWAYS use more than one, usually three, so the other straps pick up the slack (pun intended) when one strap lets go. 

Mike I use trucking straps. Heavy duty straps. I used to drive Tractor trailer because I was born with a class one license.

[Handy Don 12,281]

@Pullstart put me onto one of his techniques and I’ve used it since.

 

Two 2”, 6,000 lb ratchet straps front to rear to frame-bolted heavy D-rings at each end. (And yes, an extra $25 on straps is peanuts, gents.)

In between, each strap makes one turn around the rear axle and one turn around the front axle. I’ll sometimes add a small strap crosswise.

If one of the big straps fails or loosens, the other is still adequate for basic situations. This is unlike separate front & rear straps where if one fails the tractor will likely move.

I check trailer tires, hubs, hitch, and straps within the first 30 minutes on the road and again every two hours.

[ebinmaine 67,766]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

each strap makes one turn around the rear axle and one turn around the front axle

 

I like that. 👍