Nylon Straps for Binding

I loaded SH last year for a ride and used 3 -2" straps and used a 3/8" chain and binder. Since then I have been told that straps are not legal.
IS it correct that only chains and binders can be used?

Corredt any thing on rubber wheels chains and binders. Never know when DOT will stop you

Was told that if you haul something with four wheels, it needs to be secured with four chains and binders. Allan.

Well I am probably opening a can of worms here,but this has been brought up on here before.


I was to the under standing that you could usr EITHER chains/binders OR Webbed ratchet straps as long as there were the correct amount used and they met the correct weight rating of what is being tied down????


(This was in debate somewhere on here in the archives some where?)

I was to the under standing that you could usr EITHER chains/binders OR Webbed ratchet straps as long as there were the correct amount used and they met the correct weight rating of what is being tied down????

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I've read a bunch of tie-down regs and everything I've read agrees. If there is a requirement to use chains and binders somebody point us to any state's DOT regs that say so.

That said, I prefer to use chains but sometimes use an axle strap to do the connection to the tractor.

I once asked a State Patrol officer here in Mn about this, he said if it has wheels it needs chains.... I dont know what the legal standing on it is, and I dont really care. In all that this man had seen in his time, that is what he felt about it.

The Federal Regs are 49 CFR 393.128 (10,000lbs & under)& 49 CFR 393.130 (Over 10,000lbs)

From the US DOT Website (you may have to scroll down):
DOT Tiedown Rules.

I've been over that page before. The messed up formatting makes it hard to see what requirement applies to what cargo. The only prohibition on webbing that I see is:

The use of synthetic webbing to secure flattened or crushed vehicles is prohibited.

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(which makes sense)

Where ever this conversation ends up, you should never use both straps & chains.

Chains secure the load without moving.

Straps allow some movement due to their elasticity.

A chain AND strap will allow the tractor to move some, jerking on the chain each time the strap stretches & retracts. Not good for the load, the chain, nor the trailer.

My tractors are only tied down with chains & binders, by the way. Deal with the chipped paint.

Pete

straps are for hauling hay and lumber.

straps are for hauling hay and lumber.

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....and for vehicles according to the US DOT.

I rented a UHAUL car trailer awhile back and in had nylon ratcheting straps built in the trailer!

(quoted from post at 10:35:03 08/09/13) straps are for hauling hay and lumber.

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Same opinion here.

To ADD to Pete's statement :

Mixing straps and chains together could be an issue. The chains and the straps will always be of a different load rating from each other no matter HOW you size them.

ONE of the two will ALWAYS be the "weakest link".


M&R tie downs(And MANY other manufactures) has been selling car/equipment tie down kits for years now that are made of webbing with a ratchet strap and have a load rating sewn into them. If they WERE illegal,I doubt that they would be selling them????

When I got my cdl last fall we were told chains and binders. Anything under 10000lbs requires 2 chains and binders. Anything over 10000 requires binders on all 4 corners and any impliment ie backhoe,mower plow ect be secured as well. I have used straps in the past and don't care for them at all. Just my opinion. Jim.

The only thing I see that you can t tie down with a strap is crushed cars. I see loads of trucks being hauled out of town every day, and most are tied down with straps. (We are home to Knapheide Manufacturing) I will say that your straps must have a load rating label of them, same as a chain(tag or stamped). Any load should be held down with at least four chains or straps. I use both but I will only use a DOT labeled, rated tie down.

After seeing this subject come up before I started paying attention to how the semi flatbed haulers secure their loads.

So far I've never seen a vehicle of any kind secured with straps. ALWAYS chains and binders. I also observed that they secure with at least 4 chains and binders, or more, irregardless of size of vehicle.

Early on I secured my SH with straps and didn't like it. I could see it move a little on the trailer. I've used chains ever since. I've spent too much time and money to risk losing it over a $20 strap. American made grade 70 chains and binders only.

Under 10,000 lbs you can use both and over 10,000 lbs. 3/8 grade 70 chain and binders, But I think it depends on what your hauling. All our lumber and plywood comes in straped.There are heavy duty 4 inch straps that are rated the same as 3/8 grade 70 chain. I carry 3/8 G70 for hauling tractor and 3 inch straps for things like lumber.

(quoted from post at 14:58:16 08/09/13) To ADD to Pete's statement :

Mixing straps and chains together could be an issue. The chains and the straps will always be of a different load rating from each other no matter HOW you size them.

ONE of the two will ALWAYS be the "weakest link".

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Something is going to be the weakest link no matter what method you use. 9 out of ten binders are weaker than gr 70 3/8" chain, but they are the best out there. Then take the tie down point into consideration and other is another weak point. DOT says your tied own is only rated for the weakest member.

So I just took the time to read the dot rules,Now I need to get a degree in enginering,law ,and a few more I cant think of right now I do under stand that tractors under 10000 lbs can be tied down with straps I use 4 15000 lbs one on each corner of tractor never had a problem good luke to all

(quoted from post at 08:31:56 08/09/13)
I loaded SH last year for a ride and used 3 -2" straps and used a 3/8" chain and binder. Since then I have been told that straps are not legal.
IS it correct that only chains and binders can be used?

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ask whoever does the enforcement in your area
S.P. in my area.
Go by whatever they say
doesn't matter if they are right or wrong
no one has ever won an argument with a uniform on the side of the road...................

For us that have HAULED for a living use the old adage (It takes IRON TO HAUL IRON.) . I have hauled loads up to 300000lbs and slung many ah chains and binders over the years and i have had two loads move on me where one or more chains have let go . One was a 68000 lb tire press and one was a brand new Gradeall when i had to do a panic stop . In each case there were MORE chains and binders on the load to make everybody happy BUT a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. The Tire press moved because the company engineer came up with this new idea that they would place oil on the base of the press and then set it down on plastic on the deck of the trailer , then i was limited to chain placement and no place to hook chains to keep the lower part of the press from sliding side to side or ft. to back . Now this was AFTER i had moved 12 of these presses from Ohio to N. C and backed them into the plant to be unloaded with out one tiny scratch . You try and back a 11' 11 3/4 inch load thru a 12 foot door . anyway this load only made it 16 miles before it moved on me going around a curve in a school zone at 20 MPH . Yep i did scratch up lots of there new paint getting chains on the base and with the use of ratchet binders pulling it back over on the trailer enough to limp it back to the plant to have them lift and reset it as it took a special lift fixture to lift and reset . After we had a small talk with plant officials and some reengineering six weldments were added to allow six chains to be added to the base and no more oil and plastic . I use to carry a total of 28 chains and binder and 24 straps and ratchets . On my personal goose neck i carried 16 chains and binder and have used all on it when hauling a full load of plows and disc and other things from a sale . So IF you are getting into this lets haul tractors or IRON and you think you need 4 chains and binders Your wrong , you need no less then six on the trailer . WHY i only need FOUR , ok yes you need four to hold the load BUT WHAT IF one breaks and you only have four ????? On the use of straps i will use straps for hay lumber (as straps will not do the damage as a chain ) on pipe , round bar stock on items in shipping crates unless specified chains only over tarps to help hold tarps on a load . Oh and one more thing myself i prefer ratchet binder over snap binders as you can get a good tight chain with out over stressing , take a little longer to tie a load down to start but if and when you need to retighten there is no fussen tryen to get it just wright. Most of the stuff i hauled was ion the 60 to 120000 lb range up to 14 feet wide and as tall as 15 and a half foot but every once in a while i would get a charge to move. Now granted there are guys that move the really BIG stuff like my one friend as he runs a 23 axle outfit and i taught him how to drive many moons ago back in the coal hauling days . yea i taught him all the bad habits of run heavy and haul fast . But Gene can have them half million pound loads that take sometimes a couple months to move.

Anything that can roll needs to have chains and binders. Whether it is a coil or a tractor. Something that cannot roll like lumber is fine to be strapped.

The only issue I have with straps is that they can shear when they go over a sharp edge. I have had that happen, so I go with chains when securing iron items.

Well,I have used BOTH chains and straps and if
either are in bad shape,you are just screwing
yourself! Regardless what DOT says.

If your binders are sized correctly and are in good
shape, I DO NOT see how the would be a weak spot. I
have seen some crapily made binders,but they were to
too small anyway to be using for ANY kind of tie
down purposes.

(quoted from post at 18:39:59 08/11/13) Well,I have used BOTH chains and straps and if
either are in bad shape,you are just screwing
yourself! Regardless what DOT says.

If your binders are sized correctly and are in good
shape, I DO NOT see how the would be a weak spot. I
have seen some crapily made binders,but they were to
too small anyway to be using for ANY kind of tie
down purposes.

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I see NT has 6600# WLL on both Gr 70 3/8" chain and ratcheting binders. I thought I saw lighter weight ratcheting binders. Maybe 5/16"???