Graders relocated from auction site in Texas.

[LowBoy]

Grader4me will have to sit on his hands to keep from waving to everybody over this...:D :D :D

I spent a week in Texas last week, for something to do while trying to contact a guy who we bought an old farm tractor from for me to load up. I was moving equipment from an auction site in Ft. Worth, to a dealer 80 miles north in Nocona, Tx. by Wichita Falls. I was supposed to move 4 pieces in 4 trips, but after some self pondering on things during the first trip, I decided to squeeze a Dresser 830 on with a Volvo 70 TLB. That cut a half days work out for me, being able to shoehorn 2 pieces on.
I put the Dresser on all the way back (no brakes either,:eek: ) and secured it. I then backed the hoe on with the boom swung into the gutter side, lifted the front end up as far as possible and blocked it up. Backed under the front bucket, placed an 8' 6X6 in the center of the gooseneck under the bucket and greased it up so it would be slippery. I set the front bucket down, and slowly backed into the trailer with gooseneck as usual using the bucket as a sled, and then commensed to level the bucket and chain 'er down with every one I had on board. Worked out nice in the end, saving 6 hours or more of work.
Everything was purchased by a man in Holland, and I hauled it to Ray Walker's Equipment in Nocona, where they are breaking all 4 pieces apart to load into overseas containers, to ship over to The Netherlands...Wow, huh?
The Cat 16G was a site to see in person, so I shot a pic, and the rest of them in line for sale next to that. This place sells and ships worldwide, and is just acre after acre of grader parts.If we ain't got it...you don't need it, should be their motto...:cool2

The picture of the Cat 120G in the third frame was actually the last piece I moved. It felt like I was empty after the load I had before that. Ironically, every single piece I hauled unexpectedly started up, and I drove every single one on without incident, other than one severe hydro. oil leak, and one grader with a flat tire off the bead.

[greywynd]

Sure looks like you had to do some squeezing to get the Volvo and Dresser on there together....bet things were starting to pucker!!

Mark

[LowBoy]

Sure looks like you had to do some squeezing to get the Volvo and Dresser on there together....bet things were starting to pucker!!

Mark








No doubt about it, Mark...the pucker factor was pretty high on this deal, but it was worth it in the end.:D

[Truckie]

Nicely done. I like it.

[Grader4me]

Great pics Lowboy! Looks like you really had to use your imagination on that load. Any comments from anyone on your handy work during your trip? So where is the trailer that holds all the chains & tightners that you have to carry? Or do you just have a 1/2 ton following behind. :D Seriously though...how many chains & tightners do you carry and which type of tightner do you use?

[LowBoy]

Great pics Lowboy! Looks like you really had to use your imagination on that load. Any comments from anyone on your handy work during your trip? So where is the trailer that holds all the chains & tightners that you have to carry? Or do you just have a 1/2 ton following behind. :D Seriously though...how many chains & tightners do you carry and which type of tightner do you use?







Noooo, I honestly didn't need anybody commenting on that particular load, Grader4.:badidea I have a bunch of equipment that I carry for securement, adding stuff all the time.
Mainly I have a set of 1/2" chains. There's 4 12 footers, and 2 16 footers. There's 6 ratchet/screw binders for that set. Then I have an array of 3/8" chains of all lengths, and I have several short pieces at 12" or shorter. These pieces have proven to be invaluable when a 20 footer is used and doubled up, and it JUST won't quite make it back through a D-ring a second time; the little 12" piece with a hook on one end makes up that little lost length. I've got a dozen or so pieces with one hook, less than a foot long for all kinds of custom securement tricks.
There's about 8 3/8" ratchet/screw binders with those 3/8" chains. I also carry about 20 2" nylon ratchet straps for other applications, a lot of corner protectors to protect straps from chafing and protect the piece being secured.
A lot of different size hardwood blocking is also critical to have on board; It's a never-ending battle to justify just when to stop adding weight and equipment to my arsenal, but it pays off when a challenge arises and you have what it takes to get the job done in a safe and practical manner.
I find that I should have at least 8 binders of both sizes, 1/2" and 3/8", because I sometimes find it necessary to double-bind a chain from both ends. Sometimes the way it works out, one side of a chain is slack compared to the other, so by adding a second binder it solves that dilemma.
The thought you had on a 1/2 ton following me is something to consider...Boy, could I have a full toybox then, eh?:D :drinkup

[Grader4me]

Wow! You carry a lot of rigging. I would imagine that many times over the years you have learned the hard way on what you need to carry with you. Also with your "gift" of making the most out of a load, you need to be prepared :D

[LowBoy]

Also with your "gift" of making the most out of a load, you need to be prepared :D












Thanks for the awfully kind words, Grader4. The use of the adjective "gift", however, can be easily substituted with "curse" though, I'd safely say...:pointlaugh

[Grader4me]

Thanks for the awfully kind words, Grader4. The use of the adjective "gift", however, can be easily substituted with "curse" though, I'd safely say...:pointlaugh


Sometimes it can be :D

[Dualie]

To add to lowboys arsenal I also keep sever 24" and several 48" lengths of fire hose to slide the chains through to protect the finish on something nice. Also keep a large block of aluminum to stuff under scraper necks to get enough weight transfer to make axle weights. I do a lot of short moves during the course of a day so I mainly use lever binders. I have started switching to the safety release binders.

I do keep 2 or 3 ratchet binders around for those special instances. which haven't come around in the last 5 years that I can remember.

I will however use a ratchet strap.

most of my chains are grade 80 Min. even the 1/2"ers.

[equipment jedi]

Good for you! Grade 80 chains are required by law in the state of Texas. Also by the end of the year all binders shall be of the ratchet type. All heavy equipment will be secured at four factory installed attachment points plus any blade or hoe or other attachment will be secured seperately. That means that something as simple as loader backhoe will have to be secured in at least 6 places. Also any chain used to secure the load wil be one continuous piece, therefore eliminateing the practice of piecing chain together. DOT making it pretty hard to haul oversize loads. Don't shoot me I'm just the messinger.......:beatsme

[Dualie]

Good for you! Grade 80 chains are required by law in the state of Texas. Also by the end of the year all binders shall be of the ratchet type. All heavy equipment will be secured at four factory installed attachment points plus any blade or hoe or other attachment will be secured seperately. That means that something as simple as loader backhoe will have to be secured in at least 6 places. Also any chain used to secure the load wil be one continuous piece, therefore eliminateing the practice of piecing chain together. DOT making it pretty hard to haul oversize loads. Don't shoot me I'm just the messinger.......:beatsme


UGH. :throwup so that means that im going to have to get 25' grade 80 chains to replace my 20' chains that are not long enough to go all the way up and over a Max legal height load sitting on my lowbed. :Banghead

The part about About factory installed attachment points boggles my mind. SO that means I have to send all my old equipment back to the factory to get attachment points engineered into them? that's going to be damn hard to do with my baker York forklift seeing as the factory has been closed and out of business for 22 years.

Gotta love the DOT.

well actually you gotta love "professional" truck drivers that do stupid truck tricks and let the :shf

I wonder if my One chain two binders with slack in the middle will still be legal or will I have to start putting together "lists" of securement's needed to haul different equipment. Cause lord knows if I carry around all the specialized securement now needed im going to be overweight.

I wonder if im going to have to have D rings welded on my trailer too??? Chaz might be getting a visit for me some time soon. :Pointhead more grief I have to go through to be "in compliance". OH JOY!


AND to that I have to use RATCHET BINDERS! :deadhorse

Does this mean I have to retire my bar? me and that piece of pipe have been though a lot and seen a lot of crazy stuff together. they might have to pry that bar and my lever binders out of my cold dead hands.

[DuraMaxMan66]

looks like the hoe of that volvo is hangin out over the side a good 3-4 ft :jawdrop

[JDOFMEMI]

Lowboy

You run a class act there. I can relate to your long list of securement. My company lowboy carries a similar complement. in addition, all my new 3/8 chains are now in grade 100. A lot more expensive, but worth it, especially on a bumpy ride that breaks chains.

I can appreciate the rules though. I just had an A-40 Volvo delivered to CA from GA. It arrived on a ratty trailer, and had only 4 chains on it. Whats worse, all were pulling straight down, instead of pulling forward and backward to hold the truck. When I got close, I seen that every chain was 3/8, with many deformed links. 2 only had one hook, and were looped through the D-ring and back to the lever binder. He did have one ratchet binder, but it was bent badly. Whats worse, the driver complained that he was not allowed into Texas with only 3!!!! chains, and had to add the 4th one there.

I can't believe he made it 1/2 way across the country with 3 bad chains, not even pulling right, and he did not have an accident, or loose the load entirely.

When we haul an A-40 here, it is with 8 chains on it, 4 pulling forward, and 4 pulling back. I used to use 6, but had 2 chains break one time, so 8 is the norm now.

[LowBoy]

looks like the hoe of that volvo is hangin out over the side a good 3-4 ft :jawdrop


Naw, 18" to be exact. Who's counting?:beatsme

[Dualie]

Thats what the oversize load banners are for

[LowBoy]

Thats what the oversize load banners are for


True in most cases, but that particular move there, no signs were the better decision...:cool2

[Dualie]

True in most cases, but that particular move there, no signs were the better decision...:cool2


haha been there done that skirted the dot.

[9Axle]

nice double up there lowboy Ive done the same thing once but the other way around.with 12g 420 hoe,but i didnt have to work that hard i have one of them low pro 16 tire trailers.99% over the back.:cool2

[9Axle]

:salute nice to see another norcal lowbed driver on here.

[Dualie]

:salute nice to see another norcal lowbed driver on here.


not really a "lowbed driver" I own a Heavy spec KW and a 16 tire but they don't pay the bills unfortunately. There just a tool in the shed for the day to day biz. I wish I could get some more seat time in it. I do like the quite roar of the C-15 through the VIT padding. Its my alone time.

I wish I could pay the bills dragging a stearable 9 but I was born an ironworker I will die an iron worker I guess.