Flatbed Variety

Man, I think I'd really like to give flatbedding a try after this first year is up! I love the idea of getting to do some physical work along with the driving. The gym rat in me is itching for a little heavy lifting. Looks like it may be just the thing for me! :)

I'm only 5 /4 and it's better then dry van or refer. it's not that bad after you learn to strap and the braker bar you use little tricks. what sucks is when you trap and the wind comes up, so bun g real fast. or you might get to go sky diving. and have the guy's put your traps up with there forks. and some times it's hard to get up on top a load but ride up with your traps. chain& binders can suck but use your braker bar. if that don't work care a longer bar to put over the end so it's easier, and yah the guys laugh at yah when the trap go's air born with you hanging on but most of the time they will run over and pull you back down. and if you can pull your weight then once they know yah very buddy will help each other . I love flat bed, or drop deck, never did low boy. but i only know how to drive a john green no cats. but know matter how hard you try they only call you a little straper.

but a hard hat comes in handy chain saw hammer nails rubber rope. there's more but you learn that

Opps tarps not sure about this laptop but some have 8 foot drops/ and what's going on out there now days . last time I was out was 10 years ago?

Man, I think I'd really like to give flatbedding a try after this first year is up! I love the idea of getting to do some physical work along with the driving. The gym rat in me is itching for a little heavy lifting. Looks like it may be just the thing for me! :)

There is really not all that much lifting. Dragging chains and throwing straps are about the most you lift. I don't know about tarps because I do not use them at all. The people that you hear saying that it is a lot of physical hard work are the ones that have never done an hours hard work in their life. Yeah you sweat and such but it is not all that taxing like bucking hay bales or shoveling cow excrement.

For example, with a RGN it takes from 1-1.5 hours to load, secure, flag and ready to roll. I don't call that hard work. The hardest part is reconnecting the neck when the pin does not line up immediately.

As far as the work though, I would not do anything else. Occasionally I will pull a box but that has only been 2-3 times in the last 2 years and that is a van converted into an office trailer for our customer.

There is really not all that much lifting. Dragging chains and throwing straps are about the most you lift. I don't know about tarps because I do not use them at all. The people that you hear saying that it is a lot of physical hard work are the ones that have never done an hours hard work in their life. Yeah you sweat and such but it is not all that taxing like bucking hay bales or shoveling cow excrement.

Definitely easier than baling hay! Yard tarps can be a little heavy, especially when they're wet, but not as bad as I feared before I started. Flatbedding is more active than drop and hook , but from what I hear not nearly as physical as local P&D.

Been busy lately hauling excavators, roach coaches and scrap steel. Keep forgetting to get photos. Well I got some today.

Now this load is 50k lbs so you need at least 25k of securement. I am using 3/8" chain rated at 6600 lbs WLL. BUT the binders are only rated at 5500 lbs WLL. So if you divide 25,000 by 5500 you come up with 4.55 chains required. Well I don't do half chains.... LOL So you can see in the photo that I have 5 chains on the beast. 4 through the tracks and 1 on the arm.

Here is another view.

A few photos from my window yesterday

Hey Pat, I remember a while back you saying that you had been hauling dirt lately so you didn't take any pictures. Well I recently hauled a load of dirt, or sand actually, and they put my sand in nice little "gift bags" which made for a nice clean load. This load went from Eau Clair Wisconsin down to a well site in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Hey Pat, I remember a while back you saying that you had been hauling dirt lately so you didn't take any pictures. Well I recently hauled a load of dirt, or sand actually, and they put my sand in nice little "gift bags" which made for a nice clean load. This load went from Eau Clair Wisconsin down to a well site in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

I wear way too many trailers. Besides I can't haul dirt if I don't first get the loader or excavator there...

I have been remiss in taking more photos. I keep forgetting to take them. Recently I have moved an old farm tractor about 130 miles then on Friday I got to play pilot car again.... Love blocking the lanes... LOL We were very busy on Friday moving 3 excavators 2 each John Deere 350's and one John Deere 330. All were moved on a 9 axle lowboy that we have dedicated drivers for. I am not nearly ready for that or the beam trailers that we have. But it was fun at 10° in the snow with the excavator wanting to slide off the side of the trailer. Been pulling RGN trailers lately moving equipment around.

Here is a photo of a 350 Not the one we moved but same machine.