How to secure a manure spreader to a U-haul trailer for transport?

[goodhors]

@Simkie

Uhaul trailers are made of metal. There is no wooden floor.

Then obviously she can’t use the wood pieces for blocking the wheels. I have not used any U-Haul trailers for a long time to know they were metal floored.

With one less holding point, this makes it even more important that she anchors her load down with suitable binding products like chain and chain binders. No one ties down farm equipment with rachet straps. Look at other trailers with equipment on them, utility workers, construction trailers, the rental store, and machine loads on the road. They are ALL chained down to the trailer. These folks move machinery daily, have to have a professional attitude in tying it down safely before heading off with load in traffic.

We had one flatbed trailer with a trencher on it tip over while making a corner because the road culvert gave way under the wheels. Machine STAYED ON TRAILER, in place on the tipped trailer laying on it’s side. They had to get a big wrecker to pull trailer back onto wheels, to move it again. Machine stayed in place thru the entire process, which did make things easier to get upright again. Driver got a DOT commendation for his well-secured load after accident investigation was completed…

You want your load tied down that good.

OP might want to reread the labels of rachets she bought, then return them. I have never seen breaking strength be larger than working load strength. Maybe there is some new magic out there in straps, I just have not heard of it. Breaking point is what I call the jerk point, sudden jerk is where a product breaks. Like emergency braking stop from road speed as someone pulls out in front of you. Often breaking strength is less than half the working load strength. I DO read those labels on breaking and working strengths to prevent “accidents” happening.

Check the load strength on carabiner too if you want to use them. Most are pretty cheap, low strength rating. Too often they just pull apart with stress of load when you NEED to depend on them. I would not use them hauling machinery.

Hoping OP has a safe trip with her new spreader.

[Leather]

Rather than U-haul, are there any equipment rental places nearby that rent equipment trailers?

When we bought our tractor we rented a flat bed trailer with ramps with a 10k lb capacity that already had the load securing chains and binders in place.

[moving_to_dc]

I think a lot of us are forgetting this must be a TINY manure spreader if it is going to fit in a U-Haul trailer with sides and a ramp. We are not talking about 10K of machinery that needs tied down. Additionally, I seriously doubt there will be room in that trailer to maneuver chains and binders. But there will be plenty of room for ratchet straps.

I would have ZERO problem using ratchet straps of the correct load capacity. ZERO. We have moved our farm machinery, implements, fencing, etc. all over this country. Some equipment we use chains and boomers/binders, but lots of it we use ratchets. So do the professional truck drivers we have hired to haul some of our loads. We have hauled all the way to Alaska and back, on the roughest roads imaginable, with zero issues. In college, my husband hauled wide load COMBINES all over this country with harvest crews, he is very familiar with how loads need to be strapped down.

Yes, ratchet straps CAN wear through, you should inspect them before every use, and pad them if there are sharp wear points. If you want to be fancy, you can pick up plastic pads at truck stops or trucking supply places. We just use a few layers of cardboard, which was a tip from a driver that makes his living hauling equipment daily.

[Bluey]

@Leather

Rather than U-haul, are there any equipment rental places nearby that rent equipment trailers?

When we bought our tractor we rented a flat bed trailer with ramps with a 10k lb capacity that already had the load securing chains and binders in place.

Home Depot here rents plain flat bed trailers that would handle most any smaller tractor, skid loader and I expect manure spreader also.
One more place to check out.

[fordtraktor]

I think ratchet straps would be fine but the 2", 10k lb ones, not 1k lb ones.

[Simkie]

@Kmacht

If those aren’t available then at least use some 10,000 lb straps. They are about $15 a piece at home depot which is cheap insurance.

Nine bucks right now at Home Depot

[gumtree]

@goodhors

Hate to go against everyone, but rachet straps can and will get cut on sharp metal edges and the movement of tied down load on the road. They are not the best tool for this kind of job and the weight of the item being tied down. Trust me, YOU DO NOT WANT A LOAD GETTING LOOSE IN TRANSIT. This is not hay you are moving.

We haul machinery and you want to use chains with hook ends, with chain binders to secure your spreader in or on the trailer. Chains won’t cut thru if rubbing on metal edges during hauling. If there is a rental store nearby you could rent the chains, needed chain binders, and probably get a free lesson on how to tie down the spreader to be in compliance with laws regarding hauling equipment. These folks move large equipment all the time, should know the laws regarding safe movement on the roads. For our big backhoe, each of the corners must be chained securely. Recommended to also secure the bucket and hoe with their own chains and binders in case of rough roads.

I would get some 4x4 or 4x6 wood pieces that are the width of trailer. I would SPIKE THEM to the trailer floor in front and behind the wheels, to aid in keeping the spreader in place on the trailer. You will need large spikes to go thru that thick wood and go deep into the floorboards of trailer. Take a larger hammer, 4# or larger size to drive the spikes, your carpenter hammer won’t do it. You will need a pry bar to remove the 4x wood after getting home. But better to keep things where they belong, than be sorry about it later. This applies to the chains over rachet straps as well.

The driver is ALWAYS responsible for their load. Making sure it is firmly secured, can’t turn into problem while enroute to the final destination IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. You do not want it to be your fault the ill-secured load gets loose on you or hurts someone else.

The ratchet straps that Bluey linked to are rated at 10,000 lbs for each strap. The are certainly strong enough to do the job. This is what they are used for among other things. We are talking about a 1,600 lb “dead load”. Using 5 of these as I suggested will be more than needed. I have hauled lots of equipment much heavier than this.

There is no way they will be “cut through” looped over the round axle or the tongue. Let’s be real. We’re not hauling a backhoe, tractor or anything close to that size and weight.

That being said and after reading the OP is renting a trailer for $34.99 I doubt it is a car/equipment carrier. As I said in my post “Assuming you are renting a car/equipment carrier”, I assumed wrong for $34.99, lol. I don’t think a trailer of sufficient size, one that is meant for this purpose can be had for $34.99. I think I would want one with electric breaks also. Maybe U-haul is cheap in their area. All of the car carriers I have rented have multiple floor attachment point and the floors are not wood. They are wide enough for anything that doesn’t require an oversize permit.

[LookmaNohands]

Okay, so I determined it would NOT fit in a U-haul. I did buy the spreader today and am going to have a commercial hauler deliver it. My barn help have been threatening mutiny if I don’t get one soon. It should come in a day or so. The spreader is a really good deal so I don’t mind spending a bit on the hauling.

[clanter]

The ratchet straps that Bluey linked to are rated at 10,000 lbs for each strap. The are certainly strong enough to do the job.

I believe you are overlooking that this spreader is on pneumatic tires … I really question one could use these nine dollar racket straps to secure a load safely … I just do not think a person would have the ability to put enough force on those little racket handles to compress the tires of the spreader.

But for me, I would wire transfer the money to the dude and contract a hauler who has the proper equipment to transport the the thing to me… or buy locally

[gumtree]

@clanter

I believe you are overlooking that this spreader is on pneumatic tires … I really question one could use these nine dollar racket straps to secure a load safely … I just do not think a person would have the ability to put enough force on those little racket handles to compress the tires of the spreader.

But for me, I would wire transfer the money to the dude and contract a hauler who has the proper equipment to transport the the thing to me… or buy locally

No I did not, I’ve loaded/hauled hay balers, spreaders, rakes, discbine etc all of which have pneumatic tires using these straps. Each strap has a working load of over 3,000. The ratchet handle is plenty big enough to give excellent leverage and makes it is pretty easy to crank them down and see the tires balloon out a bit. I also said/advised to stop and check the tension periodically. The load can and does shift a bit after starting out so it is especially important to check your work 15 20 minutes into the drive. Or before getting on an Interstate.

These also meet DOT guidelines. Chain and load binders certainly are stronger but IMO a bit of over kill for a 1,600 spreader. They are also a LOT more tricky to attached and strap down correctly for those who don’t have experience using them. When the load shift and the chains get some slack in them the load binders can and do “release”.

To each their own.

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/Yellow-2-Wire-Hook-Ratchet-Straps/Ratchet-Strap-2x27-w-Double-J-Hook

[Equibrit]

Tie the wheels for and aft.