LowBoy Chain Gang

Hub-City · #1 (**permalink**) 08-29-2007, 09:37 PM

First, I love this website! All you posters are wonderful (well, ALMOST everyone!)
I was offered an opportunity to learn how to secure heavy equipment to a lowboy. Tractors, dozers, generators... stuff like that. Mostly pick up and delivery in NE. I don't need to operate the equipment, just secure it and transport it.
CAN anyone offer advice, please, as how to do this right without keep from screwing up?!?!?
Or advice as to whether or not to get into it at all!!

Thanks!

WT

grocery thrower · #2 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 01:20 PM

I don't know anything about securing the loads but dad did it for years, heavy equipment and oversize loads and he loved it, he said it was always a challenge and you had to think. I have always wanted to pull a flatbed, thats one of the only trailers that I have not had the chance to pull, I think it would be very interesting work, especially the low boys with the heavy stuff you are looking at.

grocery thrower · #3 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 01:26 PM

Hub-City,
Your post reminded me of something, yesterday while I was getting fuel at the pilot in Springdale AR, I saw the darndest thing, it was a KW aerodine cabover with a KW hood attatched to it, the cabover part was red and the hood was yellow, he had a lowboy trailer with one of the biggest generators I have seen on it, I seem to remember a picture of this truck in one of the trucking publications, you ever seen this truck? I'll never forget it I can tell you that, it was odd seeing that mis-matched thing pulling that heavy generator.

Hub-City · #4 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 03:07 PM

Thanks, GT.
You always have "Good User Info"!
At first, I shunned the offer to learn chaining-basically because I have no experience and I'm a prima-donna! I lumped too much freight earlier in life and just want the easy, tl, d&h stuff.
That is, until I saw this guys setup(s)... '04 and '06 Pete' long-nose, tri-axle w/coffin sleeper, 550 Cat's, and my favorite color scheme, black, red and chrome! New trailers, too. He dosen't do too much long distance but has lots of local (NE) work as he's been around for a long time (30+ yrs).
After I saw this equipment, I called him right back and told him if he let's me operate those Pete's, I'd learn chaining! Best part is, I won't have to load because: A) I'm not licensed to operate machinery and B) from what I've heard, the operators like to do it!...

And like you, I now like the idea because it's more specialized and I'd NEVER be in hurry to deliver!!

All for now. thanks again, GT!

grocery thrower · #5 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 09:06 PM

Thanks Hub-City, I say go for it, they have been around for a long time so the company is stable, you don't have to drive all over the country, and you would get to do interesting work, not to mention the petes, lets not forget that!!
I saw a guy the other day and complimented him on the KW he was driving and he told me to come over and go to work for them and I could drive one just like it, they haul lumber, most of it for crating purposes, to their own customers, he said usually out one day back the next, the longest runs ore Nebraska and south Chicago, the drivers rotate so he said you only have to do that every 3 months, this is out of Fort Smith, I have to say I have given it some thought. He has been there 8 years and another guy 10, he said a guy with 5 years quit to go to the oil field to be home EVERY night, I sure love what I do, I ask myself every day though, how much longer can I do it.