E Track For Trailers Makes The Road Safer For Everyone

Posted on January 4, 2011 by heather

Do you ever really pay attention to those big trucks barreling down the interstate?  Sure you do, especially when the weather is bad and you’re wondering if you should try passing.  The fact is, semi tractors, or over-the-road trucks, are big business.  They carry raw materials and finished goods all over North America, furnishing everywhere you shop down to the where you eat.

Ever wonder how your favorite cereal appeared at the corner grocery store?  Sure, the little box truck and that dimple-faced delivery guy are the last leg of the journey.  But they didn’t do the heavy lifting; the grain started somewhere else, was processed in a different city, possibly packaged in yet another.  And then you got your Cheerios sent right to the shelf, where you’d come to expect them to be.

Delivery drivers, truck drivers, grain haulers.  With all the driving going on, it’s easy for someone behind the wheel to get tired or have his reaction time skewed after a long day on the road.  Fortunately for drivers, trucking companies and regular folk like you and me, many trucks are outfitted with e track for trailers.  The effect is less load shift thanks to a more stable interior environment.  That means more security and safety for you and me.

Available in 5 or 10 foot lengths or single 1” sections, e track for trailer is a really versatile fastening system which gives the trailer owner a lot of flexibility.  Available in galvanized or power coated paint format, you’ll find e track for trailers installed on trailer walls and flooring.  Install e track for trailers simply and easily with self-tapping screws tying the track length to the floors and walls of the trailer as well as the frame of the structure.

This system allows better load configuration and lessens the chance of an accident caused by load shift.

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Use Straps To Keep Equipment Organized and Secure

Posted on January 3, 2011 by heather

If you’ve ever tried to work at a construction site and make an enclosed trailer serve as your field office, then you know that professionals that rely on compact, mobile environments need special solutions for saving time and space.  They also need to build in safety and security measures.

Enclosed trailers can be a great method of delivering tools and equipment to job sites.  Some companies have an eye on efficiency and choose to outfit the trailers with proper shelving, hooks, and work surfaces.  Others may simply load up the trailer, requiring workers to sort through the contents at the job.  Properly outfitting the trailer does take some time and money, but in the long run it should result in a smoother-running operation, fewer safety hazards, and prolonged life of tools.

Straps, like the hook-and-loop variety which fit smoothly into airline track, can do a greatstraps job of keeping electrical cords and air hose into tight coils, ready to roll out.  Other straps, like rubber tarp straps with J-hooks, can be used in conjunction with a tarp to protect loads of delivered wood material like 2 x 4’s.  Cam straps can do a great job of cinching boxes of fasteners together, particularly if you like to keep a good supply of extras around the site.

How else might you use straps around a work site?

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Put Moving Blankets On Your List of Moving Supplies

Posted on December 30, 2010 by heather

In planning for your upcoming move, there are a host of items you shouldn’t forget.  To name a few:

Paper towels, antibacterial cleaning spray, garbage bags, dust rags, packing tape and dispensing gun, scissors, box cutter, moving boxes, moving blankets, hand truck, furniture dolly, furniture covers, packing paper or bubble wrap.

Some of these items are actually required in order to prepare your items for removal from your existing residents.  Others are used in the process of moving, and a few others are used at the new destination to get surfaces ready for your belongings.

Moving blankets rank among the top most critical items on your list, for without them, youmoving blankets can’t sufficiently protect your furniture from the scratches, dents, dust and marks that just seem to accumulate whenever furniture is touched and moved into another place.  No matter how much care is given to safeguard delicate wood, these things happen.  But you can lessen their instance if you use the right moving blankets along with some moving bands.

While not on a list of supplies per se, among your list of To-Do items be sure to notify all utilities in the city you’re departing as well as the city you’re moving to.  In some cases, with good letters of recommendation, you can get start-up fees waived at your new place.  You may need to mail those in advance.  Other items you’ll need close at hand include birth certificates and immunization records for any children starting day care or school.  In some cases, you may also need copies of social security cards.

What else would you put on your list of necessary moving supplies?

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The Virtues of E Track For Trailers

Posted on December 28, 2010 by heather

If you have a big rig then by all means you need to be familiar with e track for trailers.  This product can make hauling and transporting everything from merchandise to hobby cars to job supplies much easier, more efficient, and with less loss of inventory due to damage.

I recently watched the installation of e track inside the trailer of a hobby enthusiast who spends his weekends running races on dirt tracks across the nation.  For years he has traversed the country in his three quarter ton pickup towing a thirty foot trailer.  Inside the trailer was his nitro-powered car, complete with 42” tires in the back.  I’ve seen YouTube videos of that car in action, and I can’t describe how fast it’s capable of going.  Interestingly, this guy used the most rudimentary (and I contest, unsafe) methods for securing his car inside his trailer.  Because he also travelled with an ATV, he parked it perpendicular to the hobby car tires to prevent the car from rolling forward.  In the back, he used simple straps to secure the frame to d-rings mounted in the frame on the floor.

Admittedly, it worked.  But thankfully for everyone who drives the same roads, he learned about e track for trailers and decided to step up his method of cargo securement.

The installation started with a measurement of the width of the tires.  Then using self-tapping galvanized screws, the installer secured 10 foot lengths of e track into the floor material, then came back and installed additional, longer screws down into the trailer frame.  Later we tapped some plastic end caps at the end of the track run to prevent people from catching their feet and tripping.  The car was rolled into the trailer over the track.  Straps were used to secure the car to the grooves in the e track.

All in all, it was pretty interesting to watch them install e track for trailers.

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Get Your Christmas Cheer On With A Cam Buckle Strap

Posted on December 23, 2010 by heather

Are you and the family ready to set out in search of the best Christmas tree ever?  If so, then grab a moving blanket and a cam buckle strap and you’re ready to tackle the tree farm!

If you’ve ever cut down your own Christmas tree, you know there’s nothing like the experience.  Whether there’s snow or it’s just cold, selecting the right tree is a great family bonding moment.  Don’t let that be spoiled by a damaged or lost tree – grab the stuff I suggested before heading out on your journey.

Surprised by my recommendation?  You shouldn’t be.  But don’t forget the hand saw too!  You see, the moving blanket will provide the roof of your truck or SUV with great protection, both from scratches and tree sap.  Plus, it should make it easy to slide the tree off the roof and even provide some carrying handles (of a fashion) to help you lug it in your house.

The cam buckle strap will be a great help when it’s time to secure your tree to the roof rack.  Rather than a ratacheting action, the cam buckle strap lets you control the tension used to hold the tree securely.  I think they go on easier and come off easier than other tie down straps, too.

A quick reminder – be sure to put the cut end of your tree toward your front windshield before tying it down.  That way when you drive forward, the friction flows with the direction of the branches rather than against.  Not only should that keep your tree branches in better condition, it will make the cam buckle strap work a little less hard, too.

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Tie Down Straps Save Your Cargo

Posted on December 22, 2010 by heather

When you drive a flatbed, protecting your cargo can be a real challenge.  There are any number of environmental and circumstantial factors affecting the safe delivery of your cargo to its destination.  My favorite simple, must-have items are trailer tarps and rubber tarp tie down straps.

There are two varieties to look at, natural rubber and EPDM.  Natural rubber tie down straps are very versatile and easy store in the cab compartment of a truck.  These are perfect for colder climate without a lot of stress from excessive heat or burning rays from the sun.  Natural rubber has high stretch characteristics and resistant to abrasions.

EPDM tie down straps are actually made of a synthetic rubber which includes an elastomer to add heat resistance.  This type is harder to stretch than natural rubber which may make it more durable in some situations.  This type of tie down straps works great in hot climates like Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana.

My preferred trailer tarp is a lumber tarp.  Lumber tarps have rows of d-rings along the side which I can hook tie down straps to quickly and easily.

I also carry an assortment of rubber tarp strap hooks just to be on the safe side, should I lose any.

You see, just by taking these simple precautions, I can keep my load safe from the elements and from any wandering eyes that might be interested in finding an easy payday.  If you buy rubber tarp straps in bulk you can usually get a great discounted price, with the added benefit of having plenty of fallback.

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Does Santa Use Ratchet Straps On His Sleigh?

Posted on December 21, 2010 by heather

That Santa is a resourceful fellow.  Surely he has some great tips for parents looking to surprise the kiddos this Christmas.

Fairy tales and folk lore tell us that Santa drove a great big red sleigh pulled by 9 reindeer (Rudolph led the sleigh, you know) all around the world, through all kinds of weather.  And he did it in a single evening!  Not only was he flying, but he was flying fast.  How did all those toys stay put in his bulging magic sack?

Believe it or not, the best way Santa could have secured the gifts from his elves was with some ratchet straps surrounding the back of the sleigh.  Magic bag or no, goodies just don’t stay put on their own when someone is flying up, down, and all around.  And ratchet straps could be secured around the outside of the sleigh and ratcheted down on top of the bag.  All he’d have to do was loosen the strap a little to access more toys as the night progressed and he checked good kids off his list.

Another way ratchet straps could help Santa is when he’s ready to travel down chimneys or hop down from the rooftop.  The right tie down strap could secure the top of the bag and provide a length for him to hold on to as he hops all around.

As for moms and dads, ratchet straps are infinitely useful for things like securing trash cans together on trash day (keeps those pesky animals from knocking them over easily), securing the Christmas tree on the car luggage rack when transporting it home, and many other things.

When you need to think of the perfect gift for your special someone, think about buying some ratchet straps.  Santa gives them two thumbs up!

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Get More In Your Truck With E-Track

Posted on December 20, 2010 by heather

My local library uses a cube truck to shuttle books between outlying libraries.  The nice delivery person uses plastic storage bins to hold groups of books intended for the different destinations.  The problem he runs into is that the floor of the truck quickly gets covered and the containers don’t stay stacked due to the movement of the vehicle.  I was concerned we weren’t being as efficient as we could be, so as a volunteer I decided to look into a better system, one that would allow us to hold more bins inside the truck and make it easier for the driver to load and unload.

I eventually stumbled across what many over-the-road truckers must already know:  e-track.  E-track is made of high strength, 12 gauge steel and available in either a powder coat finish or in a galvanized state.  E-track is commonly used on trailer walls to provide a variety of stable tie down spots.  I learned that we could use horizontal e-track along the walls of our truck.  When used in conjunction with wood end sockets, the system would allow us to build simple shelves out of plywood and 2” x 4” lumber inside the truck.

With the new shelving in place, we can now organize the storage bins for each library into separate rows.  We’ve been able to add an additional 6 containers per library, delivering reading happiness to more book lovers throughout the county.  Who knew that e-track, traditionally a trucker’s piece of equipment, would work for bookworms?

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Lock Your Load Thanks To A Ratchet Strap With Chain Extensions

Posted on December 18, 2010 by heather

There may be a lot of methods to securing cargo, but one of the most versatile I’ve found uses a type of ratchet strap with chain extension on the end.

Sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to be driving or how long you’re going to be on the road, much less what the terrain and weather will be like.  I feel most protected when I use these tie downs with chain extensions because the hooks are so versatile.

I buy a kind that’s heavy duty, made of a 2” nylon strap with a long handle.  The handle makes it easier to use (particularly in cold weather when joints don’t want to move and mittens take up a lot of room) and provide extra leverage for a tighter hold.  In fact, the webbing break strength is 12,000lbs and the assembly break strength is 10,000 so chances are my load is staying where I put it.

They’re pretty simple to use.  I just hook one end through the d-ring on one side of the bed and let it lie loose.  Then I hook the other end through the d-ring on the other side.  Then all I do is thread the strap through the ratchet assembly and pull out most of the slack.  I finish tightening down the load by using the ratchet.

I’ve been talking these ratchet straps up to my trucking buddies and I think I’m starting to see a trend.  The more they try them, the more they like them.  Few things are more frustrating than not having the right type of tie downs to fit your trailer bed.  These ratchet straps take out a lot of the guess work, at least with flat bed trailers.  I even went so far as to custom stencil my name on the strap to prevent sticky fingers from picking them up!

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Bring Your Boat Safely In For The Season With Boat Tie Down Straps

Posted on December 16, 2010 by heather

Do you have a fishing or pleasure boat?  It’s time to winterize them.  Be sure to trailer yours home safely with boat tie down straps.

It was a great summer, wasn’t it?  Plenty of weekend fun in the sun and on the water.  I had some pretty good fishing, too.  Now that Old Man Winter is knocking on our door, I’ve got to get going in order to get the boat put away properly before the first snow comes.

The tie down straps I’d been using were looking kind of worn and dry.  They were even fraying a bit and that didn’t give me a great feeling when I thought about the long ride home, towing the trailer behind me.  So I purchased a new 2” x 20ft boat hook winch strap to use with the winch on my boat trailer.  There’s a simple snap hook on the end that goes onto the ring on my trailer.

My old tarp was still okay, so after removing all my equipment like life preservers, oars, tackle boxes and other stuff, I covered the boat with it.  I added a few moth balls and a couple of mice traps on the floor of the boat for good measure.  Then I used four over center buckle boat straps to secure the boat (with the tarp over it) onto the trailer.  The coated s-hooks made it easy to get the boat straps in place and the ratchet action was smooth.

After double-checking my hitch, I was on my way!  Sure, I was a little late to winterize the boat (where does time go?), but thanks to my new winch strap and boat straps, I was confident about the trip.  As expected, I arrived safe and sound.

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