Use Airline Track To Outfit Your Contractor Trailer

Posted on December 16, 2010 by lisa

There are lots of different methods for setting up a new enclosed trailer.  Some contractors choose not to even outfit their trailers at all, instead preferring to toss all equipment and power cords wherever they may fall.  Airline track may be one of the easiest, least expensive ways to protect expensive equipment and provide a passable space to work.

Airline track is a simple product made of aluminum.  The track is fashioned into lengths up to 48” and has a length of notches or grooves running the center of its face.  Screw holes are found in the back of the track.

Airline track is great for enclosed trailers and vans because its incredibly strong yet lightweight.  Once a length of track is secured to the frame of the vehicle with self-tapping screws, you’re ready to get organized.

Cinch straps are great for holding electrical cords.  They’re made of hook and loop fasteners which offer substantial holding power while being fully adjustable.  The uses arecinch strap endless.

Single stud fittings and double stud fittings work really well with airline track.  As you might imagine, the single stud fitting slides right into one notch in the airline track and has a stainless steel ring you can hook into.  The double stud fitting is a little more durable and offers a higher break strength and working load limit.  You can use cam buckle straps with flat snap hooks or other tie downs to hold fast to the o-rings on the fittings.

Airline track is versatile and has a low profile.  When you’re a contractor working in a small space you appreciate all the room you can get.  Airline track lets you secure an air compressor, small ladder, electrical cords and much more safely and easily.

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Don’t Risk It! Invest In Some Moving Blankets.

Posted on December 14, 2010 by lisa

I understand, you’re probably looking for a few ways to save a few bucks.  Who wouldn’t?  Moving is incredibly expensive.  There’s realtor fees, fees to turn on utilities and water, the cost of the moving truck.  There may be investments in new wardrobes if you’re changing climates in the middle of the season, and there’s definitely the new mortgage to think of.  All that makes shaving a few dollars off by skimping on moving blankets seem wise, right?  Wrong!Econo Deluxe Moving Blanket from US Cargo Control

Think about it – how long have you had that couch?  That mattress set, or that dining table and chairs?  Moreover, how long did you have to save to be able to afford those nice things?  Why on earth would you risk them to save less than a hundred bucks?

Moving is flat-out hard on furniture.  Joints get loosened, decorative finishes get scratched, and soft woods get dented.  While moving blankets won’t guarantee none of that stuff happens to your belongings, it sure makes sense to take a few precautions.

Moving blankets don’t have to be expensive.  In fact, if you think this is the only move you’ll make for awhile, you can go with a simple furniture pad or the polyester non-woven moving blanket, the “good” variety, for most of your things.  Opt for “best” quality for highly prized possessions or really fragile things.  The heavier the weight of the blanket, the better protection it can provide thanks to more interior padding and a tighter weave.  And most of the high end moving blankets can be washed, too, making them useful time and again.

Think about getting some moving bands as well.  Moving bands are very inexpensive and do a great job at holding moving blankets in place so that they conform to the shape of the item being covered.

There you have it, a smarter moving system on the cheap.  It’s well worth it!

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Motorcycle Ratchet Straps – How The Real Road Warriors Roll

Posted on December 14, 2010 by lisa

Are you a cycling enthusiast?  Whether a fan of the gritty dirt bike or the elegant Honda, you want to show off your ride with style, right?  That means even when you’re not at the handlebars.

As long as I’ve owned a bike (and that started as soon as I could scrape together the funds for a junker which I proudly fixed up), I’ve tied it down with ratchet straps.  The weight of the bike and the uncertainty of the elements and the road led me to take as many precautions as possible to ensure the safety of my investment and my life.

And so far – knock on wood – my tie down system has worked just fine.  But I recently stumbled across something much better – a ratchet strap kit made specifically for motorcycles.

The motorcycle ratchet strap kitmotorcycle tied down with ratchet straps comes with four 1” x 6ft ratchet straps with s-hooks.  It also has four of these great 1” x 18” handle bar straps that are like soft eye loops.  One end of the handle bar strap slides over a grip, then the s-hook from the ratchet strap hooks into the other end.  I used a buddy to help stabilize the bike on my trailer, then alternating from left to right side, gradually tightened down the ratchet strap until the front end was secure.  I used the remaining two straps to secure the back end.

I really like this new tie down system.  I think it gives me greater stability and offers more points of contact should something go wrong.  You gotta get your own motorcycle ratchet strap kit and try it out!

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Move Precious Cargo With Cam Buckle Straps

Posted on December 14, 2010 by lisa

Do you know the difference between a ratchet strap and a cam buckle strap? Sure, they both help secure objects to a fixed frame. But depending on your cargo and other factors, one tie down strap may be a better choice than the other for your project.

A cam buckle strap allows you to pull the end of the strap through the assembly to tighten the strap rather than ratcheting. Because this method relies on the user’s own strength and leverage, there is more “play” in the strap. That’s not to suggest that a cam buckle strap isn’t good for securing a load; that’s to say that when you need something tied down but need to be cautious, say, of corners and other points of contact, a cam buckle strap may be your best choice. They also go on a little quicker and a little easier than a ratchet strap.

A ratchet strap, in contrast, uses the buckle assembly mechanism to incrementally tighten the strap in a more precise manner. This method relies less on user strength, instead it uses the “teeth” of the assembly to hold the strap fast into position.

In my work, I often use cam buckle straps and moving blankets to transport furniture from one place to another. While I’m not a traditional mover – I don’t haul boxes and appliances – I do oversee the transfer of fragile and highly valued items like antique furniture, artwork, high-end furniture and ornate pieces of wood, like headboards. My trailer is outfitted with an e-track system and d-rings on the floor, so depending on what I’m moving and the size of the item, I have plenty of options to secure the load without damaging the soft profiles of the wood.

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Get Ready To Ski, Thanks To Ratchet Straps

Posted on December 13, 2010 by lisa

Everyone’s ready for the fun part of a ski trip – the downhill runs and the hot toddies – but you better not skimp on the preparation!

We had been planning a big ski trip for months with two sets of our best friends. The weather forecast was perfect, lots of fresh powder and perfect temps with no storms in sight. We had reserved a large SUV whose specifications promised to hold all 6 of us and all our gear, from poles to skis to bags.

But we had a Jerry Seinfeld moment at the rental place. Instead of the large SUV, they gave us the mid-size SUV. We had reservations to keep; what were we to do?

Fortunately Dirk is a great planner and had thought ahead to the “what if?” part of things. He reached into his bag and pulled out four 2” ratchet straps and a tarp and announced “We can handle this!” So we followed his lead.

Indeed there was enough room inside the vehicle for the passengers and the beverage cooler. Dirk decided to use the roof rack of the vehicle with his ratchet straps to secure the remainder of our cargo.

First we placed all the skis on the rack, flat side down. Fortunately all the luggage was soft-sided so we didn’t think it would scratch the skis or the roof. Starting in the front, Dirk used his ratchet straps to tie down the entire load. Sure, four ratchet straps was probably a little overkill, but we had them and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

We probably made a few passing cars laugh on the way to our vacation – flashes of The Beverly Hillbillies – but thanks to our ratchet straps, we arrived with all our stuff intact.

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Airline Track Makes Hauling Easy

Posted on December 13, 2010 by lisa

This summer I earned some extra cash by riding a route with a local delivery person.  My friend has his own truck which he uses to deliver bottled water, coffee supplies, snacks and soft drinks to local businesses.airline track

One of the most valuable lessons I learned along the route was the value of a good tie down system.  I had never heard of such a thing, but my buddy Jack showed me how to use the airline track (also called a-track and logistic track) he had custom installed inside his truck.

Airline track can be installed vertically or horizontally, making it a very versatile tie down system.  It’s strength actually exceeds that of e-track, which has a much wider profile.

Jack’s tie down system is actually pretty simple but surprisingly important, given that he can’t sell any damaged merchandise.  Airline track is a strong, lightweight aluminum track with a really low, narrow profile.  The strips of airline track are available in a variety of lengths from 48” to 2” for very precise placement of repeat cargo like a hand truck, air compressor, or other staple item routinely hauled around.

Jack used a variety of fittings specially made for the airline track.  The single stud fitting with stainless steel ring made it easy to snap a hook onto the end of a j-hook on a ratchet strap.  That worked well for most of the cargo, but we used double stud fittings with o-rings to secure the racks holding the heavy water bottles to the airline track, just to be safe.

Once I accidentally forgot to re-secure the straps after off-loading some of the merchandise.  You bet right if you say that came directly out of my paycheck!  A lesson learned once that was never forgotten:  always use the tie down system.

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Secure your hobby car with an e-track tie down system

Posted on December 13, 2010 by lisa

Are you a hobby car enthusiast?  I’m talking about derby races, mud races, and other good clean family fun that involves speed and the roar of a motor.  It’s a lot of fun to bring the whole family together to enjoy events (and winning!).

No matter how much fun the prep work is, or how entertaining the actual event is, you can never forget that safety comes first.  As clichéd as it may sound, without the right safety precautions, the team can’t compete.  Don’t let something as simple as a few tie down supplies and some effort spoil your fun or worse.
e track tie down system
Our family participates in mud races throughout the Midwest, spring through fall. Over the years, we perfected a system that’s perfect for tying down our car inside the trailer we tow.  We use an e-track system and ratchet straps and have no worries.

We started by measuring the stance (wheel base) of our car then purchased 10’ pieces of e-track which we installed in the floor of the trailer with some self-tapping screws.  Be sure to drill through the floor material as well as the trailer frame for a secure hold.  After the e-track was installed, we added some plastic end caps where the track stopped near the work bench area at the head of the trailer.  Those simple end caps will help prevent someone’s shoe from getting snagged and possibly causing a nasty fall.

When we’re ready to roll to a race site or the practice track, we drive the car up the ramp into the trailer.  The e-track is just inside the inner walls of the tires. There are two e-track tie down fittings with round rings set into the track behind the back tires, and two fittings set into the track in front of the front tires.  We use an axle strap with a flat hook to secure the car to the track at those four points as well as around the axle.

Now that we’ve done this awhile, it takes no time at all to secure the car.  Thanks to e-track and tie downs, we always make it to the race with peace of mind, ready to win.

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