Tie-down strap winches

D6c

New member
I have a 25 ton lowboy that I'd like to mount track for strap winches on so that I can occasionally use it to haul large round bales of hay or other cargo.

The trailer is 8' wide but to haul hay I would extend the outriggers...not sure if that will work well since the strap winches would be back under the outrigger plank. The outside frame rail is a C channel so there isn't a flange to hook a strap to on the inside. I'd either have to weld on a strip for the strap hooks or hook them on under to the main frame rail.

What type of winch track do you like best and what would work best for this application? I probably wouldn't leave the winches on the trailer unless I'm using them just to keep them out of the way.


Trailer.jpg
 

Longhood

Well-known member
I would be inclined to mount the winches on the outrigger attachment, and then anchor the attachment to the tie rings on the rail, I have sliding winches mounted on my Hiboy, they are handy, but the ones on the "neck" are fixed and I can usually line them up fairly well. I have wood that fits my stake pockets for round bales, it works , but steel would be a lot stronger and live longer. If your local laws allow you to travel empty with the width extensions in place mounting the winches and tie hooks to the extensions would make the process a lot easier, provided that you could anchor the extensions to the frame solidly.
 

bam1968

Member
I used to have a trailer very similar to your trailer. Only difference is mine was a triple axle trailer. It's been awhile but I think we used to haul 9-11 bales on it. Every once in a while we would haul 4' wide bales but mostly they were 5' wide. I bet I could count on one hand the number of times we ever strapped any down. If the bales were real old or saggy we might throw a strap over them. BUT, we were usually only hauling them a few miles (5-8 miles). Basically, if you are hauling decent bales a short distance and the driveways/field entrances are decent and fairly level then I would just put some planks on your outriggers and start hauling. I guess I should have asked if you were strapping them down to satisfy the DOT or just to keep them on the trailer? I should add, I don't recall ever losing a bale although every once in a while one of the bales that were over the trailer axles would get pretty warm
 

D6c

New member
I used to have a trailer very similar to your trailer. Only difference is mine was a triple axle trailer. It's been awhile but I think we used to haul 9-11 bales on it. Every once in a while we would haul 4' wide bales but mostly they were 5' wide. I bet I could count on one hand the number of times we ever strapped any down. If the bales were real old or saggy we might throw a strap over them. BUT, we were usually only hauling them a few miles (5-8 miles). Basically, if you are hauling decent bales a short distance and the driveways/field entrances are decent and fairly level then I would just put some planks on your outriggers and start hauling. I guess I should have asked if you were strapping them down to satisfy the DOT or just to keep them on the trailer? I should add, I don't recall ever losing a bale although every once in a while one of the bales that were over the trailer axles would get pretty warm
I'd be hauling 6' diam. x 5' wide round bales....if I stack two high I should be able to get 14 on. Short distances might be OK without straps but two layers might get a little tippy... if the Dot sees you they'll want everything tied down. I bet a bale rubbing one of the tires could get pretty warm....figured I'd have to make up some removable wheel cover plates if I hauled for any distance.

Sold some hay recently and the trucker has a fairly long step trailer....I can load 30 bales if I shove the bottom layer forward to get two more on the rear and put 4 up on the neck.
 

bam1968

Member
When we hauled them, for the most part, I think we only put sngles on the upper layer which in turn helped hold the bottom layer. I'm guessing you are wanting to go '2 wide' on the top which surely need strapped down. As far as DOT, yes they like to see straps on them. I don't know if this would work but what if you would semi permanently mount some winches on the bottom frame rails of your trailer? I know not every load is going to be exactly the same but if the winches were strategically placed I would think that they would be in the right spot most of the time. Just my $.02
 

D6c

New member
I was thinking along the same line....I could either mount bolt on winches along the bottom of the frame rail or weld winch track on the bottom to make it easy to slide them off.

Not sure if it will give problems running the strap from the bottom of the frame rail, out around the outrigger planks, and up over the bales. Might need to round over the bottom edge of the planks so that it wouldn't cut the straps.

On the opposite side of the trailer I'll have to add something to hook the strap on. (since the outside frame rail is a c-channel with the flanges turned outward)
I could add a rail like what you see on the side of a flat-bed trailer, except it would be either on the bottom of the frame or the back side of the frame rail.....have to think on that.
 
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