Thread: Trailer TETRIS
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Old February 17th 10, 05:43 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
JS
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Posts: 1,384
Default Trailer TETRIS

Trucking companies are always looking to fill their trucks with
anything instead of "dead heading" them (running the trailer empty).
Since you're looking for pretty much an empty truck, you may not know
what - if anything - is going to happen until right before shipping.
Not much fun. The alternate of booking the trailer in advance you will
probably find more expensive than it's worth.
Loading a car and glider trailer into a 48' or 53' trailer is not as
simple as it may seem. Easiest with a "straight" trailer, not one with
a "dance floor" like a moving van. You must arrange to load and unload
at warehouses or loading docks which have ample room (and a shallow
enough ramp angle) to maneuver the glider trailer from street level to
dock height and into the truck. Plan to provide all the straps to
secure the load. Most trucks have E-track in the walls, but there's no
guarantee (it might even be a flatbed). The truck may show up with
only load bars for load control, or straps which look like hell.
Examine your car and trailer to find the best way to secure them. Some
ways of strapping the car or trailer will make the suspension more
rigid, so the contents might not ride as you'd prefer. You may need 4
or 6x 2" 3000+ Lb ratchet straps with hooks on the ends, then 2 E-
track to D-ring adapters for each strap.
I believe that to be legal on a flatbed requires three straps for
each piece. You can probably return what you don't use, but may lose
straps as you will not necessarily be there to load and unload.

E-track, for example:
http://www.uscargocontrol.com/etrack...655140931a03f1
Strap:
http://www.uscargocontrol.com/ratche...afb8b38895e1ac
D-ring adapter:
http://www.uscargocontrol.com/etrack...655140931a03f1
or
http://www.uscargocontrol.com/6etrac...737ca867b64b01

Also look at this site for any moving supplies you can imagine.
www.newhaven-usa.com

Start by contacting trucking companies in the Salt Lake area and
around home. And here's one link for a starter.
www.dead-heading.com/
Jim

On Feb 16, 7:55*pm, GM wrote:

Since we are on this subject: has anyone ever tried to ship a trailer/
passenger car combination in a 53ft van trailer? Does anyone know a
shipping company that would do a load like this? I am still looking
for a way to get my rig to UT without putting 4k miles on it and it
should fit.
Uli Neumann
'GM'