How do you tie down your vehicle?

[ShadowsPapa]

I chained this up via two chains at the rear - one on each end of the drawbar which on a Regular or F20, goes clear across the back, and a chain up around the steering post between the front tires. It never budged even a little bit.

This person knew how to chain a tractor to a trailer -

I note some attach to a frame? I never attach to a car's frame for hauling - unless you can strap it down SO HARD that the springs can't possibly compress any more in an accident or a big bounce situation, I've seen where someone strapped to the vehicle above the springs, hit a huge dip, the car bounced downward and the force of it bouncing back up busted things loose.
I pulled into an event one weekend to see a group of people hauling jacks, come-alongs and other stuff over to a guys truck and trailer - the car had bounced loose and forward into the tailgate of his truck. They were trying to jack it up enough to get it pulled back onto the trailer. It could have gone the other way............ he strapped to the frame rather than a cross-pattern at the axles.

Just me, my experience, thinking on it, and how the "old timers" trained me.

Don't do a real "x" pattern - as if one side fails, you are then pulling the load to the side. Short is better, 4 corners.

Me personally and everyone I know hauling our classics to shows around the country - axle straps and put some serious tension on it. The car can bounce on the springs all it wants, but it can't move on the trailer.

Interesting takes - and some reasoning -

https://www.motortrend.com/features/proper-trailer-tie-down-techniques

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[tysongladiator]

I was an 88M too. In Desert Shield/Storm my company had a fleet of Mack trucks. We hauled M1’s, Bradley’s, AAV’s and all kinds of heavy equipment. Good times LOL That’s my codriver

If I hauled my Jeep I’d cris cross the front and back using the front d rings on the bumper and the recovery hooks on the back. That may not work with a stock bumper so I’d have to look at it. Maybe cris cross from the lower control arms? Front and back. I’d protect the strap so it doesn’t get pinched. Or tie off towards the center with the LCA’s

Awesome! I was a HET Driver on my first tour in Iraq in 03. Then later our unit converted from a HET unit to a PLS unit. As you can see from an actual pic on my truck in Iraq, we cris crossed the chains as well. I may change the mounting points on the rear of my jeep now for better safety.

I appreciate your service, brother!

 

[tysongladiator]

Hot Glue Gun the tires in place. Just kidding. That compact tractor has enough weight to do some damage if not chained down tightly. Using a forum to get your answer; you will likely get multiple responses. I suggest you forget that and go right to the horses mouth. A tractor dealer, who probably does this ever day and on multiple occasions each day. You can buy your chains and chain tighteners right there I am sure. You are more likely to get quality chain and chain tighteners there, than at some box store. Qualty chain and tighteners, matter.

this is probably more for a different forum but your quest is Gladiator related here. So specifically for the Gladiator pictured, make sure the total weight of this tow, does not exceed your Gladiators specification. for towed weight as well as tongue weight. Let's say the tractor and trailer come to a total weight of 4,000 pounds. Which properly balanced, should have a value of 10% of that weight, the maximum that would be placed on the trailer hitch. Do both of these numbers fit in the specs of your Gladiator model? How about 20% under that spec? This is the max two numbers I would personally allow on my tow vehicle, Gladiator or otherwise. Frame and powertrain in particular. But also the choice of brand/size and type of tires on the towed vehicle. Grip and especially stopping distance change with towing. Off road oriented tires, not my choice at all but your mileage, and safety may vary. By all means, think about the tire pressure of the tow vehicle and trailer.

Proper use with different tractors and/or implements is paramount. You don't want loads sliding or coming loose. In the case of a tractor, it needs to be position on the trailer such that when you get up to higher speeds, the trailer with load doesn't perform a very dangerous side to side wiggle. Bad things will happen. And jamming on the brakes in the truck is not the solution to slow down. Vehicles and loads have flipped. Position and proper chain down matters. As well as having the trailer level, without the front of the tow vehicle looking any different than if the trailer wasn't connected. Proper hitch height, solid ball, an stinger, weights of the loaded trailer hasn't caused any significant rear vehicle squat and that weight on the trailer ball is within specification for the appropriate hitch and ball. All sorts of things to take in consideration.

Don't take my words here or other posts - go to a tractor dealer and ask the mature and knowledgeable person how to do this. And do not get picky about scratching the paint on the tractor where you need the. chains to go. Safety matters. Good quality chains and hooks. Someone gives you some old chains and tighteners? Maybe don't use them. Start with new stuff so you KNOW your investment is not some worn and potentially breakable old junk.

Trailer brake system up to par. Electric brake controller and wiring in the truck all good?

Proper load range tires that are not more than 5 years old. Otherwise risk a blow out from heated tires? don't go there. State Trooper might take a really close look at your setup if they even think something askew going down the road. Deadly stuff can happen. Seriously.

Tractor with backhoe pictured on the trailer will clear all street and highway obstacles. But if you pull into say, someone else's property, just keep in mind the roof on the tractor and potential low tree limbs or some car port heights.

We all started without knowledge and practice in everything in life. I just highly recommend you visit a tractor dealership and get advise from them. More likely a reputable KUBOTA, NEW HOLLAND JOHN DEERE, etc. dealer are some good examples. Rental yards? Mmmm, yes but new hires come and go more often at some of these places in my experience.

Oh. I actually created the post for future folks that may be new to towing. Hoping that someone can learn something from everyone. I've actually been towing that particular tractor for almost 9 months now. Before that we had two other tractors. I added mounting points to the front and cris cross the chains. That particular trailer has dual, electric brake axles. We've always used our tractors on our own properties and for friends.

I grew up and live out in the woods. We have a lot of farmland where I'm from. Most of my friends and family have tractors and heavy equipment. I have four trailers and a boat that I either haul with my Jeep or my Ram 1500. I've had my Jeep since June 2019, when they first came out. 193,000 miles on it. I've towed with my Jeep everywhere from Texas, to SC, to Florida. And besides that, I used to drive a HET and PLS in the Army. We always cris cross.

I just felt like jeepgladiator forum is a good source of information from knowledgeable people. And if I asked a question about a topic that doesn't get addressed that often, maybe everyone's input will help someone. And maybe the ones of us that do tow will learn something new or pick up a few extra pointers and tips.

I do appreciate your input. Like I always say, we learn from each other!!!

***Now.... here's a really good lesson that I learned! Tie down and inspect your own equipment. I let someone tie down that same tractor. I had forks on the bucket. They didn't tie it down correctly. In a rush, I didn't inspect it because I was only going about a mile away. I stopped at the 4 way, the tractor rolled forward and one of the forks went through my tailgate! Lesson learned. Tie down and (most importantly), inspect my own load. I should've know better because that's how we conducted operations in the military. Completely my fault!!!!!!

 

[bgott]

Anything heavy you want to use chains. If you are hauling bundled or solid loads you can use lever binders, if you are hauling stuff with springs or tires or anything that can bounce around you want chain binders. Lever binders can pop loose.

 

[tysongladiator]

I chained this up via two chains at the rear - one on each end of the drawbar which on a Regular or F20, goes clear across the back, and a chain up around the steering post between the front tires. It never budged even a little bit.

This person knew how to chain a tractor to a trailer -

I note some attach to a frame? I never attach to a car's frame for hauling - unless you can strap it down SO HARD that the springs can't possibly compress any more in an accident or a big bounce situation, I've seen where someone strapped to the vehicle above the springs, hit a huge dip, the car bounced downward and the force of it bouncing back up busted things loose.
I pulled into an event one weekend to see a group of people hauling jacks, come-alongs and other stuff over to a guys truck and trailer - the car had bounced loose and forward into the tailgate of his truck. They were trying to jack it up enough to get it pulled back onto the trailer. It could have gone the other way............ he strapped to the frame rather than a cross-pattern at the axles.

Just me, my experience, thinking on it, and how the "old timers" trained me.

Don't do a real "x" pattern - as if one side fails, you are then pulling the load to the side. Short is better, 4 corners.

Me personally and everyone I know hauling our classics to shows around the country - axle straps and put some serious tension on it. The car can bounce on the springs all it wants, but it can't move on the trailer.

Interesting takes - and some reasoning -

https://www.motortrend.com/features/proper-trailer-tie-down-techniques

Good to know. I may now have to change up a few of my techniques.

BTW, that tractor is nice!!!!

 

[kevman65]

To my knowledge, none of my vehicles are into bondage, light or otherwise........

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Good to know. I may now have to change up a few of my techniques.

BTW, that tractor is nice!!!!

Sadly, i sold that tractor a few yeas ago to a guy in Kentucky who is a tractor collector.
It was a 1936 experimental with electric start. IH tractor people will tell you that there was no such thing as an F20 with electric start in 1936 - yet mine had a factory bell housing and starter - and the serial numbers on the frame, block, bell housing and transmission all matched perfectly. The armature died shortly after getting the tractor going. I took the armature to the local IH dealer - they had been an IH dealer in Iowa forever - and they looked up the number and it didn't come up with anything. Then another guy walks back to an area with old parts and says - I always wondered what this fit - and handed me a new armature with the exact same number on it. Apparently later models actually used that same starter.
A generator had been rigged onto it but was nicely done with a proper size pulley and so on.
I gave the guy a 2 bottom plow (2 14" bottoms) that had been in a national plowing contest and a drawbar mount sickle mower I had for it, with a NOS pitman and sickle bar. It was a perfect set for the tractor.

the tractor had been an anniversary gift from my first wife. I had it painted, with the correct factory pin stripes that almost no one knew about. A parade announcer actually pointed out I had the correct strips on the hood and radiator sides..
It just sat too much in later years. I didn't plant a huge garden any more, the plow sat unused and I needed space.

 

[Stan H]

I chained this up via two chains at the rear - one on each end of the drawbar which on a Regular or F20, goes clear across the back, and a chain up around the steering post between the front tires. It never budged even a little bit.

This person knew how to chain a tractor to a trailer -

I note some attach to a frame? I never attach to a car's frame for hauling - unless you can strap it down SO HARD that the springs can't possibly compress any more in an accident or a big bounce situation, I've seen where someone strapped to the vehicle above the springs, hit a huge dip, the car bounced downward and the force of it bouncing back up busted things loose.
I pulled into an event one weekend to see a group of people hauling jacks, come-alongs and other stuff over to a guys truck and trailer - the car had bounced loose and forward into the tailgate of his truck. They were trying to jack it up enough to get it pulled back onto the trailer. It could have gone the other way............ he strapped to the frame rather than a cross-pattern at the axles.

Just me, my experience, thinking on it, and how the "old timers" trained me.

Don't do a real "x" pattern - as if one side fails, you are then pulling the load to the side. Short is better, 4 corners.

Me personally and everyone I know hauling our classics to shows around the country - axle straps and put some serious tension on it. The car can bounce on the springs all it wants, but it can't move on the trailer.

Interesting takes - and some reasoning -

https://www.motortrend.com/features/proper-trailer-tie-down-techniques

But forgot to latch the ball

 

[Blade1668]

I chained this up via two chains at the rear - one on each end of the drawbar which on a Regular or F20, goes clear across the back, and a chain up around the steering post between the front tires. It never budged even a little bit.

This person knew how to chain a tractor to a trailer -

Damn that was yeeted like a lawn dart.

Awesome! I was a HET Driver on my first tour in Iraq in 03. Then later our unit converted from a HET unit to a PLS unit. As you can see from an actual pic on my truck in Iraq, we cris crossed the chains as well. I may change the mounting points on the rear of my jeep now for better safety.

I appreciate your service, brother!

I had a PSG 88M SFC Davis years ago, "strap it down like you are going to pick it up flip it over and shake the hell out of it, it better stay there." Think back to rail loading at Ft. Stewart... All b.s. aside now, I have by strapping around axle tubes and from the frame. The frame compresses the suspension to bump stops and then some. Not my first choice, but I do strap s### down to my old PSG standards. Earlier today I picked up 8 2×8-8ft treated boards with my 8' trailer, I strapped them down and to the side of the trailer where the trailer could be lifted up off them. Last thing you want is something coming off or passing you that you were towing. Many wreckers use tire straps, and rental car haulers have them too. I have sets of axle straps.

 

[Labswine]

There's an old Australian stockman lying, dying
He gets himself up onto one elbow and he turns to his mates
Who are all gathered around and he says:

Watch me wallabies feed, mate
Watch me wallabies feed
They're a dangerous breed, mate
So watch me wallabies feed
All together now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

Keep me cockatoo cool, Curl
Keep me cockatoo cool
Ah, don't go acting the fool, Curl
Just keep me cockatoo cool
All together now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There's an old Australian stockman lying, dying
He gets himself up onto one elbow and he turns to his mates
Who are all gathered around and he says:

Watch me wallabies feed, mate
Watch me wallabies feed
They're a dangerous breed, mate
So watch me wallabies feed
All together now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

Keep me cockatoo cool, Curl
Keep me cockatoo cool
Ah, don't go acting the fool, Curl
Just keep me cockatoo cool
All together now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down

I have the original 45 for that, before it had the word abbos edited out.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Remember Peterson’s Four Wheel magazine?

We were the "Mess of the Month" one time for an accident with a couple tow rigs, both hauling trailers with Jeeps. One Jeep flopped off the trailer as you can see in the pic. Wasn't me that strapped that one.

(sorry for the crappy pic, it's old)

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