Weekly Tip & Tale #2
Tip #2
Make sure that the Driver that is chosen to carry your vehicle knows how to tie it down correctly.
You are probably wondering why this is important and how you would even know how. I will do my best to explain it to you? If you driver does not understand you and you have a hard time understanding him. Make another choice for a driver. if you cannot communicate how can he find you to pick up your car?
#1 Make sure you ask for the drivers phone number and ask!
The “W” Hook is designed to hook cluster to trailer so it will not fall and drag or hit vehicles underneath. These cluster hooks are strong enough to break out windows and damage cars if they fall and hit them. When you are traveling down the road the cluster hooks not being used need secured to the trailer. This is done with this “W” hook
The “S” hook is used as a quick link to tie into the trailer as your drive vehicles on or off This hook just hooks right into the hole on the trailer deck and secures it till you get the vehicle into place to tie it down properly. Way to often drivers will use this “S” hook to secure the vehicle to the trailer……..This wrong as remember it is also called the fish hook. When you catch a fish by the mouth most times you can give the hook a little yank and it will tear right out of the fish’s mouth. Well this hook will do the same thing to the frame of your car. If you hit a good bump it will tear the fame of your car.
The “T” hook or grab hook it just that. You use it to “T” chains together to shorten them when the need arises. Each car has its own unique traits. Many compact cars and very low to the ground and have short wheel bases so they do not need as much length in the chain to tie them down as a pickup would, etc. So when tightening down the car there is to much chain gathering on the sprocket guide to get it to stay tight so a good driver will shorten the chain with this “T” hook so the chain will stay tight.
The “R” hook is the most commonly and safest to use. It is inserted into the connection point in a special way. If you look at the “R” hook you can see that it has two different length little points coming off of it. The longest goes in the oblong shaped connection point first and then the little shorter point in put in second with the shortened hooked in such a way that when the chain is tight end it cannot be pull out of the frame or tear the frame in any way
This is the one you want used on your vehicle unless it is classic without connection points. Then you use the Tire Straps
Each vehicle is designed by the manufacture to be secured to a Travel Trailer made for hauling. This is for safety reasons, safety for you and for the vehicle
Tale #2
One day when we were traveling a Transport Truck pulled up into the Truck Stop. It was a well know carrier and he had Brand new Corvettes on his trailer. Of course I grabbed my camera and took pictures. This driver had chained them all down using the “S” hook……..WRONG!….., They were already tearing the frames of these new vets….
Find a carrier that knows how to tie your vehicle down properly.
Monarch 9-09-08
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