Where to mount D-Rings on 16 Foot Trailer?

[Chief Master Sergeant]

Can anyone help me out? I just bought a car hauler today, but I want to install D-Rings versus using the tie down points they have on it. Where are yours mounted if you have them?

The trailer appears to just have the stake pockets for making walls on the sides. Are these good points to secure to or do I need to pursue the d-rings?

 

[bax]

Everywhere. Too many is still not enough.
Front, back, 1/3 of the way up and 1/3 back. In the middle.

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

Yeah I figured the more the better, but I just wasn't sure of the best places. I did a search and didn't see anything about the subject. I did find a lot on how to strap/chain it down and I guess there's a million ways to do it and everybody's got an opinion.

 

[tripleb]

i have a car trailer with the pockets. i put my chain hooks in the pockets and tighten down with binders and it works great. i have hauled hundreds of cars and trucks this way without a problem. i usually stop and check my chains after a couple miles and usually have to tighten the binders a little. the vehicles usually settle a little after the trailer bounces down the the road.harbor freight has descent binders for a good price.

 

[Scoop]

I installed D-ring using grade 8 bolts bascially at all 4 corners. I have a 16 + 2 dovetail and I installed the rears about half way down the dovetail. I use axle straps and criss-cross both fronts and rears. It works well. More D-rings would help if I hauled a lot of different things, but it's mainly used for Broncos and with a 16 footer you're fairly limited on placement! So 4 has worked for me.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The stake pockets work great. Hauled more stuff then I can remember using chain hooks and stake pockets.

As for D-rings. Start in the 4 corners and add from there. Sturdy frame under the D-rings is very important or don't even put them in.

 

[Past_Miner]

When I welded my D rings on I loaded the truck with everything I would normally haul, which included my cabover camper, my Harley across the front of the trailer and the Bronco. I then moved the Bronco around until I was happy with the weight distrubution between the trailer and the truck and I set the rings where I would need to tie down. It will get you close.

 

[Explorer]

10k tow hooks w/spring keepers grade 8 bolts. But every trailer is a little diff. Don't laugh too hard at my 3K lb. $90 winch, it works fine if wheels aren't locked up.

 

[bigmuddy]

Any chance you guys can post up a picture of your tow trailers?

I am going to rebuild one and would like to see some pics of yours.

Ben

 

[Explorer]

16ft. using load leveler hitch. Pulls great at interstate speeds. Other pic's above.

 

[lonesouth]

ok, here's one for you. Kinda on topic. I've crushed my share of brake lines with chains around the axles...and I've had a bronco come through my rear hatch on the tow vehicle because a strap broke. Whats the solution to both?

 

[Buldozer]

The solution I have used is chains on both ends at very near 90 degree angles (strait down) with enough force to compress the springs some. This way if one breaks the second one still holds the vehicle pretty much in place. I have seen too many vehicles come off of trailers when they are chained way back one one end and way forward (of the point of attachment on the vehicle) on the other. In that arrangement, if one end comes loose or breaks, a huge amount of slack immediately occurs in the second one rendering it almost useless. Just my experience and $.02.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Lonesouth - use more straps.

I use 6 to tie down each rig. 4 at the axle (one at each corner, criss-cross the back) and 2 more to the frame (one front, one rear) to suck the slack out of the suspension to keep it from dancing around, and loosening up the rest of the straps, and making the load feel goofy behind the towrig.



First Sergeant - If you can, put a D-ring every 2 feet for the length of the trailer. If you're anything like me, you'll wind up hauling everything from your trash to the dump, a load of firewood, to a new sofa on it. Give yourself plenty of opportunity to tie down your load securely.

 

[Broncobowsher]

From my training class on the rollback tow truck. Yes, actual trainging, not just some lore passed down from somewhere. Stuff to keep you legal and you are blamed by the lawers if you don't do it as trained to do...

attach at the frame and pull. compress the suspension a lot. Enough that the chains cannot go slack when you hit large bumps. After that you wrap a safety chain (non-cinched) around the axle/suspension. If you do manage to sanp a taunt tie down, the vehicle is likely to jump a foot or so. after that the potential energy is mostly gone and the dampers have absorbed a lot of it, the slack safety chain will catch the load. If that goes as well then the load has failed the primary and back up systems and you have done your best to control it. The key item, compress the suspension, if it goes just a little slack it will want to shock load the tie downs. Steady force rarely breaks stuff, impact loads destroy stuff.

 

[22213evl]

I use a comealong to compress the suspension, then use the binders and chains to keep it tight. i also leave the comealong hooked to the R front and a safety chain hooked up in the L rear. 4 to 6 tie downs and at least 2 saftey chains.

 

[Pa PITT]

Running Buddy and I use 3 inch wide ratchet straps one on the front one on the rear ...Front one goes around the front bumper and rear one we circle the 3rd member or rear axle might be a better way to say it....Suck it up tight and take another lick every chance you get ..We've been doing this for trip to New Mexico each year ..We never know the Bronco are back there ..I pull w/ a 3/4 ton Dodge tr Diesel ..Run 70 all the way ..Our Bronco rear bumper is almost at the back of the 18 ft trailer ..But at the front of the 18 ft trailer we have a loaded pickup tool box and then fire wood and spare under the front of the Bronco ...The Bronco looks to be back a little but I always worry about the tounge weight ..

 

[Pa PITT]

One of my boys was over at the house last night Iask him this question ..His answer was Put the Bronco on the trailer and adjust the D-Rings to fit the full you want on the Bronco ...I thought that made since ..

 

[sprinksbeme]

Stake pockets work great but D rings at each corner will give you better tie down angles on a 16 footer. Also add one center front for winching on with the broncos winch. I like Chains and Binders, Straps can deteriorate and break,
I also hook my winch to the trailer and suck down the suspension. It also keeps the bronc on the trailer if it is out of gear while up chaining.

 

[malcolmzilla]

Ths stock D rings on my Sooner 14' are a pain to dig out, they are also located too close to the center of the deck such that the chain ends on my tiedowns have to be doubled up. It's a pain, even worse in the snow or mud...

If you have stake sides use those IMO, my trailer has none, just the D rings... I may buy another set of shorter straps... $ again.

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

Can someone posts pictures of how they secured their Broncos to the trailer? All my stake pockets are along the sides and I can't envision how to do this criss-cross around the tires to secure the straps or chains to the axles. There doesn't appear to be any secure points along the front or rear edges. Maybe that's where I need to put the D-Rings.