The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Towing a Big Bolt fire truck?

It towed really smooth and I had no problems with the hills and high bridges at about 60mph. The firetruck didn't move or shift at all on the trip.

I leave on Thursday and I'm starting to get comfortable with the whole package.

Are you're rear wheel chocks anchored to the deck? If not, I would be afraid of them coming loose and falling off the trailer and hitting something. As long as the straps are rated heavy enough to handle holding the truck on the trailer and keep it from moving around, I would remove the chocks unless they are secured to the deck and can't come off. Otherwise that is a very good looking set-up.

Bill,

It kind'a looks like there is a strap from the frame to the trailer on the front...am I right? If so I'm not sure you want to do that...you don't want to limit the up and down travel of the fire trucks suspension system. If you do have it straped that way every time you hit a bump that strap will limit the up travel with a violent jerk which could bend or break something...

If you don't have it straped like that just disregard this note...

See you on Friday...have a safe trip,

Mike B

Looks pretty good, and a fine looking truck.

Some thoughts (opinions) and questions on the tie downs though.

Are the D rings at the front welded to the trailer frame or bolted through the wood? If just the wood, then skip them and take your straps out to the cuffs on the side of the trailer.

The third strap on the front, does it go over the frame, and is it tight enough to squish the suspension enough that the truck doesn't move any at all and chafe or jerk the strap while riding?

Are the rear wheel chocks tied on so they won't fall off if they work loose?
looks like the front 6x6 is bolted down?

The rear straps don't look like they will resist sideways movement of the rear of the truck a whole lot. Can you cross them so the strap anchored to the left ramp hinge goes to the right side of the axle housing, and the other way around?

If I had a choice I'd use chains and binders at the rear, straps may be rated for a lot, but chains make me feel better. It's important that the load not move forward even if you run into something, could be hard on the driver depending on how far forward it comes.

What you have will work 99% of the time, actually just the wheel chocks and the weight of the truck should work 90-95% of the time... But for the unfortunate chance that you're in a wreck you don't want things shifting.
It's been said that you should tie a load on a trailer such that you could turn the trailer upside down and the load stays on the trailer without shifting. I think there is something to that.

Grigg

Good morning. Thanks for the replies and comments.

The rear wheel chocks are lag bolted to the deck to prevent them from coming off. The front strap does go across the frame in front. I put it on to hold it down as a backup to the wheel straps. The suspention is so hard that it hardly moved when I tighten it down so I didn't consider it a problem. The D-rings are welded to the frame substructure. The front 6"x6" is bolted down thru the deck. I'll take a look at the rear straps to see if I can cross them over as I did that with the front straps.

Thanks for the comments and maybe I'll see some of you this weekend!

Great looking rig. Bill

Thanks.

Very impressive!! You are going to get a lot of attention traveling interstate 64/81. I'm sure you will have a great time.

Thanks. When I took it on the road test (Sunday) for about two hours, folks kept beeping and waving at me the entire time... It was disturbing at first but then I figured it wasn't my driving... LOL

Successful tow to Winchester!!!! Thanks to everyone who provided your advise & expertise. Safe and successful trip due inpart to the Stovebolters who helped me out!

Hey Bill,

Glad to hear you had a safe return trip...it was nice meeting you and seeing your truck...It looks GREAT!!!

Mike B

Update: I'm taking the empty trailer down to the welding/fabrication shop in the morning to have the trailer modified to mount the fold up ramps up under the rear of the trailer. I got the idea from a Stovebolt member(Bill Marlow) so wish me luck!!!

It is supposed to be done by close of business on Wednesday... I'll take a few pictures so you can see the results. Take care.

What, wish you luck because you got the idea from me?lol
I hope they work for you as well as they do for me. As I said before, they are heavy but I have got pulling out the ramps and setting them in place down to a routine so it isn't bad at all. I just never liked having the ramps sticking up in the air although it is less fuss that way.
Let us know how you like your new set up.
Billy

I like the way your ramps look under the trailer bed. Don't worry, I'll let you know.

BTW: It didn't get finished today and I'm working at the fire station on Thursday so I can't pick it up until 0900 on Friday morning...

I picked up the trailer today and loaded it for the drive to Baltimore. Here are the pictures: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2987054680080243953xllmsi

It is much easier to load the trailer without having to relocate the ramps onto the trailer for the drive.

That does look very neat! Impressive!

Man that's a pretty truck. You've done a great job of restoring it. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you.

like the ramps being stowed with locking chains. mine have a spring loaded slide lock and the spring isn't that strong.Sometimes the slide backs out a little but not enough to completely disengage so it's something you have to watch.

Look'n good VFT,

Did you put a skid plate below the ramps to prevent damage when going over a speed bump or exiting a driveway?

Mike B

Bill, the ramps look great but I agree with Mike. From the pictures it looks like there is potential to drag on bad dip in a parking lot or driveway. Another option is putting a set of "casters" underneath so the ramps don't scrape. They make them for motorhomes and trailers. I don't think they are very expensive and may save your ramp brackets. Something like this.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/rollaway-hitch-protector/11048

Thanks guys. I'll have to consider that idea but it already seems to have more clearance than my 04 corvette ever had! And I am extremely careful not to put it into a tight spot. When I see the truck/trailer next, I'll take a look at it.