Pickup inside of van trailer

true temper · Oct 25, 2022

I have a good friend thats moving 800 miles. I was over at his house saying goodby and helping a bit. He has a 53’ van trailer with his furniture in the front, I asked him who is driving your pickup he said he was loading it in the trailer.
I asked him how he was going to tie it down he said he wasn’t as he thought it would ride fine. I told him you wont be happy when you get there and the truck “full sized Silverado” is rubbing the side and the mirrors are broke off.
What do you guys think, do you think it will survive the trip in an air ride trailer unrestrained.

johfoster · Oct 25, 2022

I have fooled myself into thinking that heavy stuff would be okay in a box driving across country...it wasn't haha. I would ask your friend if he would also just sit his truck on an air ride flat deck with no box, and then ask what is different about the deck of the box van that it won't move in there? If it was a wood deck I would just lag some temporary d-rings in and run wheel straps on all 4 tires.

Ox · Oct 26, 2022

I doubt that it would move. Especially if it is 4wd and he puts it in low lock first, so that all 4 tires are holding position.

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Think Snow Eh!
Ox

wildo · Oct 26, 2022

Used to haul pickups and cab and chassis in box trucks all the time at a previous job. We'd nail or screw 2×4s into floor to stop it moving. Aside from that nothing fancy required.

The hardest part was getting out of the cab once inside if it was a 3 ton cab over.

Mr.Smith · Oct 26, 2022

Smooth drive, probably OK. But, should one have to enthusiastically dodge an inattentive driver met on the trip, probably not. But we all know how rare it is to meet an inattentive driver on the road these days.

Thank you,
Mr.Smith

michiganbuck · Oct 26, 2022

It should be strapped or chained just the same as on a flatbed.
Nobody would just park a truck on a flatbed and call that good enough.
Thinking the van walls are proper securement will get one in big trouble if the least accident occurs..just hitting the brakes hard is enough to make bad things happen..
4 drill holes and eye bolts through the floor with chains may be good.
DOT usually requires two tie-downs for any load. and 4 for a 20' long load.

Ox · Oct 26, 2022

Strapped or chained - "to what?"

Hardly any van trailer has any strap points, other than the cross bar mounts on the walls.

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Think Snow Eh!
Ox

boosted · Oct 26, 2022

I'm with johfoster on this one. It would probably ride fine on an easy trip, but needs to be secured in case of emergency.

Ever seen a tractor trailer with a pallet smashed up against the headache rack?

michiganbuck · Oct 26, 2022

OPS...

true temper · Oct 26, 2022

On the very back of the trailer by the door there is a steel threshold I suggested welding some lugs to tie down to and cutting them off later.
Trailer has a real nice wood floor I suggested drilling for tie downs and countersinking carriage bolts when done.

Ox · Oct 26, 2022

true temper said:
On the very back of the trailer by the door there is a steel threshold I suggested welding some lugs to tie down to and cutting them off later.
Trailer has a real nice wood floor I suggested drilling for tie downs and countersinking carriage bolts when done.

Yeah, if truck on tail, you could prolly just strap under the door and onto the ICC or whatnot, and then just shut the door.
That should actually work.

I'd still put in low lock tho.

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Think Snow Eh!
Ox

michiganbuck · Oct 26, 2022

Not wishing to drill the floor one could have straps secured and attached to prevent the load from going forward. Under the van to something secure...door down in the straps.
2x4s screwed to the floor with straps or chains to the load to avoid backward going.

wood filler the screw holes after the trip beats a wrongful death law suite.

2x4s just as a roll oner blocking would be not much good.

johfoster · Oct 26, 2022

Ox said:
Strapped or chained - "to what?"

Hardly any van trailer has any strap points, other than the cross bar mounts on the walls.

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Think Snow Eh!
Ox

And that is why they aren't meant for hauling things like big trucks inside. A little modification is needed to get mounted to the deck somehow.

tylersteez · Oct 26, 2022

carriage bolting tie down hooks seems like the way to go but you'd probably need some plates on each side of the floor to distribute the forces a ratchet strap would act upon it. I could see a ratchet strap ripping them right out the floor

But it seems like he's already convinced himself his truck will be fine so good luck convincing him he needs to modify the trailer for tie downs and buy ratchet straps.

trevj · Oct 26, 2022

michiganbuck said:
It should be strapped or chained just the same as on a flatbed.
Nobody would just park a truck on a flatbed and call that good enough.
Thinking the van walls are proper securement will get one in big trouble if the least accident occurs..just hitting the brakes hard is enough to make bad things happen..
4 drill holes and eye bolts through the floor with chains may be good.
DOT usually requires two tie-downs for any load. and 4 for a 20' long load.

Local tow truck operator did just that with my sister's car. Probably would have worked out better if the main drag through town didn't have a 45 degree bend right in the middle of it. Car ended up landing on it's roof, did far more damage than th eaccident it was being towed from.
Made for a pretty easy Insurance claim on the damages, though.

At very least, lag down some blocking to keep it from rolling. Best would be to be able to tie the tires down to something that can withstand an emergency stop.

jim rozen · Oct 27, 2022

"...he's already convinced himself his truck will be fine...."

Yep, his truck, his rental. It'll work fine. Or not.

CarbideBob · Oct 27, 2022

true temper said:
...
What do you guys think, do you think it will survive the trip in an air ride trailer unrestrained.

I'd say there is an 98% chance it will be fine.
It's the 2 percent that gets you.

dalmatiangirl61 · Oct 27, 2022

If this move goes wrong, be sure to ask friend for pics and post them here.

true temper · Oct 27, 2022

I think he is traveling today…..

jccaclimber · Oct 28, 2022

A neighbor was considering this several years ago. Then he went online and found all the pictures of people who had their car slide out the side of a moving truck because they didn't strap it down and thought better of the plan.

Pickup inside of van trailer

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