Michigan DOT enforcing Individuals Hauling Personal Rigs

[ToughBowtieTruck]

A friend's buddy got popped on US 127 at Claire. State DOT followed him for 10 miles until the county caught up, then both proceeded to pull him over. He had 2 straps and a log chain holding his Jeep down on his trailer, warning for that. Warning for one safety chain instead of two, and ticketed for unregistered trailer (He didn't have his plate or registration on him).

Took pictures of his rig, and the violations.



Some of you guys that are "lazy" per say with towing rigs and stuff need to start doing things properly. DOT can pull anyone over and enforce DOT rule, now they're going to. You have been warned.

[drogers]

whats the law on chain or straps ? or dose it matter witch you use?

[towstrapteaser]

doesnt matter as londg as they meet the weight and 4 corners are tied down 4 seperate straps or chains they wont mess with you if you cross them from side to side shows more effort and its a bettter tie down i think

[drogers]

ok but ive seen a lot of people use one chain around axle and at each corner of the trailer. is that ok ?

[ToughBowtieTruck]

ok but ive seen a lot of people use one chain around axle and at each corner of the trailer. is that ok ?

4 chains/straps, one on each corner. Equipment tie-downs must be crossed, and loader/backhoe arm whatever must also be tied down.

Better have trailer brakes, they'll be looking for the break-away system and that's a dead giveaway that a trailer has no brakes if that's missing and if you have a 4 wire-flat harness.  Only 40% of the voters had legit brakes. http://wegotmud.com/forum/index.php?topic=75684.0

For other stuff look here: http://wegotmud.com/forum/index.php?topic=73859.0

Just giving a heads up , things are getting heavy.

[Mudduck]

thanks for the heads up  your info are greatly apprechiated.

[Uncle Steve]

thanks for the heads up  your info are greatly apprechiated.

x2

[Boggen Joe]

Also your strap rating MUST be 1 1/2 times the weight your hauling

[page69]

on the 4 car i drive all we require is 4 corners we use 3/8 chain on the back and 4 inch straps on the front 3 areas to watch for dot is north bound rest area on m-23 north of fenton,east and west bound by lapeer and between standish to west branch they like to give tickets for anything they can. lots of younger cops that like to aggravate people because they think we do wrong! 

[BC775]

i use chains with rachet binders on all four corners.

[xjs3667]

So how does U-haul get away with renting there car haulers...... they only strap down the front two tires and chain that crosses over rear axle side to side.....no tension on that chain either..... no break system on them trailers other than breakaway....   just kinda wondering how they can get away with it?

[ToughBowtieTruck]

So how does U-haul get away with renting there car haulers...... they only strap down the front two tires and chain that crosses over rear axle side to side.....no tension on that chain either..... no break system on them trailers other than breakaway....   just kinda wondering how they can get away with it?

Alright, the official rule for cars is min. 2 tiedowns.

And they have brake systems, they're hydraulic inertia activated, meaning the tongue floats and controls the rear brakes as the tow rig pulls it and slows down.

Supposed to have tension on them though.

[betterbeaters]

thanks for the info!! want to help me fix my trailer up lmfao 

[xjs3667]

So how does U-haul get away with renting there car haulers...... they only strap down the front two tires and chain that crosses over rear axle side to side.....no tension on that chain either..... no break system on them trailers other than breakaway....   just kinda wondering how they can get away with it?

Alright, the official rule for cars is min. 2 tiedowns.

And they have brake systems, they're hydraulic inertia activated, meaning the tongue floats and controls the rear brakes as the tow rig pulls it and slows down.

Supposed to have tension on them though.

they cant be "inertia activated"   as I have used their haulers lots of times.... and if a trailer has brakes no matter what kind you feel them when they turn on...it drags on your tow rig, I have never felt that before with any hauler from u haul.... unless they always hook it up wrong.... as for all I have seen on their haulers is, a break away cable that will activate the hydro. brakes and locks em up... it flips up the tab that activates em. I do know they have very strict weight limits on them so maybe thats how??? 

I do know that if your going to haul a Yukon XL on  one they wont let ya...    tell its a 2wd short bed reg. cab s10 and they will... lmao

[ToughBowtieTruck]

So how does U-haul get away with renting there car haulers...... they only strap down the front two tires and chain that crosses over rear axle side to side.....no tension on that chain either..... no break system on them trailers other than breakaway....   just kinda wondering how they can get away with it?

Alright, the official rule for cars is min. 2 tiedowns.

And they have brake systems, they're hydraulic inertia activated, meaning the tongue floats and controls the rear brakes as the tow rig pulls it and slows down.

Supposed to have tension on them though.

they cant be "inertia activated"   as I have used their haulers lots of times.... and if a trailer has brakes no matter what kind you feel them when they turn on...it drags on your tow rig, I have never felt that before with any hauler from u haul.... unless they always hook it up wrong.... as for all I have seen on their haulers is, a break away cable that will activate the hydro. brakes and locks em up... it flips up the tab that activates em. I do know they have very strict weight limits on them so maybe thats how???  

I do know that if your going to haul a Yukon XL on  one they wont let ya...   tell its a 2wd short bed reg. cab s10 and they will... lmao

The brakes are actuated by the floating tongue. You will never feel them when towing. They are actuated by the inertia of the tow vehicle. The chain bypasses the floating tongue and sets the hydraulic brakes if the trailer comes unhooked.

If you have live inertia electric brake controllers, when set properly, you will never feel the trailer pull on the truck when slowing down. The proper braking setup is with the tow rig and trailer braking equally together. Semi trucks all use the same pedal for the trailer brakes, when set right, you will never feel the trailer pulling on the truck.

[MR NASTY]

michigan recently added 200 dot trained officers to its force

[towstrapteaser]

just what we need and i was thinking of getting a flowboy and lead think ill stick to farming give up on trucking its only getting harder to get by

[lilred]

Whats these "DOT courtesy" vehicles I keep seeing all over? are they actually helping people or just giving them tickets for improperly changing their spare?

[MR NASTY]

they are a free service to stranded motorists courtesy of the taxpayer

[lilred]

huh... I don't remember voting for that