thanks justruckin. 3/8"!

EXACTLY! That's why I was thinking there had to be different sized racks.

Ahhh, I never thought of that. That's what I've been missing. Thanks.

Yeah, that's the type that I planning to build. I was thinking about a piece of flat bar with two pieces of steel angle welded onto the flat bar so that the angles trap the 4x4's at a 45 degree angle. Once I know the coil's diameter, it's just a matter of positioning the angles to keep the coil off the deck.

...and yes I do know what a coil rack looks like.

Double post........sorry

The ones that TMC uses are a piece of flat bar with six peices of angle welded to it. The two outermost pairs are 2 inch angle, with another inside that of about 1.25 inch angle. This allows the 4x4's to be placed in several different notches for various coils. I would buy or borrow one to copy to make sure you have all the right measurements. If you have a standard rack the loading crew will know which notch you want the 4x4 set into to make the coil fit properly.

I have only had one size of coil racks. I have had various sizes of coils and they have always worked well for me. I have had a few instances where the coil touched the bed of the truck, but as long as you have good support from the rack and adequate chains or straps, you should not have any problems.

[quote="rank"]If your that broke where you cant afford 200 bucks in coil racks, then you dont have the experience need to haul a coil. And it takes experience

If you have never carried coils before, then be bloody careful. Most news reports of trucks losing loads of steel are about coil carriers. Use plenty of chains and a few straps on the bite, counteracting each other, wouldn,t hurt.
Good luck :wink:

Okay, I get your point. You're right, I've never hauled a coil and I've read lots of stories about them falling off trailers. But with the proper number of coil racks and chains, edge protectors and mats....how can you go wrong?

Without looking it up in the book, I'm guessing a 20,000lb coil should have 3 6500lbs chains through the eye toward the rear, one in the middle and another 3 toward the front (although I can't imagine what good the 3 toward the front are doing).

Granted, I know nothing but what bothers me the most about coils is the concentrated load they put on the trailer.

Now, flame away. :wink:

No flame...actually I recant what I said, short of pulling one, you are looking at the right things. a 46k coil in front of the axles does put a lot of stress on the trailer. Good luck in what you do, and remember more chains are better. I personally think a stepdeck is safer for coils. Plus a 20k coil over the 5th and one over the axles isnt fun either. 20k weight right above the 5th wheel does wear her out quicker than the weight being spread. I agree though, a lot of the flatbed related load problems out there are due to hauling coils. Be very gentle, and dont race. Remeber those 46k coils are also kinda higher up too.

Best Wishes

PS The chains toward the front are simply to keep it stable. If you get any rolling, its very dangerous. You want NO chance for that coil to move. If you load suicide, and that does break loose, it will take a header, a headache rack and the cab out with it, I have seen the trucks with the rolled over sleepers, and they are not nice to see.

Thanks Junkman.

Don't think a 46,000 lb coil would pay well enough for me to put it on one of my trailers but you never know. Smaller ones would suit me better.

I hear you on the big coils having the high center of gravity....especially on a flat deck. Our head hauls are 50,000lbs payload with the c of g at approx 6 feet off the ground and that's bad enough. But a big coil on a skateboard must be even worse. S-l-o-w c-o-r-n-e-r-s.

thanks again

They come in all shapes and sizes. Just make sure the coil fits tight on the lumber in the rack and not on the floor.Depending on the method of unloading or loading,my preference is to haul them suicide/eye to the side whatever. I think they ride better. The biggest one I have hauled weighed about 68,000 lbs. from Madison Il. to Detroit Mi. For the bigger coils I'd recommend using the large coil racks and a beveled 6"x6" oak board approx. 5-6 ft. long to distribute the weight a little better they're just a pain in the rear for storage when not in use but if you haul machinery or other large items they also come in handy for that. Every steel mill has different rules etc. Get some 3/8 chains too at least 6 w/ratchet binders. Good Luck.