Picking up load early Monday A.M. Needs Vee boards. Got the 1X4's and strapping.[Nowhere out here in the woods to get Vboards before Monday] How far apart do I put the strapping? How much gap between boards? I am making them 8 feet long. I have a 48' trailer. Is 8' pretty much standard ? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks ! Bruce

Make the straps around 1 foot long, this gives you 6" on top and bottom, thats how I did them, yeah 8 foot long, you will need around 4 per side, you can space them around 3 to 4 feet apart.

As the other posted stated, cut straps about 12" and nail/staple them. I have six each 8' and 12 each 4'. I found that 4' tend to be more versatile. Of course all my V-boards are sitting in my shed right now collecting dust as I have not had to use them in so long.

Make the straps just long enough so that you can wrap the strap around the board that sits on top of the load. It should end up that the strap where the nails are is in contact with the load, then the strap wraps around the top board, back over the corner of the load and down to the board that is on the side of the load. You don't want the board on the side hanging down too far either, so don't make the straps too long. An inch or so between the boards is plenty. The explanation I have gotten for why it's done like this is that it makes the board more resistant to sliding off the edge of the load and makes it easier to hang on a rack.

Does that make sense? I can measure or send pix if you need.

If you will use them a lot and can afford the $$$, I think plastic is the best, aluminum is probably second best.

I was gonna try to be cheap & make my own aluminum- one frickin piece of .125 to make a 4' board was 30 bucks.

I usually keep a couple of old straps in the side box. They make good vee boards or can protect straps on sharp edges should you run out of padding. If you get in a bind and need vee boards for a load it is easy to go to a Lowe's, Home Depot or other lumber yard or home improvement store to get a few 1 x 4's or 2 x 4's and nails. It only takes a few minutes to make your own vee boards. They fit nicely underneath the trailer when not in use.

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it. Just a question for lightschromehorsepower. You don't need a degree in arts and engineering but could you draw me a simple " end diagram" of what you are describing ? Again , thanks to all who responded.

This flatbed next to me has about 20 of them strung together on his catwalk

As a matter of fact he is out there right now putting some chrome on his truck :P

Well , That sure helped me see how to make 'um !

It is "late thirty " now. I gotta load up at 6:00 A.M. so I guess I just gotta make them and hope I have them some where close to right. Thanks to all those who posted seriously. Unfortunately , without a little more info or pics or diagrams , I am just gonna have to wing it. Thanks again !