Quote:
Originally Posted by repete
From what I've read about it, it can be very time consuming finding the cars in the lot and then loading them.(I'm sure it's all logged) Climbing up and down wouldn't be to bad except when you have to load/unload in the dark or rain or snow. Could you imagine backing a full size sedan up to the top front in the freezing rain? Not just no way but HELL NO! One thing I've learned over the years is that it that the older you get the longer it takes to heal.
You load in all sorts of weather. I remember once when I had to load at an auction south of St. Paul, MN. The temperature was -40. I would load a car and have to stop and get in the truck to get warm before going back outside and trying to chain down another part of the car. When you pick up at an auction your vehicles are supposed to be in a certain spot. Some have parking spots that are numbered. When other car haulers need their cars they sometimes move your cars to get their load. If it snows, it can make it difficult to find them due to the numbers having snow on them. Ramps can be slick when it rains or snows. Sleet can be especially troublesome. Once, when unloading in North Carolina it was pouring rain. I had to drop at a car dealership after hours. It was dark and difficult to see. I had set my ramps at too acute of an angle. As I started backing off the ramp the Suburban started to slide. I cut the wheels sharp and they caught on the ramps and it slowed me and kept me from backing off the trailer and damaging the vehicle. I think that I dropped two vehicles that night. I was so glad to get them off my truck.
When it snows, sleets or rains, ramps can and do get very slick. You must be very careful to not slip too much. You really get your exercise hauling vehicles. You are climbing up and down those ramps and it is soooooo easy to lose your footing and fall. Still, I enjoyed hauling them, at least until I fell.
Most flatbedders use about 10 chains. Hauling cars, you will usually use 4 chains on each vehicle. My trucks hauled 10 vehicles. That is 40 chains. Sometimes, I had to use 6 on a larger vehicle, such as a big pick up or suv that was on the back on top. I used the extra chains due to the acute angle. It might not have been necessary, but I tend to over chain. Most car haulers use tire straps today due to the newer suspensions.
You are certainly right about it taking longer to load when you get older. It seems to take me longer to secure a load on a step deck or flat than it did just a decade ago. I take my time and check my load more than once. As I recall, it used to take me longer to load my cars than some of the younger drivers. But, I never had a car fall off my truck.