need a simple yet solid tie-down solution for in the truck/trailer

S

stairman

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Sep 29, 2011
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I break-down my 20 some-odd systainers,  and load up to go to work,  but I continue to have systainers tipping and rocking in the back of my SUV or in my trailer.
I would like to come up with something simple yet effective at preventing this from happening.

I sought out a company that manufactures canopy tents, recently,  as I want an aluminum frame popup tent (gazebo) which is black, and which has zipper wall add ons/ half walls,  etc...

I just messaged this company inquiring whether they could/would make a nylon cover for my systainer stacks.
-they certainly can and WILL with a reasonable minimum order..  -understandable...

I'm curious if anyone else would like to have a few of these IF they were reasonable enough?

My idea was to have a ballistic nylon square "sock" that slips over a stack of systainers,  and which would also have various loops and clips for securing with bungees, straps, or what have you...

 
Neat idea.  I wonder if the size configurations will doom this unfortunately.

By way of explanation, You have 3 stacks of systainers.  Other guys also have three stacks, but their stacks vary in height.

Now if the idea is only to add vertical rigidity and fastening points and the socks are basically the size of one, two, three... systainers sided to side and tall evough to cover a sys 5 plus some, then you might have something there.

Keep going!

Peter
 
iuf you made it the size of 1 systainer and 5 or more high then if its higher it wont matter as its only loops your after. i would rather have the stack  tied indevidually rather than 4 stacks toghether.

 
In my grownup job I work with designing securing cargo systems for trailers and containers (as well as the consequences of not doing it properly).  Having a sock type thing is a good start, but the real key is securing the stack so that it won't sway, move, or tip.  You may find the sock is just too much agro.  It might be simpler to work with a criss-cross of nylon strapping - one loop fore-aft, another port starboard.  These could be secured to rings close to the edge of the Systainers.  As long as the cables were taut these would work.  Festool does a very good job of securing the tools inside the Systainers, so all you need to do is keep the Systainers secured in the vehicle.  Since 2" wide nylon strapping (in the form of seat belts) will keep a 400 pound test dummy secure, something smaller is still going to be overkill for your tools. 
 
For a trailer and pickup, I once saw someone with a few stacks of Systainers that mounted a couple pieces of hinged plywood to the bed of the pickup.  When I saw the setup, the Systainers were rolled up to the front passenger side of the bed and the plywood folded up to hold the Systaiers in place. I assume the plywood was folded down when they were not in use.

Guess you had to be there...
 
I had a neighbor upgrade my small equipment trailer.  I told him it would be impossible for him to put too many tie-down rings in the trailer.  As he was doing the welding, his helper kept complaining that they were putting too many tie-downs in the bed.  The trailer bed is 12 feet long and about 6-8" wide between the fenders.  He put a tie-down ring every 2 feet along each side and two across the front.  He also installed a heavy welded (expanded steel) screen for a tailgate ramp and welded tool boxes across the front and sides in front of the fenders.  There are loops and expanded steel screening in the bottoms of the tool boxes. There are raised rails along the steel fender tops as well. All of those items give me a tie-down system that is adaptable to any load i want to carry.  and those loads do not move.

A few years after the rebuilding, i got stopped for routine checkup by DOT.  The inspector found plenty to complain about, but he did compliment me on so many tie-downs and the heavy and solid tool boxes. He told me it was the safest setup he had ever seen on any open equipment trailer.

if your trailer is closed in, or open to the ellements, I would think good tie-down rings and ratchet straps would be the most reliable system and it would be adaptable to any sized stack you want to carry.  The stacks could vary widely from one load to the next. Just using a nylon cover would allow movement should you hit a serious bump in the road, an emergency stop or a collision.  A solid batch of rings anchored to the frame and using the ratchet straps, and your systainers become, for all practical purposes, a part of the trailer.  They will not move.
Tinker
 
I usually take the Expedition.  I keep the far rear seat out, lay down the middle rear seats, and usually take 5 stacks of systainers,  Kapex on a Kapex UG cart,  MFT table,  boom arm, guiderails and all the fixin's...

I only have a couple stacks on dolly's.  I had thought about milling the dolly plates out of aluminum,  -no casters...  mounting to the floor, and latching the stacks to 4-5 of these plates,  but that is asking way too much for the little rubber "swatch watch" thingies, although,  they are pretty,  make that INCREDIBLY strong for what they are,  I cant expect them to secure a 75-100lbs stack of tools in a panic brake situation or accident...

last night, I ordered a 4ft x 6ft bungee net,  and a 5ft x 7ft  in case I need bigger.
that will be temporary,  who knows,  maybe that will work fine! 

as I am at the Dr's office to collect final payment and walk through with the Client,  he had a patient that sparked up a conversation,  it turns out the man owns an upholstery shop,k  and when I mentioned my idea for the ballistic nylon "Socks"  he says  easy as pie,  and hed be happy to make a half dozen for me if I will show them off to others for him,  well see whatr we come up with.  maybe great,  maybe not,  time will tell.

ironic that I post this yesterday,  and this afternoon I meet someone who is willing and able to help!  8)
idealy, I want to install E-track along the sides,  get two load braces and a few traps,  the socks and the bungee nets will surely come in handy
 
One device that I have found to be really helpful is called a Rope Ratchet.  It is a really simple device to tie things down super-tight without even having to tie a knot, and it's equally quick to undo.  You may find them useful even if you are able to come up with a workable "sock idea".
 
When I think of your sock idea, it needs to be tight enough to work, but loose enough that you can get it on or off. What I think you need is to have 4 straps running down the sides. Google images on sleeping bag compression sack, and you'll se more or less what I mean. Systainers latch together well enough, but I think I'd want to strap them all tightly together as a stack if I was going to think about ratchet strapping the stack into the truck bed. Then add the loops to the straps.

That, and a zipper up the side of your systainer sock, and I think this has potential.
 
If you could get your hands on a bunch of systainer lids, you could bolt them to the truck bed -- then attach your systainers to them. Short of that, just build an "egg crate" that bolts to the bed, and deposit your systainers in that. Add eye hooks to the egg crate for strapping the systainers down.
 
The guy could have picked up a couple of Festool dollies and towed the fridge [scratch chin] ::)
Tinker
 
ScoopLV said:
If you could get your hands on a bunch of systainer lids, you could bolt them to the truck bed -- then attach your systainers to them.
Click to expand...

HILARIOUS.

I haven't heard a of a better way to secure something since a friend of mine's kid dumped a BBQ grill from the truck, on the highway. Apparently, just locking the wheels on the grill wasn't enough.
 
Don't think I would trust the spangummi holders from the Systainer dollies either.

The Systainer lid idea won't work , unless I am picturing it wrong, because the latches operate and are connected to Systainer bottoms.

But I have thought, along the same lines, about the possibilty of mounting the short style latches  (from CTs or Sortainers) into a base of some sort. Have then recess like on a Sortainer , then just flip the up to latch Systainers in place.  Trick is getting them mounted well enough.  Actually this is how I wish the roll board dollie attachment worked rather than the rubbery spangummi.

Seth
 
I was going to say E-track. You wouldn't necessarily need a sock (although I like the idea) or even compression straps. Two runs of e-track, one about the height of a sys2 and one a few feet higher. Two ratchet straps. The great thing about e-track is you can move the load points anywhere.

I have cheap foam matting on the floor of the van and just break each stack in half, about the vac height, throw the dollies in a stack and put it all against the front bulkhead with a single ratchet around side to side, hooked at the front corners. Then throw a furnie pad over the whole thing. But I also don't have any racks. I've loaded all kinds of trash out of a job by just putting clean cardboard or plastic over the furnie+sys4 high stacks. No tools harmed.
 
I keep coming back to this thread expecting to see great innovation a pictures ...  [sad]
 
Kev said:
I keep coming back to this thread expecting to see great innovation a pictures ...  [sad]
Click to expand...

Didn't Paul Marcel post a link to that earlier?? [big grin]
 
Have a look at this guy's setup and see if that's something that would work for you.

Tricked out woodworking box truck

About 40 seconds in there's a systainer wall to the left. The mini stacks are held in place fore/aft by the plywood structure, and likely to the left as well. On the front he's got some aluminum sticks that are spring loaded and hold the stacks in their cubby-holes.

Looks like the guy is a Festool dealer. No idea if he comes by here. But here's his contact page if you are looking for more info on the sticks. http://bpway.com/ContactUs/tabid/141/Default.aspx
 
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