Had misfortune of travelling over a66 m6 m74 last night empty (planner is ■■■■) and Barbara was making her presence felt . I knew it was going to be blowy and slap on head for not staying on a1 . Anyway if i knew how to put curtains back as i started in ok conditions . So could i ask the old hands how to put curtains back so i can practise on a sunny day?.
I get general gist of it straps over the roof , curtains back or to the front? , and strap open doors.
Many thanks .
If it was me I’d put curtains to back, doors over curtains. strap over roof at doors and a second strap around both doors. Even with doors open there is always going to be a risk to the skin of the roof.
DHL policy attached.
Check with the firm you’re working for…
Some outfits will not allow you to tie them back under any circumstance. No doubt it’s something to do with insurance.
If you’re ok then, get inside the warehouse if you can and pull the curtains right back. Get every inch of them back as far as they will go. Doors open and strapped over the roof. Put the internal straps on opposite sides and pull them tight.
LIke most things, the more you do it the more proficient you become at it.
our company has ‘no policy’,on tying back curtains…up to the driver.just got back from Bellshill with empty trailer…i just made the curtains as taught as possible,rather than risk damage and getting the blame!
If it was mid week park up till wind drops out
carryfast-yeti:
our company has ‘no policy’,on tying back curtains…up to the driver.just got back from Bellshill with empty trailer…i just made the curtains as taught as possible,rather than risk damage and getting the blame!
This ^^ always get curtains tight as I can don’t like the look of tied back curtains,
Never look strong enough maybe it’s just me.
carryfast-yeti:
our company has ‘no policy’,on tying back curtains…up to the driver.just got back from Bellshill with empty trailer…i just made the curtains as taught as possible,rather than risk damage and getting the blame!
Stopped at southwaite curtains where a bit loose ,tightened, got home there was just 3 curtain straps hanging on hence the post lol .
I’ve done it many a time many years ago but I’ll be wary of doing it now as a lot of curtain siders have very light weight flimsy roofs and I’m not sure how they would stand up to the high winds.
^^^^^^^
Agreed, the older trailers were much more sturdier built, modern ones are much lighter and flimsier.
Especially Euroliners, they bend like bananas on a good day never mind in a storm.
Victa1:
Stopped at southwaite curtains where a bit loose ,tightened, got home there was just 3 curtain straps hanging on hence the post lol .
I’ve found the problem with loose curtain straps can vary with different vehicles due to roof bounce. Some of the sturdier roofs can stay more rigid and the straps don’t tend to undo so often, but others I’ve drove, it’s a case of having to check and re-tighten every now and again. Even when the curtain is tight as possible, it still seems to be an issue at times.
Watched a video a good few years back regarding the tying back of curtains It showed how a trailer reacted in high winds with every thing tied back, It was like a box kite, it actually lifted the back wheels of the ground, their advise was not to tie them back but get them as tight as you can, very frightening to watch, but each to their own.
Ossie
robroy:
^^^^^^^
Agreed, the older trailers were much more sturdier built, modern ones are much lighter and flimsier.
Especially Euroliners, they bend like bananas on a good day never mind in a storm.
And there I was expecting you to suggest some tie backs, pelmets and tassels! Curtains being your specialist subject and all…
Might want to think about sorting your internals out before opening your curtains. Saw some poor fella on the m74 today in a wide load lay by trying to catch his after opening his curtains!
Also I wouldn’t presume your side pillars won’t snap open by them selves. Doesn’t take a lot for some of them.
Thats what i was expecting as well, tassles and baubles…
Suppose its what you get used to but id have a tilt anyday. Curtains pulled back, doors open and tied, the whole lot look very flimsy especially euroliners. As mentioned newer trailers just dont look as sturdy as older ones, they have their good points re lightweight but at the expense of strength.
AndrewG:
Thats what i was expecting as well, tassles and baubles…
Suppose its what you get used to but id have a tilt anyday. Curtains pulled back, doors open and tied, the whole lot look very flimsy especially euroliners. As mentioned newer trailers just dont look as sturdy as older ones, they have their good points re lightweight but at the expense of strength.
Our trailers, I would never run with the curtains open. The whole lot would collapse!
Thinking about it, I suppose I could roll my roof back and tie the curtains 
Off topic but that crane looks a good bit of kit…
AndrewG:
Off topic but that crane looks a good bit of kit…
It is, it’s an oldy but a goldy 
We use that company all the time when we can to help demast narrow aile trucks and load them on or off the wagon.
Radar19:
AndrewG:
Thats what i was expecting as well, tassles and baubles…
Suppose its what you get used to but id have a tilt anyday. Curtains pulled back, doors open and tied, the whole lot look very flimsy especially euroliners. As mentioned newer trailers just dont look as sturdy as older ones, they have their good points re lightweight but at the expense of strength.Our trailers, I would never run with the curtains open. The whole lot would collapse!
Seen quite a few curtainsiders doors open/ tied back and thought the same, probably wouldnt happen but theres a lot of flex in some of the really light, weight saving ones.
Different trailer entirely but we run nothing but VanHool and Gronewegan tilts, theyre all old and most are a bit battered through ex ferry life but theyre as tough as old boots, something that cant be said of some newer stuff…
