What Are E-Track Rail Systems in Enclosed Trailers?
When it comes to securing cargo with E Track Systems the most important part of E Track is starting with good quality E Track rails. E Track Rails can be placed along the walls or the flooring of trailers on moving vans, box trucks, pickup trailers, flatbeds, or dry van semi-trailers. There are two main different types of e-track rails with one being Vertical E Track and the other being Horizontal E Track Rails.
The main difference between the two is if you plan to stack cargo or secure cargo from the floor you will likely want a vertical e-track. If you intend to mostly secure cargo horizontally you will want to go with a horizontal e-track. Ultimately the E Track Rails that you decide work best for you will depend on the cargo securement needs that work best for you.
Although Cargo securement is meant to be mostly for Flatbeds enclosed trailers play a big part in Moving Trucks, Online Orders being shipped, and household goods arriving at your local grocery store. E Track can help truckers save time and money by staying on the road for longer periods as well as staying organized. Staying organized as a trucker can help save space which in return means more products can be shipped at once saving truckers and trucking owners’ fleets money and time.
Hardware that Works Great with E Track Rails
Some of the many different hardware options that go great with E Track includes anything from Shoring Beams, E Track Ratchet Straps, E Track Cam Buckle Straps, Heavy Duty Cargo Nets, and Rope Tie Offs just to name a few of the most popular. These options not only can be used with your E Track systems but they also can be attached with very little work due to the ability to latch into the E Track rails quickly.
The two main different types of E Track Straps are E Track Cam Buckle Straps and E Track Ratchet Straps that both have different perks. E Track Cam Buckle Straps can not be over-tightened and are secured using the amount of strength you can pull with hand strength. E Track Cam Buckle Straps are the better alternative for lighter-weight cargo securement and being able to organize your load quickly. E Track Ratchet Straps can tighten cargo much more and are used for lightweight, mediumweight, and heavy-duty cargo securement needs.
E Track Bars – E Track Bars can also be known around the industry as Cargo Bars, Shoring Beams, or Aluminum E Track Bars. These bars can be locked into place allowing for a secure bond to your trailer’s walls and e-track system to secure cargo. These bars come in a wide variety of different lengths and customization options so you will want to make sure to measure your trailer walls before purchasing these from any supplier. You can find these bars in standard or heavy-duty options depending on the needs of your cargo securement.
E Track Ratchet Straps – E Track Ratchet Straps are the most commonly used tie-down straps with e track rails as they are used to secure many different vast weights of cargo. Some of the added perks of using E Track Ratchet Straps over the conventional Cam Buckle Straps is the ability to tighten cargo much tighter.
This allows for less wiggle room or excess slack that could potentially make your cargo come loose or fall over. It is crucial to always find the tie-down straps that fit the working load limit of your load, as well as the proper length of webbing before securing. You will want to make sure you know the length of the webbing you need, as well as the weight of the cargo before purchasing any E Track Ratchet Straps.
E Track Cam Buckle Straps_- E Track Cam Buckle Straps are the second most commonly used tie-down straps for E Track securement in the back of a trailer, moving vans, or enclosed trucks. E Track Cam Buckle straps are the perfect solution for cargo that is lighter weight or cargo that may not be replaceable. This goes great with antiques, valuable household goods, or cargo that could be deemed fragile.
Cargo Nets – One of the main perks of having cargo nets is being able to secure boxes or other cargo from tipping over. This is the ideal design for many boxes being transported at once. The large cargo nets or the custom cargo nets design secures directly into the E Track Rails providing great securement in a matter of minutes.
How to Install E-Track Rails in Enclosed Trailers and Moving Vans
Before we are able, to begin with, the best practices to install E Track you will need to know what works best for the size of your trailer. You will want to consider that cargo needs some safety space at the back of your trailer to prevent cargo from falling out or tipping over when you open the rear of the trailer at the arrival of your destination. You should consider at least 1 to 2 feet of e-track rails being stopped before the end of the trailer. You will want to decide if your load would work with better Vertical or Horizontal E Track rails depending on your shipping needs you will need measurements of the height or the length of your trailer.
Next and one of the most important steps to follow is finding the right hardware to fit the walls or flooring of your trailer. As the design of every trailer may be different you will most likely need to find the best trailer hardware for your application through trial and error unless you can find a guide online for your exact trailer spec. For most trailers, hardware options such as wood screws will get the job done more than likely but you may need different lengths of screws. Having a successful E Track installation involves a lot of prep work to make sure you are prepared.
Some important things to follow are to make sure the E Track Rails are installed as close together as possible to make sure the entire walls or flooring of the trailer that is installed is usable. The great thing about E Track Systems is the ability to secure cargo just about anywhere inside of the trailer which makes securing a wide range of different cargo sizes a breeze to secure, as well as utilizes the amount of space inside of the trailer to make fewer trips.
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Frequently Asked E Track Questions
Where is the best place to purchase e-track rails? – We recommend purchasing E Track Rails in the length of 8-foot sections so you can easily customize them to the length of your enclosed trailer. As we don’t sell E-Track rails on our online website we strongly recommend our friends over at Shippers Supplies.
Part of the reason behind us choosing these E Track Rails is due to the three different choices of finishes on the rails as well as the numerous different lengths. You can find 2 feet long, 5 feet long, 8 feet long, and 10 feet long rails on their website.
Are Horizontal or Vertical E-Track Rails used More? – Throughout the enclosed trailer industry with professional movers and dry vans, horizontal e-track rails are more commonly used. This is due to the types of cargo that are being secured with horizontal e-track rails for the most part being household goods.