Use AS to haul a 25ft flagpole - bad idea?

[Kalashnikov]

Hi,

I bought a 25' flagpole (28' actual length) and need to haul it. I'm supposed to use a 20' trailer and let the pole hang off the end. However all the tool rental places only have 16' trailers!

But.... I do have an AS 28'. Was thinking I could sling that flagpole underneath and just strap it to the bumpers at each end.

The pole only weighs about 70lbs. Should work - right?

[s1000pre]

Yikes! Airstreams don’t have a lot of clearance and a lot could go wrong. Keep in mind the tanks hang low between the axles which will probably force the rear of the flagpole to nearly drag on the pavement. I wouldn’t do it.
Your tow vehicle is probably 22’ long. Your better off coming up with a way of strapping it to the top extending a couple feet beyond the front & back bumpers.

[John Ware]

Anything could be done with enough of that Dripping Springs Vodka in you. Myself, I would definitely look at it. Dips in the road may be a problem, though.

[jeffb831]

Originally Posted by Kalashnikov

Hi,

I bought a 25' flagpole (28' actual length) and need to haul it. I'm supposed to use a 20' trailer and let the pole hang off the end. However all the tool rental places only have 16' trailers!

But.... I do have an AS 28'. Was thinking I could sling that flagpole underneath and just strap it to the bumpers at each end.

The pole only weighs about 70lbs. Should work - right?

Seems like a bad idea to use a $100K trailer to haul something. I'd just pay to have it delivered instead of risking any damage.

[Kalashnikov]

All right I'll keep looking around for a better solution. Probably just need to call places about the trailer rather than relying on the websites.

The place I bought it lets people take the poles home, they're in stock. Another place that offers drop-ship charges $500 for the shipping, and a further $1100 to "install" it (dig hole in ground, dump in a couple bags of concrete, drop in pole."

Originally Posted by John Ware

Anything could be done with enough of that Dripping Springs Vodka in you. Myself, I would definitely look at it. Dips in the road may be a problem, though.

Ha!

[ROBERT CROSS]

Hasn't been a concern for us. Had a Sunbrella case made for it.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Genebuilder]

Originally Posted by Kalashnikov

Hi,

I bought a 25' flagpole (28' actual length) and need to haul it. I'm supposed to use a 20' trailer and let the pole hang off the end. However all the tool rental places only have 16' trailers!

But.... I do have an AS 28'.

You probably have a high clearance 3/4ton TV to tow your 28AS.

Strap the flagpole tight under the truck carriage, flag each end so it can be seen, and travel home the back roads.

I’ve seem sucker rod and oilfield tubing transported this way when needed. Tito’s Vodka may have been the propellant…

[dznf0g]

Once worked with a guy who did this. Strapped a pole under a corvair. Decided to stop at the pub on the way home. Later went home, forgot about the pole and punched a hole in the garage door. Bigger problem was he pulled in the neighbors drive instead of his.

[SSquared]

Originally Posted by Kalashnikov

Hi,

I bought a 25' flagpole (28' actual length) and need to haul it. I'm supposed to use a 20' trailer and let the pole hang off the end. However all the tool rental places only have 16' trailers!

But.... I do have an AS 28'. Was thinking I could sling that flagpole underneath and just strap it to the bumpers at each end.

The pole only weighs about 70lbs. Should work - right?

I'm only semi-serious here, but why not remove the screen from the rear window and put it inside? You would probably need to have a few feet sticking out the back, so you would need to secure the window. I would not want the weight resting on the window frame, so some support would be in order.

[John Ware]

Cut it in half and weld it back together when you get it home.

[civeng99]

Originally Posted by SSquared

I'm only semi-serious here, but why not remove the screen from the rear window and put it inside? You would probably need to have a few feet sticking out the back, so you would need to secure the window. I would not want the weight resting on the window frame, so some support would be in order.

I was thinking that. An old engineers mind never stops.

[Bubba L]

Been there, done that. I was building a pavilion in the Woodlands back in the 80s. They were getting rid of some flagpoles. The trick was getting one home. I put a couple of pallets in the bed of my truck. Stood one up against the tailgate an one behind the cab and tied them down. I placed the flagpole on top and tied the rear to the bumper and front to the front bumper. It was about 10’ longer
Than the truck. It was dark when I headed home. The pole had a large gold ball attached to the top of the pole. When I turned the headlights on, it lit up the gold ball like a beacon. No trouble getting home. Looking back makes me shudder. I would think someone has a long trailer. Do you have any stockyards around there? They have long trailers. Good luck

[Fungus]

I’ve strapped 20-foot long 1-inch PVC to the side mirror and a 2x4 at the tailgate.

Also hauled 20-foot baseboard resting on an extension ladder that rested on the cab with the foot of the ladder on the tailgate. Everything padded and well secured.

[John Ware]

Originally Posted by Fungus

I’ve strapped 20-foot long 1-inch PVC to the side mirror and a 2x4 at the tailgate.

Also hauled 20-foot baseboard resting on an extension ladder that rested on the cab with the foot of the ladder on the tailgate. Everything padded and well secured.

I hauled 20ft 1"pvc pipe the same way.

[TR Anderson]

Go for it, if you haven't already. I've heard worse plans that worked out fine.

[TeddyK]

I’ll give you $250 if you let me film it.
What could possibly go wrong?

[Runamuk13]

+1 on idea from Fungus (post #13).
I've transported long stuff by strapping it to an extension ladder for support, then loading the ladder on the truck with lots of padding and tie-downs.

[Trowbridge]

Don't strap it under the trailer. Too many catastrophic things can happen.

If you want to use your Airstream, strap it on top. Make sure you place it on long pads bridging multiple internal ribs. Do not let metal of pole get anywhere close to aluminum skin without 3" thick padding in between. Place the pole on one side along the AC, vents, etc. Do NOT torque down any spot laying on aluminum panel without rib underneath. Keep ends centered by tying off to either end of rear bumper and both sides of front frame (problem mid trailer is there is not much to keep pole centered aside from 'Mickey Mousing' a loop around the base of the AC and snugging it up).

Better yet...rent or borrow a long utility trailer and do it right. An Airstream is a very expensive work trailer :-(

[SkiDog]

Check out HomeDepot, they have some very reasonable local truck rental rates and they are set up to haul stuff.

[SkiDog]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/l...oduct-overview