I know the legal liabilities in equipment manufacturing are huge. It makes me wonder if that is what is driving Cottrell’s position here or if there really are insurmountable engineering problems that prohibit the conversion of the chain units. Aftermarket conversions are available

Here is a copy of their official letter.

cottrell-strap-modifications
July 28,2008
Customer Letter Regarding Modification of
Chain Units into Strap Units
(Web version. Letter also sent to all customers via certified
mail, return receipt requested.)
Dear Valued Customer:
We at Cottrell have recently become aware of a desire by some
of our customers to modify/convert their Cottrell chain units into strap
units. Please be advised that as the manufacturer of both chain and
strap units, we have not validated or otherwise approved any such
modification or conversion of Cottrell equipment.
Our engineers designed our chain trailers to serve as chain
trailers, and our strap trailers to serve as strap trailers. Each design has
features that lend to the desired purpose for which it was intended.
Any modification or conversion from one design into the other will be
considered an unapproved post-sale modification which may void any
and all warranties on the subject unit. In addition, Cottrell will not be
liable for equipment problems, property damage or personal injuries
resulting from such unapproved modifications.
This letter is provided to reinforce and reiterate Cottrell’s position
on equipment modifications, as set forth in Cottrell’s “OPERATOR’S
MANUAL FOR CAR-HAULING EQUIPMENT”:
DANGER!
Failure to follow these warnings and instructions may cause
serious personal injury or death.
1. Do not modify or alter your Equipment without the prior written
consent of Cottrell, Inc. Modifications or alterations may
compromise the structural integrity or safety aspects that exist in
the original design of the Equipment. Such modifications or
alterations may also cause property damage and void the
Warranty.
2125 Candler Road
Gainesville,GA 30507
(77O) 532-7251 Ext.278
(77O) 532-2851 Facsimile
www.cottrelltrailers.com

An automobile transport truck smashed into an overhead railroad trestle on Loop 323 just south of Texas Highway 31 west about 10:40 a.m., sending two of the vehicles smashing into the street.

No injuries are reported. However, debris from the trestle fell onto a car that was traveling behind the transport truck.

Traffic is reduced to one lane while the accident site is being cleaned.

The trestle and truck were damaged by the impact. The transport truck was carrying new Chevrolet pickup trucks. Two of the trucks were knocked from the top level.

http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20080303/NEWS08/263438821
Anybody familiar with that area know how high that trestle is? I wonder if that load was chained or strapped down. It isn’t often you see a vehicle come all the way off let alone two of them.

More pictures posted here taken by reporter Kenneth Dean.