Picking Up Red Hen Turf Farm Sod – Safety Tips, and Renting Trucks & Trailers

~ Hauling and Trailering Sod Safely and Efficiently

While Red Hen will deliver 500 Sq. Ft. (1 standard pallet) or more of sod, if you have the means of picking sod up, it’s always worth getting quotes for both scenarios.

When you pick sod up at Red Hen Turf Farm during our loading hours, we will always prefer to load your sod on the pallet, by using one of our forklifts.

The most common problems that we encounter when loading various vehicles are:

Customers do not bring and are not prepared to use the appropriate tie downs.
No good access to load trailer with Red Hen’s Forklifts because the trailer has a drop down gate that can not be removed and/or ramps that the forklifts cannot safely drive on.
Tires have not been checked for wear or air pressure.
Trailer is not rated for the weight of even 1 pallet of sod.

If you ultimately decide to pick up sod, the Law puts the responsibility of providing proper transportation and equipment for SAFE and LEGAL hauling squarely on your shoulders. This includes proper cargo tie-down equipment, properly equipped vehicles and the knowledge and skills to execute the practices safely.

Being mindful of this could literally save someone’s life!

If you want to become REALLY EDUCATED about hauling cargo and equipment, we suggest you look at Purdue University’s FREE 85-Page GUIDE, “Securing the Load: A Guide to Safe and Legal Transportation of Cargo and Equipment” at THIS LINK.

The very least you should know when picking up sod includes:

1. You need a vehicle that can haul the load safely. A full pallet of sod (500 sq. ft.) can weigh 2000-3000 pounds depending on recent rains or irrigation. IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RENTING A TRUCK and/or TRAILER TO PICK YOUR SOD UP, we’ve included a few helpful links at the end of this article.
2. Make sure you have a vehicle that can pull the loaded trailer and also make sure the vehicle is designed to pull the loaded weights.
3. If you bring a trailer, make sure it is designed to hold the weight you want to haul, and make sure the tires can handle the load.
4. CHECK THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE of YOUR VEHICLE and THE TRAILER.
5. With a Trailer, Safety chains should be properly rigged to tow vehicle, not to hitch or ball
6. With a Trailer, the Coupler should be secured, tight, and locked. Refer to the “Coupling To Tow Vehicle” section of your manual.
7. Lights: Test Tail, Stop, and Turn Lights
8. Bring something to tie down the sod on the pallets. Ratchet tie down straps work best.
9. With a Trailer, Follow the safety checks after 10, 25, and 50 miles as described below.

After 10 Miles	After 25 Miles	After 50 Miles
Retighten lug nuts	Retighten lug nuts	Check that Coupler is Secured
Check tire pressure	Check tire pressure	Check that safety chains are fastened and not dragging
Check that Coupler is Secured	Check that Coupler is Secured	Check that Sod is Secured

We truly want you to get home with all of your sod safely, and the people following you will appreciate your diligence.

Also, it is required by law.

~ Tips on Renting Pickup Trucks & Trailers

If you don’t own a truck and/or trailer, or can’t find a friend to lend you the equipment, rentals might be worth considering.

Keep in mind that you’ll want to confirm THE SAME DAY you plan to pick sod up that Red Hen Turf Farm is able to harvest your sod, since it is weather-permitting, and sometimes there are delays due to timing and daily sod harvesting capacity.

If you are curious about renting a truck and/or trailer, here are some handy links to check for availability in your local area:

LOWE’S rents Pick-Up Trucks for as little as $19 for the first 90 Minutes – Find out more HERE: https://www.lowes.com/l/truck-rentals.html
HOME DEPOT also rents Pick-Up Trucks for as little as $19 for the first 75 minutes – https://www.homedepot.com/c/truck_rental
HOME DEPOT also rents Trailers – https://www.homedepot.com/c/moving_supplies_equipment_rental
U-HAUL rents Trucks and Trailers – https://www.uhaul.com/
MacALLISTER RENTALS operates throughout Indiana and Michigan and rents Trailers – https://www.macallisterrentals.com/rental/trailer-rental/
If you’re in the South Bend Area, BURNS RENTALS offers Trailer for rent. Here’s the Link to check that out: https://burnstoolrentals.com/equipment.asp?action=category&category=33
For the South Bend Area, MICHIANA RENTAL is another source to rent a heavy-load capacity Dump Trailer. Here’s the link to check that out: https://mtrental.com/tools/trailers/

QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? Let us know! We’re a phone call away at 574-232-6811

~ the Red Hen Turf Farm Customer Service Team