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Kalamazoo, MI ([email protected])

Okay, I'm almost positive that this has been covered somewhere on this site, but do you think I can find it? Nope. Here goes...

We're wondering about the rope under the pumpkin at the bottom of our straps when we lift it. Is there a certain kind/size to use? Do we have to use rope that has a rated working strength at or higher than the estimated weight of our pumpkin? When you consider that tying a knot reduces the tensile strength of a rope by up to 50% it seems like we should be using some super heavy-duty rope. In some of the pictures we saw it looks like people are using pretty thin rope though, so we figured we'd better ask before we bought some.

(If the rope can be rated less than the weight of our pumpkin then I have to admit that I'm wrong and Jesse's right....nooooooooooo)

Also, what type of foam board and how many sheets should we put between our pumpkin and the pallet it's going to be sitting on? We're not sure if we're supposed to use the pink/blue board or soft white stuff. Again, better to ask than do it wrong. We're planning on hauling ours on a trailer behind our truck so we'd like to make sure it's well-cushioned against bumps and vibrations. It's a 2.5 hour ride, so I tried to talk the better half into putting more foam board between the pallet and the trailer, but that was deemed overkill (and I was deemed over-protective lol). I am getting nervous...I'm probably going to spend the whole ride there facing backwards hehe.

Thanks for reading,
Kel

9/19/2008 11:27:29 PM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

We use a 3/4" soft rope..I have no idea what it's tensile is but you have to figure whatever it is, it's way over even the biggest of pumpkin's. I chose this stuff because it was soft and does less damage to the fruit.

As far as cushioning, we use a sheet of 2" styrofoam attached to the pallet, then 6" of foam padding on top of that, all covered by a plastic tarp.

9/20/2008 7:12:29 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Zemmie, I feel your pain. I too am over protective..lol. I used the lifting strap from P&P and it came with another strap for the tie at the bottom. We used a simple square knot, it worked great, altho the strap was slippery and kinda hard to tie, we did it. The pumpkin is in the trailer behind the truck. I used two sheets of white styrofoam and some foam, a piece of foam over the top then straps. I had a post earlier named 'first time to a weigh off', some good tips there.
Also, my husbund suggested I ride in the trailer with the pumpkin and hold it down...good luck. Croley

9/20/2008 7:42:25 AM

Utah

the rope around the bottom of the straps does not have to hold the weight of the pumpkin - it only has to hold the straps together. the straps hold the pumpkin weight.
with that said... I don't know what size rope you should use.

9/20/2008 1:55:25 PM

Kalamazoo, MI ([email protected])

thanks guys...

croley, I heard the same suggestion lol.

9/20/2008 3:10:51 PM