Tank Rack in back of truck?

[skip]

my son hit a tree a few years back. he kept coins in the ashtray which exploded out and embedded itself in the rear seat passengers' forehead! It wasn't deep or anything, but just stuck there until a policeman pulled it out. A few stitches and he was fine.

-skip

[saturation]

It's illegal to transport gas cylinders horizontally. If a DOT official sees you riding down the road, expect a hefty fine. (Or do you have a cover on your truck bed?)

You know, this has been done for quite sometime by recreational scuba folks for some time, including cave divers. Is it truly illegal to transport compressed gas cylinders horizontally for non-commercial carriers?

Can anyone clarify? Note, the last sentence at the bottom from the Code of Federal Regulations:


From DOT rules:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...1999&TYPE=TEXT


[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2, Parts 100 to 185]
[Revised as of October 1, 1999]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR177.840]

[Page 705-709]

TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION

PART 177--CARRIAGE BY PUBLIC HIGHWAY--Table of Contents

Subpart B--Loading and Unloading

Sec. 177.840 Class 2 (gases) materials.

(See also Sec. 177.834 (a) to (j).)
(a) Floors or platforms essentially flat. Cylinders containing Class
2 (gases) materials shall not be loaded onto any part of the floor or
platform of any motor vehicle which is not essentially flat; cylinders
containing Class 2 (gases) materials may be loaded onto any motor
vehicle not having a floor or platform only if such motor vehicle be
equipped with suitable racks having adequate means for securing such
cylinders in place therein. Nothing contained in this section shall be
so construed as to prohibit the loading of such cylinders on any motor
vehicle having a floor or platform and racks as hereinbefore described.
(1) Cylinders. To prevent their overturning, cylinders containing
Class 2 (gases) materials must be securely

[[Page 706]]

lashed in an upright position; loaded into racks securely attached to
the motor vehicle; packed in boxes or crates of such dimensions as to
prevent their overturning; or loaded in a horizontal position.

[Spd 135]

Any unsecured object can kill...even a passenger:

http://overlawyered.com/2005/03/upda...llion-verdict/

A minor crash on July 04, 2003 caused the death of a mother by her 16 year old son beacuse he was unsecured (no seat belt) and he "bumped her" causing massive internal injuries ribs vs aorta. I had to tell him she did not make it. That really sucked for me, much more for him. If he had been belted in the car would have, only, had sideswipe damage and a blown tire from hitting the curb. Not a plug for seatbelts, well sorta, but if people can't hold on neither can bottles, scooters, or whatever may be there.