Rows read flange × inside traverse × drum. The heavy 96 by 48 by 48 in reel is rated for 15,000 lb of cable, the highest in the 96 in rows, while weighing about 120 lb less than the heavy 96 by 54 by 56.
Where 8 ft drums are used
Transmission and large distribution conductor, high-voltage and extra-high-voltage cable, very long single lengths of medium-voltage cable, and large submarine or industrial cable. Around Dallas-Fort Worth, utility transmission and substation projects are the main source, with some from data-centre campuses that bring large services in underground.
Height is the problem
Standing on its flanges on a standard flatbed with a 5 ft deck, a 96 in drum reaches about 13 ft. That's close to the height limits trucks must plan around, and too tall for some underpasses and overhead lines. For that reason, 8 ft drums often travel on step-deck or lowboy trailers, which carry the load lower. Routes are checked for clearances before a load moves. If a drum is coming to or from your site, tell us about any low gates, canopies or power lines near the entrance.
On the truck
At 55.5 to 62.5 in wide overall, one 96 in drum goes across a 102 in deck, and six fit along a 48 ft deck. A full row of heavy builds weighs up to about 7,200 lb.
Handling
- Lift with a forklift rated for well over the drum's weight, with forks reaching under both flange rims, or with a crane and a spreader bar through the arbor.
- Set drums down on firm, level, well-drained ground, or on timber mats.
- Chock both sides, every time.
- Keep people out of the roll path whenever a drum is being moved.
Reuse and resale
A sound 96 in drum is a valuable reel. It goes back into cable or rope service whenever possible, and it's worth repairing when a board or stave fails. Drums that can't carry cable again become dramatic outdoor features, stages, signs and landscape pieces for businesses that have the space and the machinery to place them. They're one of the few reels people ask for by name. See large wooden spools.
Before a drum is collected
Measure the traverse and the overall width, photograph both flanges, the arbor plates and the base of the drum, and note any owner's stencil or reel number. Check that a truck can reach the drum on firm ground with room to swing a forklift or a crane alongside it, and that nothing overhead, cables, branches or a canopy, sits in the lifting path. Clear loose lagging and debris from around the base. Those few steps decide whether the job takes half an hour or half a day.
Weather and long storage
Drums this size often stand for months after a project. Timber mats or a gravel pad under each flange rim prevent sinking and rot, and a quarter turn now and then spreads the wear. Watch for wasp and ant nests inside the drum, a common surprise on reels that have stood all summer.
Thieves rarely target empty drums, but cable left on one is a different story, so clear any remaining conductor before a drum sits unattended.
Questions
How much does an 8 ft cable drum weigh?
Between 758 and 1,199 lb empty for the Okonite builds.
Will a 96 in drum fit on a normal flatbed?
It fits on the deck, but the load is about 13 ft tall. Step-deck trailers are often used to keep it lower.
Can I buy just one?
Yes. Delivery needs a machine at your end to unload it, or a winch truck.