Load Lock Sizes for Trailers: 48ft, 53ft & Box Truck Guide
Buying load lock bars that do not fit your trailer is a waste of money and a cargo securement risk. A bar that is too short will not generate enough tension to hold against the sidewalls. A bar that is too long will not compress enough to fit inside the trailer. The correct size depends on the interior width of your specific trailer type — and that width varies between 53-foot dry vans, 48-foot trailers, and box trucks. This guide provides exact measurements, size tables, and buying recommendations for every common trailer configuration.
89"-104"
Standard Size Range
98.5"
Most Common (53ft Van)
$20-$80
Price Per Bar
3 Types
Trailer Categories
O Trucking Editorial Team
Trucking Industry Experts
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Dispatch Team
5+ years dispatching dry van and box truck loads, sourcing cargo securement equipment, and ensuring proper load bar sizing across mixed trailer fleets
This article was written by the O Trucking editorial team with 9+ years of combined trucking industry experience. Learn more about us.
O TruckingLoad Lock Sizes for Trailers: 48ft, 53ft & Box Truck Guide (2026)
Standard Load Lock Bar Sizes
Load lock bars are manufactured in standard size ranges designed to match the interior widths of common trailer types. The “size” of a load lock bar refers to its adjustment range — the minimum compressed length and the maximum extended length. When you buy a bar rated at “89-104 inches,” that means it can be compressed to fit trailers as narrow as 89 inches and extended to fit trailers as wide as 104 inches.
Most load lock bars sold in the United States fall into one of three size categories based on the trailer type they are designed for. The critical measurement is the interior width of the trailer — the distance between the two sidewalls at the point where the bar will contact them. This is not the exterior width of the trailer and it is not the door opening width. It is the inside wall-to-wall measurement.
Getting the wrong size is the most common mistake drivers make when buying load lock bars. A bar that is even 2 inches too short for your trailer will not develop enough spring tension to hold securely. A bar that is 2 inches too long will not compress enough to fit between the walls. Always measure before buying.
Load Lock Bar Size by Trailer Type
The following table shows the standard interior widths for each trailer type and the corresponding load lock bar size you need. These measurements cover the vast majority of trailers on the road today, but always verify with your specific trailer since manufacturers and model years can vary by 1-2 inches.
| Trailer Type | Interior Width | Load Lock Size Needed | Common Bar Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' Dry Van (standard) | 98"-101" | 96"-104" | 89"-104" |
| 53' Dry Van (wide body) | 100"-102" | 96"-104" | 89"-104" |
| 48' Dry Van | 98"-100" | 96"-104" | 89"-104" |
| 26' Box Truck | 92"-96" | 89"-99" | 89"-104" |
| 24' Box Truck | 92"-96" | 89"-99" | 89"-104" |
| 20' Box Truck | 90"-94" | 89"-97" | 89"-104" |
| 16' Box Truck | 88"-92" | 85"-95" | 84"-95" |
| Cargo Van (Sprinter) | 65"-70" | 62"-73" | 62"-73" (van-size) |
The 89-104 Inch Bar Fits Most Trailers
How to Measure Your Trailer's Interior Width
Do not assume your trailer matches the standard width for its class. Manufacturers, model years, wall thickness, insulation, and interior liner material all affect the actual interior width. Here is how to get an accurate measurement:
Measure at the Point of Contact
The interior width varies at different heights. Measure at the height where you will actually place the load lock bar — typically 36 to 48 inches from the floor. Do not measure at floor level (the floor can be wider) or at the ceiling (the roof bows can be narrower). Measure where the bar will actually sit.
Measure Wall-to-Wall (Not Track-to-Track)
If your trailer has E-track or logistics posts, measure from the inside surface of one wall to the inside surface of the opposite wall — not from track to track. However, if you plan to seat the bar ends in the track slots, measure from the bottom of one track slot to the bottom of the opposite track slot. This measurement will be slightly shorter.
Take Multiple Measurements
Measure at the front of the trailer (near the bulkhead), in the middle, and near the rear doors. Trailer walls can bow inward or outward slightly, and the width at the back doors is often 1-2 inches narrower than the width at the front due to the door frame. Your load lock bars need to work at every point in the trailer, so use the widest measurement when selecting bar size.
Write Down Your Trailer Measurements
Adjustable vs Fixed-Length Load Lock Bars
The vast majority of load lock bars sold today are adjustable — they telescope to fit a range of widths. However, some specialized operations use fixed-length bars that are cut to a specific width. Here is how they compare:
| Feature | Adjustable | Fixed-Length |
|---|---|---|
| Width range | 15-20 inch range | Exact width only |
| Versatility | Works in multiple trailers | One trailer only |
| Holding force | 100-250 lbs | Higher (no telescope play) |
| Cost | $20-$80 | $30-$60 (custom cut) |
| Availability | Every truck stop, online | Specialty order only |
| Best for | General use, mixed fleets | Dedicated trailer operations |
For the majority of drivers and carriers, adjustable bars are the right choice. They work across multiple trailer types, are readily available, and cost less than custom-cut bars. Fixed-length bars are typically only used in dedicated fleet operations where every trailer is identical and the operation requires maximum holding force from each bar.
53-Foot Dry Van Load Lock Sizing
The 53-foot dry van is the most common trailer on American highways, and it is the trailer most load lock bars are designed for. Standard 53-foot dry vans from manufacturers like Great Dane, Wabash, Utility, Hyundai Translead, and Vanguard have interior widths between 98 and 101 inches, with most modern trailers measuring 98.5 to 100.5 inches.
Wide-body 53-foot trailers (also called plate trailers or wide-inside trailers) can be up to 102 inches wide interior. These trailers use thinner walls or different construction methods to gain 1-3 inches of interior width, allowing them to fit two rows of standard 48-inch pallets side-by-side with minimal gap.
For all 53-foot dry vans — standard and wide-body — the standard 89-to-104-inch adjustable load lock bar is the correct choice. This size range covers every 53-foot trailer on the road today. The bar will be extended to approximately 99 inches (about the middle of its adjustment range), which is the ideal operating zone for maximum spring tension and holding force.
48-Foot Trailer Load Lock Sizing
48-foot trailers have essentially the same interior width as 53-foot trailers — the difference is length, not width. Both use the same 102-inch exterior width (the maximum allowed under federal regulations for most highways), and both have similar wall construction.
This means the same 89-to-104-inch load lock bars that work in 53-foot trailers also work in 48-foot trailers. If you switch between 48-foot and 53-foot trailers, your load lock bars transfer with no size issues.
The only consideration is how many bars you need. A 48-foot trailer has 60 fewer inches of floor length, which usually means fewer pallets and potentially less empty space to secure. You may need 2-3 fewer bars per load compared to a 53-foot trailer, but you should still carry the same total number on the truck for when you load a partial load with significant empty space.
Box Truck Load Lock Sizing
Box trucks present more sizing variation than semi-trailers. Unlike dry van trailers that follow a relatively standard 102-inch exterior width, box trucks come in many configurations from many different body manufacturers, each with different interior dimensions.
Box Truck Interior Widths by Size Class
- 26-foot box truck: 92"-96" interior width
- 24-foot box truck: 92"-96" interior width
- 20-foot box truck: 90"-94" interior width
- 16-foot box truck: 88"-92" interior width
- 12-14 foot box truck: 80"-90" interior width
- Always measure: Box body widths vary by manufacturer
For 20-foot to 26-foot box trucks, the standard 89-to-104-inch load lock bar will work in most cases. The bar will be compressed to its shorter end (89-96 inches), leaving less spring travel. This means slightly less holding force compared to using the bar in a wider semi-trailer. For maximum performance in a box truck, consider a shorter bar with a range of 84-to-95 inches — this puts the bar in its optimal tension zone for the narrower interior.
For smaller box trucks (12-16 feet), the standard 89-104 inch bar often will not work because the interior width falls below 89 inches. You will need a shorter bar specifically designed for smaller trucks, typically with a range of 84-to-95 inches or even 73-to-84 inches for the smallest bodies.
Cargo Vans Need a Completely Different Size
Buying Recommendations
Here is what to buy based on your operation:
53-Foot Dry Van Only
Buy 10-12 standard 89-to-104-inch spring-loaded bars. Total cost: $200-$500. This covers every standard and wide-body 53-foot trailer. Replace bars every 6-12 months or when the springs weaken. For heavy or high-value freight, add 4-6 ratchet bars ($40-$80 each) for more secure holds.
Box Truck Operation (20-26 ft)
Measure your specific box body interior width first. If it is 89 inches or wider, standard 89-to-104-inch bars will work. If narrower, buy 84-to-95-inch bars designed for box trucks. Carry 6-8 bars per truck — box trucks have shorter load areas but the freight is often more varied and requires more securement points per foot of cargo.
Mixed Fleet (Vans + Trailers)
You will need two sets of bars: standard 89-to-104-inch for your semi-trailers and 62-to-73-inch (or 84-95 inch for larger box trucks) for your smaller vehicles. Label them clearly so drivers do not bring the wrong bars to the wrong truck. Color-coded rubber end caps help with quick identification.
Buy Bars in Bulk to Save Money
Where to Buy Load Lock Bars
Load lock bars are available at virtually every truck stop chain (Pilot Flying J, Love's, TravelCenters of America), trailer supply stores, and online retailers. Truck stop prices are typically 20-40% higher than online prices, but they offer the convenience of immediate availability when you need a replacement bar on the road.
For online purchasing, major retailers and truck equipment suppliers carry large inventories. Look for bars with forged steel construction (not thin stamped metal), heavy-duty springs rated for at least 100 lbs of tension, and replaceable rubber end caps. The end caps are the wear item that fails first — being able to replace just the caps instead of the entire bar saves money over time.
Avoid the cheapest bars you can find. A $10 bar from an unknown manufacturer often has weak springs, thin metal tubing that bends under pressure, and rubber caps that crack in cold weather. The difference between a $10 bar and a $25-$30 quality bar is significant in terms of holding force, durability, and safety. For a piece of equipment that prevents thousands of dollars in cargo damage, spending an extra $15-$20 per bar is a sound investment.
How Our Team Handles Load Lock Sizing
At O Trucking LLC, we ensure every driver has the right equipment for the trailer they are pulling:
Trailer-specific equipment verification
When we dispatch a driver, we confirm the trailer type and interior dimensions. If a driver is pulling a 53-foot dry van, we verify they carry standard 89-104 inch bars. If they are using a box truck, we confirm they have bars sized for the specific body width. No guessing, no mismatched equipment.
Equipment readiness before pickup
Before a driver departs for a shipper, we communicate the load type and securement requirements. This includes confirming the driver has enough load lock bars of the correct size, plus any additional securement like straps or edge protectors. Proper planning prevents delays at the shipper and ensures cargo arrives damage-free.
Need a Dispatch Team That Gets Equipment Right?
Our dispatchers verify trailer dimensions, load lock bar sizing, and cargo securement requirements before every pickup. Right equipment, right size, zero cargo damage.