Transport Chain

[sparc]

Chain is the only way to go for anything that moves. I even use chains on my ~800lb Rhino UTV. I have seen straps fail too many times. Also straps wear out fairly quickly if you use them a lot due to weather, fraying, nicks, etc.

Not using softeners with straps when and where needed is one of the causes for strap failures and accelerated wear.

 

[RickB]

Having towed much of the time (off and on) for a living since the early '60s I've always wondered about the term non commercial vs commercial.
I know how a load is chained/tied down to satisfiy DOT in the states around me so being curious I asked DOT if there is a different set of regs regarding non commercial . The answer was there is no difference regarding how a tractor is tied down if the rig has a DOT number and working for a living or just a private owner taking his 2000 lb or 12000 lb tractor to the repair shop or to do some work on another place for himself. The same tie down rules apply.

Now the question is what can we get by with when it comes to using straps or chain tie downs on wheeled vehicles. Your state DOT has the answer and having gone through as many different state scale houses as I have hauling my different type of wheeled construction equipment I wouldn't tell anyone what your DOT folks will say.

This is the most accurate DOT info posted so far.
Most important nugget is that DOT regs vary on the enforcement level based on who is doing the enforcing.

 

[radioman]

Not using softeners with straps when and where needed is one of the causes for strap failures and accelerated wear.

uhh .. say what? The first thing that came to my mind is fabric softener..:laughing:

Do you mean corners protectors for the straps?

 

[sparc]

uhh .. say what? The first thing that came to my mind is fabric softener..:laughing:

Do you mean corners protectors for the straps?

Yes, they are referred to as softeners in rigging circles because they soften or ease a sharp corner which could cut or wear a synthetic or nylon sling. When you are hanging a chain fall say from a beam you put softeners on the sling to keep the edge of the steel from cutting the sling or to reduce the point load at the sharp bend in the sling. Same goes for choking a sling around a load with sharp corners. The sling would have to be severely de-rated to account for this condition, probably less than 50% of its stated capacity and maybe more.

http://www.csao.org/UploadFiles/Safety_Manual/Equipment/Rigging_Long.pdf

 

[jeffsw6]

We do that for overhead rigging chains, they have nylon or something around them like you described. I never understood what it was for, just kinda stay out of the way and let the riggers do their jobs and hope they don't let anything fall on me.

 

[jlrsn]

I've used both Synthetic Slings and Straps plus Chains to secure loads for over 40+ years. The Synthetic Slings were used to lift cargo with my helicopters and the Straps and Chains to secure loads to trailers. My tractor is always secured with Grade 70 chains to my trailer if I have to move it. We learned a long time ago to protect Synthetic Slings and Straps with a length of fire hose surrounding the sling or strap on sharp corners no matter if it was being used to lift cargo or secure loads to trailers.
Jim

 

[schmism]

per my recent hoisting/lifting certification class.

A new rule (dont know how new but "new") is that all graded chain be stamped with the grade every 2-3 links.

for Grade 70 thats G70 or G7 stamped on the side of the link.

 

[sparc]

That probably came about as part of the overhaul of the cranes and rigging sections of the OSHA standards. Much of the rules comes from references to other standards from ANSI/ASTM or ASME to name just a few. Recent changes to the ANSI standards about rigging and rigging hardware require themto all be marked. Shackles and turnbuckles are two which need to be marked. Chain I believe also got the requirement.

 

[schmism]

Chain I believe also got the requirement.

Regardless i was in Farm n Fleet the other day and stopped to look at, as i had rembered the tidbit from the class.... There grade 70 "gold" chain had G7 stamped in it. First time i had seen it.

 

[RickB]

Think about it, guys. The only way to prove that any rigging or binding apparatus meets a regulatory spec is for it to be permanently labelled. Nothing new for grade 70 chain to be stamped in that manner; been that way for years. What might be new is that the chain being sold as grade 70 actually is.