How do you chain down your 50 HP tractor for transport?

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

3/8" chain is one heavy item. You must be very young.
5/16" solves 99.9% of the problems we would face.

Maybe I’m not as familiar with 3/8 chain or paid any attention, I wouldn’t think 1/16th more metal would make that much of a diff. 5/16 vs 6/16 (3/8)

 

[sixdogs]

Maybe I’m not as familiar with 3/8 chain or paid any attention, I wouldn’t think 1/16th more metal would make that much of a diff. 5/16 vs 6/16 (3/8)

I've got a grade 43 15' or 20 footer that I would gladly sell. It feels like I'm hauling around an anchor while 5/16 is a comparative breeze.
It's USA made and I've owned it 35 years. It's only been used a few times.

 

[lostcreekranch]

3/8" chain is one heavy item. You must be very young.
5/16" solves 99.9% of the problems we would face.

Yep but, I had the 100 HP tractor first.

 

[sixdogs]

In trying to learn more about load securement, it appears to me that you need a WLL of all the chains totaled to exceed half the weight of the item hauled. So, if I'm hauling a 7,000 lb tractor and implement, I would need chains or straps that collectively total more than 3.500 lbs, which is half the weight of what I'm hauling . I'm a pilgrim on this but that's the way I read it. Anyone else?

 

[lostcreekranch]

In trying to learn more about load securement, it appears to me that you need a WLL of all the chains totaled to exceed half the weight of the item hauled. So, if I'm hauling a 7,000 lb tractor and implement, I would need chains or straps that collectively total more than 3.500 lbs, which is half the weight of what I'm hauling . I'm a pilgrim on this but that's the way I read it. Anyone else?

IMHO, 5/16” Class 70 chains and properly sized load binders, on front and back of a Compact Tractor will be more than sufficient. I use a clevis on rear drawbar and another on my grill guard pad eye. Single chain from stake socket on one side of trailer, thrust clevis, to stake pocket on other side. Ratchet load binder ( my preference) to tighten chain on drivers side of trailer.

Another point to understand is that you drop chain hook thru stake pocket then hook it to top of stake pocket on outside. Gravity works in your favor that way. If you just drop chain thru stake pocket and catch hook on bottom of pocket, it will disconnect if your chain gets loose. I’ll take a picture tomorrow if this isn’t clear.

I get front and back chained up semi tight and load binders attached mid-thread. Then I move tractor forward to tighten rear chain, set brake tight as possible. Then final tighten on front load binder. I stop and re-check after driving 5-10 minutes. I’ve never had anything get loose or move.

I see no advantage to using four chains over two chains, the way I hook up. You mileage may vary?

Obviously you need to drive like your pulling a big load and not make sudden starts / stops, quick lane changes.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Maybe I’m not as familiar with 3/8 chain or paid any attention, I wouldn’t think 1/16th more metal would make that much of a diff. 5/16 vs 6/16 (3/8)

5/16” grade 70 is rated at 4,700 lb. breaking strength.
3/8” grade 70 is rated at 6,600 lb. breaking strength.

 

[lostcreekranch]

3/8" chain is one heavy item. You must be very young.
5/16" solves 99.9% of the problems we would face.

5/16” grade 70 is about 1 lb./ ft.
3/8” grade 70 is about 1.4 lb./ ft.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

5/16” grade 70 is about 1 lb./ ft.
3/8” grade 70 is about 1.4 lb./ ft.

I agree with the just two chains, I was going to add a strap on the front and rear just in case, but if your going by numbers, 2 chains and binders is more than enough, my tractor is around 5200lbs, my two 5/16 chains is around 9,400lbs of securement, if I add a strap at each end just as a back up that’s another 6,600lb between the two, I could prob wreck the truck and the tractor prob wouldn’t move lmao. 2 chains and two straps would be over 3x the weight of the tractor.

But some states require X amount of securement points I believe, never looked up Ohio.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Make Sure Your Load Is Secure | Ohioline

Is says under 10k weight, 2 tie downs, above 10k 4

 

[sixdogs]

Good advice and reference. Thank you.