Are Harbor Freight Chains any good?

[BruceWard]

I was thinking about buying a few of these

5/16" x 20 Ft. Grade 70 Trucker's Chain $29.99
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I would rather buy from Tractor Supply but their chain is twice as expensive.

 

[CurlyDave]

I once broke one of the grade 43 - 3/8" HF chains setting my neighbor's Ford tractor upright after it overturned. Don't know if I overloaded it or not -- maybe I did. We were all kind of excited at the time, and did some things we should have been smarter about.

Other than that, I have had many HF chains, and had no problems with the 5/16" grade 70 ones. In fact, I have pretty much standardized on those as the chain I get for almost every need.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Lowes has some that are American Made for $5 more.

Campbell Commercial at Lowe's: 5/16" x 20' Tow Hook Chain

Chris

 

[BruceWard]

Lowes wins since it is 50 miles closer than HF.

Thanks.

Can anyone recommend a good binder?

Someone stole the four 2.5" ratchet straps I was using with my B21 so I am going to upgrade to chains.

 

[wkpoor]

I recently bought the Lowes chains and got the binders at TSC. Looked all around for binders but didn't want the big bulky 5/16/3/8 ones. Found the 5/16 only orange colored ones at TSC with a price as good or better than any where else.
I still use 4" ratchet straps on the Deere though as I custom cut them to length for that application and I feel they are plenty strong and easier to use. Those ratchets are powerfull enough to suck down the 16.9-30's on the Deere. Those 4" ratchet straps were cheap compared to chain and binders. Think I paid 25.00 ea. for them. They look and feel of quality too.

 

[20 20]

I have a few of the Harbor Freight chains use them all the time never had any issues.

 

[Highbeam]

Theyr'e great. I use the 3/8 ones.

 

[Steve C]

I was thinking about buying a few of these

5/16" x 20 Ft. Grade 70 Trucker's Chain $29.99

I would rather buy from Tractor Supply but their chain is twice as expensive.

I use the HF grade 43, 3/8 x 14 Ft. Truckers Chain. They put it on sale very often for around $16 or $17 (I believe it on sale in the store right now) It has a rated capacity of 5,400 lbs, a little more capacity than the 5/16" chain. I think I have 3 of them giving me a 42 foot capacity for about $50.

I wrap them around my front weight bracket when they are not being used. I have not yet been able to break one, I think I need a bigger tractor.

 

[Skyco]

Al my chains are HF, haven't broken one yet, if you watch for a sale then also apply the 15-20% off coupons they email me every week you can't even come close to that price anywhere else.

 

[psj12]

If they are rated as schedule 70 chains then they have to meet the requirements of schedule 70. Many people make the mistake of using schedule 43 tiedown chains for other uses. They don't shock load well.

 

[joes_427_vette]

Skyco;

Where do you get those coupons for 20% off ? I'm on every mailing list they have and never get them. Let us in on the secret!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Travelover]

Skyco;

Where do you get those coupons for 20% off ? I'm on every mailing list they have and never get them. Let us in on the secret!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bookmark this page. Look under Twitter deals for current 20% coupon.

Harbor Freight Coupon Thread - SlickDeals.net Forums

 

[dfkrug]

If they are rated as schedule 70 chains then they have to meet the requirements of schedule 70. Many people make the mistake of using schedule 43 tiedown chains for other uses. They don't shock load well.

I can attest to that. I have a bunch of HF grade 43 chain that I use with
grabber hooks for general lifting and skidding logs. I cut the chain in
shorter lengths and welded grabber hooks on them. I have broken links
numerous times now, and it is dramatic. The links bend in the middle and
the welds split. I try to weld the splits before they separate completely.
My grade 70 chain hardly even scratches when skidding logs. No more
grade 43 for me.

 

[Skyco]

Skyco;

Where do you get those coupons for 20% off ? I'm on every mailing list they have and never get them. Let us in on the secret!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beats me, I get one every Thursday in my email, good Friday through Monday. Lately they've dropped them to 15% though. If you are an NRA member they are in the magazines every month too...and, they are good for 30 days or more, 20%.

 

[whistlepig]

Companies are legally liable these days for their grades of chains and bolts. Many years ago there were so many counterfeit bolts made in China that most companies threw all their bolts away and started over. A grade 70 chain should be grade 70 no matter where it comes from. A grade 8 bolt should be grade 8 no matter whee it comes from. At least in here the USA.

 

[BruceWard]

Lowes has some that are American Made for $5 more.

Campbell Commercial at Lowe's: 5/16" x 20' Tow Hook Chain

Chris

I bought two of the Lowes chains. Used them today to move a large disc a brush hog, a box blade and a MF TO-35 in two trips. We used one of the chains and a front end loader to lift the disc and brush hog off of the trailer.

 

[KeithInSpace]

...They don't shock load well.

I can tell you...G70 chains are To-ou-ou-ou-ough. I had some small lengths of 3/8" G70 cut as make-up chains since my safety chains were a smidge too short once I put my WD hitch on...BROKE THE MACHINE at TSC. It took 30 minutes just to retrieve my small bit of chain out of the jaws of that thing. And it sounded like a gunshot when that G70 chain finally gave. "Regular" chain has nothing on it...G70 is awesome stuff.