chain: 3/8 or 5/16 ?

[Highbeam]

The 5/16 had plenty of rated strength for my tractor but I used the bigger 3/8" chain for the single reason that the binders I found called out the larger chain. I wanted stout binders and so needed extra stout chain. Be sure that you match the two items.

4- 3/8" chains and 4 ratchet binders are heavy and certainly take a lot of effort to get attached properly but the extra safety margin doesn't hurt anything.

 

[project]

Highbeam, thanks. What method do you use for attaching chain to the rear of your tractor? Tony

 

[Highbeam]

My tractor is a Kioti CK30 and the drawbar attches to the tractor with a huge bracket contraption that allows the drawbar to be optionally swinging. Anyway, I can drop the chain hooks through this bracket and then hook the chain for a short loop making a fixed anchor connection. I use 4 chains and 4 binders so each chain is independendently attached and any one chain can fail and all would be OK.

So each end of each chain is hooked onto itself making a short loop around either the trailer attachement point, the frame of the tractor up front, or the drawbar bracket. Then the binder goes in the middle of the chain to pull the short loops together. The chain doesn't slip over anything as it tightens this way which to me would mean that while underway the chain might loosen. All of the slack of the chain happens at the binder and the slack gets wrapped around the tight chain 3 or four times so that it won't fall off the trailer and drag on the road.

I use the full lengths of chain so 18 or 20'. I've always wanted to shorten the chains but more than once I have needed the extra length to winch a machine onto the trailer.

 

[Rara Avis]

For the average utility tractor you can use the following...

2''X8' Short Wide Ratchet Strap W/ Axle Strap 10,000Lbs. - $24.79 : Ratchet Straps, Tie Down Straps, E Track Tie Downs, Moving Blankets & Pads, Cargo Straps, U.S. Cargo Control

 

[Mahana79]

Looked for a clevis that is large enough for the drawbar (1 5/16 thick w/a 3/4 hole) nothing local. Even went to a tractor/trailer retailer. Some catalogs are showing some but no dimensions. I did find a 1/2 separate link and wasn't sure if its as sturdy as a clevis. has anyone tried this?? Thanks

i get mine at Tractor supply

 

[PSDStu]

Looked for a clevis that is large enough for the drawbar (1 5/16 thick w/a 3/4 hole) nothing local. Even went to a tractor/trailer retailer. Some catalogs are showing some but no dimensions. I did find a 1/2 separate link and wasn't sure if its as sturdy as a clevis. has anyone tried this?? Thanks

I bought my clevis, chain and rachet binders from a local Farmers CO-OP, not sure if you have anything like that in your area. They had a wide variety of various styles of clevis and shackles.

 

[firedog]

Sounds like Highbeam is all over it.

I check the CFR 49 regs just for grins & here's what I found.
49CFR393.130 http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cg...docID=192257467952+23+2+0&WAISaction=retrieve
49CFR393.128 http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cg...docID=192257467952+42+2+0&WAISaction=retrieve
49CFR393.108 http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cg...docID=19325610660+101+2+0&WAISaction=retrieve

In a nutshell: (over 10K lbs)
requires a minimum of 4 seperate tie-downs.
aggregate WLL of tie-downs must be atleast 1/2 the weight of the cargo.
(chain minimum 3/8" grade 70 is required in some states)
under 10K:
secured at front & rear

disclaimer: while CFR393.130 does state "for equip over 10,000 lbs" and while some law enforcement personnel do not interpret regulations the same way many of the rest of us do, it is probably a good idea to meet or exceed these regs.

 

[Highbeam]

I feel good about my setup but I could even kick it up another notch by also having one additional chain and binder for the loader and for any 3ph implement. I have heard people say that that is required also but 6 chains and binders is a little excessive IMHO.

Chaining up takes a good 20 minutes. Ideally you could drive down a driveway or short road and then stop and tighten everything up a little more before really getting underway since often times a little bit of slack appears in the chain during the first bit of the trip.