Drop in Stake Pocket D Rings

George2615 · Aug 7, 2016

Oleozz said:
I decided to build my own rather than weld D rings in fixed positions on my powder coated PJ trailer. Depending on what I put on the trailer I can move the D Rings where I need them. Prior to building these I would do like everyone else and drop the chain through the stake pocket,bring it back up and hook over the top. This is a perfectly acceptable way to secure something but I had the time and wanted to try the drop in rings so I built 6 of them.
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I think they look real good, nice job.[/QUOTE]

Thanks

powerscol said:
I have the PJ brand and love them. I got them for $10 each when I bought the trailer. I think I bought 6 at the time a few year back. I got my trailer at the ABQ NM dealer - nice folks.

However not to criticize you work, but I would do another pass on the D-ring tube to plate connection. You first photo looks a bit rough with a gap on the top next the the ring tube, That's where all the stress is and as done will be the first place to rust. Just my 02, but congrats on the great project.

On edit I added some photos of my PJ rings. They use a 1/2 pipe up top to retain the D-ring with a full depth fillet weld both sides. I hope this helps.

I will take your advice and add another pass on every weld. When I bought the trailer in 2014 I asked about them. The salesman had never heard of them and had to call PJ for a price. Had they been $10 when I bought the trailer I'd have bought them too.

bdog · Aug 7, 2016

While an extra pass wouldn't hurt I don't think it is necessary. You already have them all painted and pretty. They are plenty strong for anything you are going to haul on that trailer. I have similar size D-rings I welded on my 53' step deck with triple pass welds but I am tieing down machines that may weigh 30,000lbs.

When you have a chain going from the trailer to an attachment point of a machine the DOT calls it a direct tie down and they only count it as 1/2 the WLL of the chain, binder, hook whatever. An indirect tie down attaches to the trailer and goes over the cargo and attaches on the other side of the trailer. These type of attachments are given the full WLL.

By law the aggregate WLL must be at least 1/2 of what you are tieing down. So if for example you were tieing down a 10,000 lb tractor and using a direct tie down on each corner you would need 5,000 lbs aggregate WLL securement. If you used 5/16" G70 chain the WLL is 4,700lb so each corner would be half that or 2,350lbs. The four chains would add up to 9,400 lb which is nearly double what is required.

Anyway my point is you are not securing a bull dozer and I doubt you will ever use anything larger than 5/16" chain and those welds in the drings are stronger than 5/16" chain.

George2615 · Aug 7, 2016

bdog said:
While an extra pass wouldn't hurt I don't think it is necessary. You already have them all painted and pretty. They are plenty strong for anything you are going to haul on that trailer. I have similar size D-rings I welded on my 53' step deck with triple pass welds but I am tieing down machines that may weigh 30,000lbs.

When you have a chain going from the trailer to an attachment point of a machine the DOT calls it a direct tie down and they only count it as 1/2 the WLL of the chain, binder, hook whatever. An indirect tie down attaches to the trailer and goes over the cargo and attaches on the other side of the trailer. These type of attachments are given the full WLL.

By law the aggregate WLL must be at least 1/2 of what you are tieing down. So if for example you were tieing down a 10,000 lb tractor and using a direct tie down on each corner you would need 5,000 lbs aggregate WLL securement. If you used 5/16" G70 chain the WLL is 4,700lb so each corner would be half that or 2,350lbs. The four chains would add up to 9,400 lb which is nearly double what is required.

Anyway my point is you are not securing a bull dozer and I doubt you will ever use anything larger than 5/16" chain and those welds in the drings are stronger than 5/16" chain.

I already had 2 passes but I did grind off the high spots and welded another pass of 7018 on all previous welds. I know they were good enough but they look better now and they will hold anything I put on my 14K trailer. I mainly use 5/16" chain but also have 3/8" if needed. I doubt I'll have to secure anything more than 10K.