I suck at using rachet chain binders...help

[PILOON]

One way you can save a lot of trouble and effort is to chain up the front end as snug as you can without binders and then back up 'till nice and tight and apply the parking brakes.(like squish the front tires)
You then only need to manually tighten the rear end.
That way you have only one binder to bother with.

 

[bdog]

Make sure the binder is extended as far as it can go and then you pull the chain as tight as you can by hand taking out any slack and then hook the binder to the tightest link you can reach. I use ratchet binders all the time and never have problems. Are you wrapping the the chains around things? Chain doesn't like to slide too well when wrapped around things. Hook it to an anchor point on each end and then tighten.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I will take a ratchet (screw type) binder over lever type any time. The trick is, as stated already, getting as much slack out as possible first, and having the binder as open as possible and still have 2 or 3 threads catching.

If you use lever binders, intentionally twisting the chain can shorten it just enough when you find one link you hook to, too tight, and the next too loose. Again, only after getting all the slack out.

 

[bdog]

I hate lever binders. To get them tight enough you need a cheater which makes one more thing you have to carry around. My grandfather had his ankle shattered with one when it came loose years ago. They are dangerous. I know they are outlawed by several organizations. We were doing some work where we had a Canadian consultant there that worked primarily in the mining industry. We had a couple lever binders at the time. He could not believe it said they were forbidden up there in his industry due to numerous accidents.

 

[hslogger]

DRancher has the right idea IMHO. Some of these photos are looking like binder mainia. BIG and heavy stuff we use multiple binders and chains on. Something like a L4400 with bucket and 3pt attachment I use a chain in front and a chain in back with one binder on each one. I don't go running around trying to shake the thing off the trailer, gents. When you get into four tons to sixty tons, well by golly throw every chain and binder in town on em. Give me a good old USA knucklebuster and cheater bar any day.

 

[Looking4new]

I prefer the widow makers and a 3' snipe pipe, but then again I have never used the ratchet type binders. Whatever binder you use, you must get as much slack out of the chain as you can.

 

[FTG-05]

Make sure the binder is extended as far as it can go and then you pull the chain as tight as you can by hand taking out any slack and then hook the binder to the tightest link you can reach. I use ratchet binders all the time and never have problems. Are you wrapping the the chains around things? Chain doesn't like to slide too well when wrapped around things. Hook it to an anchor point on each end and then tighten.

Looking at the OP's pics, it looks like he's not hooking the chain at both ends, then using the binders to tighten the chain up. This is the way I use my ratchet binders and I've never had any problems.

I have both lever and ratchet and prefer ratchet, far more control IMO. But I can see if you used them daily it would get old fast.

 

[Dutch445]

10 or so years ago an employee here was using a lever binder and pipe,
and either he let go while cinching down, or opening the lever and the pipe
caught him square in the face/nose. quite a mess, blood everywhere, he
ended up ok after all the cuts and bruises healed, but it was an ugly accident.
there is something to be said about the ratchets in that regard. (although we
mostly use lever type here still)

 

[kenmac]

I have 4 new ratchet binders. I can't stand them. I bought new lever type. I can have the tractor changed down faster with the lever type than the ratchet type.

 

[s219]

No problem with ratchets here, other than sometimes you need to plan things in tight spaces to make sure there is room to swing the handle around. I always use them in the middle of the chain, far from the ends/anchors. I basically gather up (pinch) the slack and use the binder to bridge across it.

 

[v8only]

got some good pointers here thanks guys, i will be loading up the trailer Thursday or Friday and im gonna try it out again.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I vote for the ratchet binders. Never had a load come loose with them, and never got smacked in the face with a cheater pipe. I watched a pipe sail over the trailer when I was younger and that was enough to convince me I didn't want to mess with them. Its incredible the amount of tension you can safely put in a chain with a ratchet without risking your skin. If something shifts a little bit when you check your chains like your supposed to, it takes a second to put another turn on the buckle. I like hooking the chain down around the outside of the pocket and then coming up inside it. If I'm cheating, I'll use a single chain attached to two solid points and take a binder off of each side to a pocket. Never had an issue doing it that way. I really don't like dragging chain over a piece of equipment to tie it down. Looping the chain around a hard point and hooking it ensures there is no hidden slack.

Anything with tracks, a ratchet binder is hard to beat, grab a grouser and a stake pocket and tighten it down. In all reality, if your using the correct number of and rated tie downs, you shouldn't have an issue.

 

[dstig1]

I have both ratchets and lever binders. I prefer to use lever binders on the front and ratchets in the back.

One way you can save a lot of trouble and effort is to chain up the front end as snug as you can without binders and then back up 'till nice and tight and apply the parking brakes.(like squish the front tires)
You then only need to manually tighten the rear end.
That way you have only one binder to bother with.

I put mine on the front similar to Sterff, but I hook to a shackle I put in the draw bar last hole on the rear. But I do it like Piloon suggested and hook chains on the front to the stake pockets, then back up to tension, and only use 2 load binders on the rear from draw bar to D rings at back corners. Ratchet type. Never had a problem, and I like the control and ability to tighten a bit more if you are going a long way and stop to check. Never tried a lever style, as they scare the bejeesus out of me... Someone could argue the use of one rear tie down point is a weakness, but again, this is not a 40 ton crawler here...

 

[mikehaugen]

Just use ratchet straps, then you won't have these problems.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Just use ratchet straps, then you won't have these problems.

Couple 1 incher's right? :stirthepot:

 

[k0ua]

Couple 1 incher's right? :stirthepot:

Are we ratchet strapping down a bicycle or what?

 

[v8only]

well i used the solid point on the trailer and i was finally able to get the chain tight, so tight infact i was squatting the tire and sliding the tractor over to the side.

Thanks all.

 

[orezok]

I'm not understanding why people are having trouble tightening up loads with the ratchet binders. I use both and measured the "closure" on both. On my 19,000 lb binders I have a total of 3 1/2" of closure. On my ratchet binders with similar load capability I have 6"

Makes no sense to me.

 

[BWSwede]

I'm with your orezok. I don't get it either.

BWSwede

 

[juddspaintballs]

Serious question though...why not ratchet straps? I know the 3" ones are rated for the load, but I know very little about securing loads so please fill me in.

I'm not saying I don't like the idea of chains and binders, but really, why not ratchet straps?