Proper way to bind tractor onto trailer?

[Bob_Skurka]

For me I don't really care where the chain is made, that is inconsequential, what matters is that it meets the guidelines. I generally don't want to encourage the police to give me tickets that I don't want to pay. Under some conditions, with some types of loads, I believe straps are legal. I have grade 70 chain for the tractors. I'll admit to using straps when I first got the tractors, I'll admit I knew I should not have used straps. When I got chain, I made sure it was the right chain. Personally I'd feel a lot safer with a quality strap than a grade 43 chain, but both are still wrong.

 

[Highbeam]

Dargo, reading about your accident is what pushed me to chain in the first place. I can't say I really care what the fish and wildlife people think of my chain grade though. I was thinking maybe somebody had read an actual DOT law requiring G70. I really do not enjoy reading through regulations so will admit to some laziness on that.

It is starting to look like I got the wrong grade of chain based on the opinions of several folks. I really thought that four big ol' 3/8" chains with a huge working load limit was the right thing for my application. Not sure if it is wrong enough to warrant chain replacement though. I will keep an extra eye on the links for wear or signs of failure. If any one chain does fail, I feel the four chain setup will get me through.

Any thoughts? Are you all die hard enough that you would not agree with anything other than replacement with US G70 chain?

 

[George2615]

Just for infomational purposes.
1) The 3/8" x 14' chain HF sells is grade 43 rated at 5400# capacity. (This does not fall into the DOT guideline for use as transport chain) but can be used to secure items.
2) The 5/16" x 20 chain HF sells is grade 70 rated at 4700# capacity. (This chain does meet DOT guidelines for transport chain).
3) Ratchet binders that HF sells are rated for 9200# and meet the DOT standard by being equal or greater than the chain rating.
4) There are various grades of chain listed in the DOT link and all can be used for binding a load if they meet the specs of the table shown. The DOT info Dargo linked to can also be very confusing since according to section 5.8, for determining the size chain to use by the weight of the equipment you are transporting, line B states the WLL of the chain must be rated for at least 1/2 the weight of the article being secured. So this seems to say any chain could be used as long as it is rated for at least 1/2 the weight of article. Then it says to follow section 5.9 which shows only 3/8" GR70 6600# chain or larger is the minimum standard. If this is the minimum then they should not list any chain rated for less. Why even print section 5.8? Now I'm more confused than before but I'll continue to use the chains I bought that are each individually rated for more than my tractor weighs anyway.

 

[3720_Owner]

so four of these sound like a "safe" bet for a 3000-5000 lbs tractor?

Steven

 

[Highbeam]

"Now I'm more confused than before but I'll continue to use the chains I bought that are each individually rated for more than my tractor weighs anyway."

Me too. I guess.

 

[JustGary]

Dargo,

I'm not trying to pick a scab here, but his quote said *US* chain. Section 5.9 only says Grade 70, not "Made in the U.S.A." I think that was his point.

In any event, I have so far used straps for my tractor because that is what the dealer recommended. After reading your post, I decided to not do that any more. My wife just purchased grade 70 chain for me tonight. Thanks for helping us do the right thing.

- Just Gary

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( "Now I'm more confused than before but I'll continue to use the chains I bought that are each individually rated for more than my tractor weighs anyway."

Me too. I guess. )</font>

There appear to be a couple folks using Grade 43 chain, and I'm not trying to pick on anyone in particular, but I want to point out that just because a chain is rated for a specific weight, does not mean it can come close to dealing with the shock effect that a moving load can impart onto the chain. Take a 4000 pound tractor, slam on the brakes at 55mph and the rear chains are going to take a good shock, that shock is likely to be equal to something that is substantially more than 4000 pounds and will very likely exceed the working load limit of your chain by a wide margin. Take a potholed road and a trailer that bounces the tractor and you have the same effect. The shock load is something that is far different than the working load and is something you are not considering.

 

[Thorndike]

HighBeam; Unless you're using Gr70 chains and appropriate binders, please keep away from myself and family when on the road. I'm no metallurgist, but if I'm not mistaken, that Gr43 chain will stretch where Gr70 won't, thereby increasing the shock load our your rear tiedowns if you have to stop fast.
On that same note, I don't use my ratchet binders on the rear chains. Binders I have are rated below the chain WLL whuch I think most are. I use the binders on the front 2 chains. I'll load machine, wrap my chains [2] around the rear axle, then move tractor forward until they're tight. Then hook my front axle with J Hooks, run my chain thru the Drings, then use my ratchet binders to lash it all down. Machine with FEL and BB weigh around 5500#, I'm using Gr70 3/8" chain and appropriate binders.
Oh, I also suggest US made for the same reasons as Dargo.

 

[Thorndike]

The Gr70 Jhooks

 

[HarleyBob]

That looks like a neat setup(refering to the binder with chain unit
that Northern sells) but I think it makes you less flexible in your hookup than a chain and binder seperate.
This item :
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=122126&R=122126
looks like the best idea for a binder, since it has a locking option using a pin. Otherwise you are trusting it to stay locked or having to wrap with wire or leftover chain.