Chains Straps or Chains (or is this too personal?)

[Steven]

I use chains that i put through an old piece of fire hose so that it does not scratch up the contact points on the tractor and tighten down with binders.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

One of the new straps lasted 15 minutes from the dealership before it got cut by a sharp edge. Dealer gave me another one, but I use come-alongs on the front and the back. They work fine for my short distance travel from storage to property. I installed a ring loop under the front of the tractor and attach the hook to this. In the back the come-along goes over the mower bracket and then is cinched down. Not a burp going down road. I will not use straps anymore.

 

[rstcso]

Thanks to all. Gary in Indiana, I bookmarked the AW Direct web site and will take a look. I took the tractor out last night and got back a couple of hours ago. FYI, chain on the front and strap on the back. I like the idea of the fire hose to keep from scratching the paint. I have a conventional load binder, but will probably be getting the ratcheting style. Of course, my wife has told me that since she bought me the tractor, I can't say "Now I need (/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif) this...". How realistic is that?

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Not realistic at all! Buying a tractor is kind of like buying a membership at one of those warehouse club stores. It's merely a license to go spend more money. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Phred]

I agree with the chains and ratchet binders. The fire hose idea is a good one. I have seen canvas chain covers that would achieve the same effect.

I have used all of the above and never have a problem with the ratchet binders and chains.

The straps are enticing since they are so easy, but I do not use them for anything that weights more than a couple hundred pounds. Just not safe in my opnion.

The convetional binders can come loose on rough roads even if you wrap the chains around them.
Fred

 

[Inspector507]

For those of you looking for a quality axle strap, check these out. $9.99 each w/5,000 lb rating.

 

[Inspector507]

One with a sleeve over the strap for protection, but at $21.99 each

 

[radar54]

I trailer my tractor every week. I use chains and load binders that need a pipe cheater to get closed due to being so tight. Never had a binder flip open or any other problem.

Whatever you use, never unolad the tractor on any grade other than perfectly flat ground.

Jeff

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color=blue>"I do not use (straps) for anything that weighs more than a couple hundred pounds. Just not safe in my opnion."</font color=blue>

I'm not sure I understand why you don't think straps are safe for something heavy. A very high percentage of flatbed loads on the interstates are held down by straps. I use ratchet straps for vehicle tie downs all the time. In any situation I find I can get straps tighter than I'd ever be able to get chains and binders. There are so many more adjustments available with the ratchets as opposed to binders. Binders have to adjust by no less than one chain link while ratchets can make many incremental adjustments in that same space.

As far as working load limits (WLL) you can certainly get the same WLL with straps as you can with even grade 80 chains. I can't imagine what any of us will be hauling that might need any more than that. The only possible advantage to chains that I see is that chains are more difficult to cut or damage. There are a number of ways to eliminate those problems with straps. They're certainly far less likely to damage the load you're securing, too.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Jerry,

I'm not trying to 'one up' you here, but for about half that money will sell you a 36" axle strap made of 12,000 lb. rated latex webbing in a protective sleeve with a 10,000 lb. rated 1/4" Delta ring. All of their 5,000 lb. straps, sleeves or not, are under $10 each. They're primarily a supplier to the racing industry and have a variety of tie downs. Between them and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.awdirect.com> AW Direct, a great source for towing and recovery equipment accessories, I can cover about any of my towing and tie down needs. /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif I've had excellent service from each and feel confortable recommending them. I hope this helps. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Inspector507]

ary,
No worries here about "one upping" me. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Those are nice as well. I just knew about the ones from Jeg's because they're local to me.

 

[Phred]

Gary,

If you use the ratchet binder with chains then you can get them very tight. Just as tight as that strap.

As one of the other guys mentioned the conventional binders that are tighneted with a cheater bar will also get them very tight. I just think the ratchet is safer since it can not flip open even in an accident.

I should clairfy my thoughts on the straps. A brand new strap is not the issue. However, after you use it a while it will get frayed a bit and thats what worries me.

I have some 10K binding straps but much prefer the use of chains since the chains will last far longer.

Fred

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Fred,

I don't doubt that ratchet binder will get your load tightened down well. I totally agree with you that frayed straps are not a good thing. I'm sure you agree with me that chipped, bent, cut or damaged chains aren't either.

I've had some straps for years without the first sign of fraying or wear on them. The key, as with most things, is to be careful with them and use them properly.

My straps come in contact with nothing other than at the hooks. I don't run them over or around anything. It's always a straight, untwisted line and I make certain the trailing end of the strap is lined up when I'm tightening the ratchet. I always secure any unwound trailing strap so it doessn't flap around.

I'm sure that if I'd started with chains I'd think them superior. I started with straps and love them, especially when I have to carry a pair to the back of my trailer and they're clean and LIGHT. ;o)

 

[ScottAR]

In the name of being helpful, I snagged this lovely tidbit on another board I frequent. Chain sizing:
"Strength of steel chain.
I looked up this information on the web. There are several grades (and prices) of chain. Below are a couple of common types and their respective maximum safe working strength. You would need a few good tie-downs to hold a D8 on the deck of a float if it decided it wanted to get away.

PROOF COIL CHAIN
Welded chain, made from basic steel. It is a general purpose chain for average lifting, pulling or restraining applications requiring neither a maximum of tensile or impact strength. Zinc, Self Colored or Hot Galvanized finishes.


PROOF COIL CHAIN
Trade Size Inches Working Load Limit Lbs.

3/16 750
1/4 1250
5/16 1900
3/8 2650
1/2 4500


HI-TEST STEEL CHAIN
Welded chain, made from a higher carbon content steel, with a good strength to weight ratio. It possesses a tensile strength far greater than basic steel chain and is highly resistant to abrasive or cutting action and normal wear.


HI-TEST STEEL CHAIN
Trade Size Inches Working Load Limit Lbs.

1/4 2600
5/16 3900
3/8 5400
1/2 9200 "

The way this info is applied is take the total weight of whatever your binding and divide by the rating of the chain. This number gives you how many chains to use. Hope this helps someone out.

 

[RobS]

Brent, I use some of each. If the hookup is conducive I'll lean toward chains as they do seem more solid. If I can't get a decent line without risking damage I'll use straps. I carry both in my trailer box and either is just as quick/easy to use.

The most important consideration is to "make your load one with your trailer" /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

One more thing... ratchet binders versus over-center binders; over-center chain binders depend on some stretch of the chain and/or compression of the load to work. I find they don't work well for short links to very solid objects (like a box blade sitting on the trailer deck). For those situations I use the ratchet binder as it will get as tight as you need and stay that way. I also carry a long pipe to "help" with the over-center binders /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[rstcso]

Thanks again to all. I bought another chain and ratcheting binder. Also, someone mentioned using a firehose to run the chain through to protect the paint. While at Lowe's, I asked someone if they had something similar. Suprisingly, he showed me a flat 1 1/2" "discharge hose". I guess it's used for the output of a pump. Anyway, it's very durable and less than a dollar a foot. The only problem I could see with it, it's <font color=blue>blue</font color=blue>. It didn't come in <font color=green>green</font color=green>. I guess I'll have to deal with it /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif.

 

[DocHeb]

<font color=blue>Also, someone mentioned using a firehose to run the chain through to protect the paint. </font color=blue>

I've used old bike inner-tubes to protect paint from chains. However, the chain doesn't dry out well unless it is hung vertically.

 

[Phred]

Gary,

I agree with you if you take very good care of the strap.
However, I must confess that I tend to chuck them into the back of the pickup tool box, and I am not as carefull with how I strap things down. Bottom line is that they fray over time.
Chains are much more tolerant of abuse.

Fred

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

The most common chain I use is 3/8 grade 70. WLL on 3/8 grade 70 is 6,600 lbs. The straps I use are 5,000 lb. WLL. My trailer weighs 2,000+ so I'm not hauling any more than 5,000 lbs. anyhow. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif With four tie down points of 5,000 WLL each I think I'll be OK.

I have some heavier chains up to 1/2 grade 80 with an 11,300 lb. WLL but reserve those for pulling something out of the mud or snow. Something someone else got stuck, of course. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Fred,

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I tend to be rather **** about caring for my straps so for me they work out great. I have some pretty old straps that look pretty new still with no real evidence of wear. I like the infinite adjustments. I also appreciate the cleanliness and light weight of them as many times I'm not dressed to handle dirty and rusty chains (and, as I said before, those things are HEAVY! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif