Chain Rating

[JohnRowehl]

This is some old tow chain I got when I cleaned out the barns after my father passed away. I was curious about the markings on it and if it was from an old rating system; specifically the “M” and I., N., R.

 

[caterpillar guy]

IF the chain has the original hooks I would say it is a hi test chaine with would be good for 4300 Instead of the 6600 that grade 70 id rated for. Still can be used for tie down workj just have to keep in mind that it will need an extra chain or 2 to make up for the difference in strength. You could tie down a D-8 Cat with sewing machine thread if you can put enough on.

 

[JohnRowehl]

Thanks. Yes, I was making an assumption without knowing otherwise that the hooks are original to the chain.

I am not going to use this chain for securing tractors or equipment on a trailer. I bought all new grade 70 chain for that.
Still curious about the M and INR markings.

 

[john in la]

There are several marks a manufacturer needs to put on a hook or chain.
A logo or code letter that lets the manufacturer know the hook was made by them.
Also codes that show what testing was done.
I assume and guessing that what you are seeing is just such marks.

The thing you are interested in is the size 3/8 and the grade.
High test is the old grade marking for grade 43 that is used today.
The marks on the hook only apply to the hook. The chain should also be marked.

 

[caterpillar guy]

If you look closely it looks like a G 43 on the link in the first picture. I meant the G43 not the 4300 those would be close to the working load limit of the rattings on the chains by grade. It is right above the hook tip.

 

[john in la]

G43 3/8 is rated for 5400 lbs
G70 3/8 is rated for 6600 lbs.
If used in the typical 4 point tiedown where the chain goes from the equipment to the trailer you need to divide those numbers in half.
If the chain is used on the rear of the equipment stopping movement in the forward direction you need to cover 80% of the load weight.
If on the front only stopping movement to the rear or side you only need to cover 50% of the loads weight.

So a G43 3/8 chain used on the rear of equipment in the typical 4 point tiedown is good for a 6750 lb load (6750 x .8 = 5400 = 2 chains one on each rear corner rated for 2700 lbs each) G70 is good for a 8250 lb load.
As said if your load exceeds these weight you can still use the smaller chain you just need to have more than the typical 4 tiedowns. You might need 6 or even 8 chains.
While we are on the subject I will add that things like a front end loader or a brush cutter need their own chain even if they are connected to the tractor.

 

[caterpillar guy]

And those ratings never made sense to me in that the chain is good for the 6600 in the G70 in a single line whether it is fastened to the trailer on one side or to both sides. And most trailer attachment points are not even rated. As a former Motor Carrier this made no sense and if you double the line by hooking to one side of the trailer then hook to the other side and tie off on the cargo with a binder to each corner it should still hold the same. Where I see the difference is when you see guys hook 2 chains to the same point on the trailer to hold an item down like a coil of steel or other heavy single item so all the force is on the single point instead of hooking to 2 different places with each chain. No matter whether it is on one side or both sides. Why would a chain hooked to one side connected to the cargo then back to the opposite side be any stronger than one chain on each side or using the long loose end on the opposite side with a loose swinging section in the middle unladen. And also there is no rating for track pads and they are hooked to all the time on tracked machines with either just the binder or a chain from one ssoe to the other or just to the rail of the trailer from the inside of the track pad. I am guilty of doing that and also tried to have a couple chains from the tie down hole in the middle of the base to each side on excavators. Dozers I would hook to a pull point on the machine in the rear if they had one . Front I hooked to what ever was available to hook to that was solid even just the track pad since some things would require even crawling in underneath to find a hook point. John I have read your explanations for years here with good background on the information you post in these issues as explained by motor carrier requirements. Just never found some of the requirements to be real logical by the guys writing the requirements who probably never loaded anything on a trailer to know any of this. One of the stupid ones was the strap over the side rail then in about a year rescinding that. Most trailers at that time had no provision to hook other than on the rub rail and going to the bottom of the main frame like I would have had to do could have been catastrophic in results if it ever were to high center on something even slightly. I never did conform to that one since there was no place other than my rub rail to hook to. Now I could see needing to tuck the hook down behind the rail then up around so the hook was the rounded corner the strap went around rather than the corner of the rail. This held up on the hook with tightening and made as smooth round edge for the strap when done. As posed to just hooking the hook on the top of the rail with the strap up the inside and hoping the hook didn't come loose. I never liked nor used straps if I didn't have to.

 

[john in la]

I don’t agree with some of the rules either but as they say rules are rules.

Another thing that doesn’t get talked about a lot here is regular freight not on wheels or tracks. Things like pallet freight or lumber.
This would also include tractor parts.

Less than 5 feet AND 1100 lbs needs 1 chain.
Over 5 feet OR over 1100 lbs needs 2 chains.
Over 10 feet needs 3 chains.
Over 20 foot needs 4 chains.
And so on.

So if you go to the lumberyard and buy one 2x4 24 feet long to be legal on the way home you have to tie it down with 4 separate chains and binders or 4 separate straps.

How crazy is that.

 

[G1000VISTA]

Heavy equipment hauler I drive some for hauls a lot of dozers and excavators with just four binders to the rail. Say a Cat 320- 336 size. one big binder on each corner, a chain across the boom and away you roll. Been thru many scales that way and they green light it every time. Never understood the chain across the boom. With the bucket curled in between the tracks there's no way the machine can swing. I have always heard and did the every ten feet needs another chain. But I tend to throw extra chains on to be safe.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Yes and those pads that many hook to can be folded over with the weight like that. Big thing is the lack of rating for the trailer sides. Also how much do they really think those cam over with a little lever like they use for load locks in van trailers really do most times I found them later laying on the floor where the twist of the trailer sides would let them wiggle out and fall. And a skid of anything with much weight will just plow them out of the way like a dozer pushing dirt. E rack bars are a different thing. they lock into a track fastened to the sides of the trailer. And the bars are a square extruded aluminum tube with the mechanisms in the ends and pinned. Reefer work is the scourge of the earth work and vans are the poor mans box freight. I suppose somebody has to do it but it sure is cheap for freight work. Get treated like a third class person doing warehouse work like vans and reefer .
G1000VISTA of course the size of the chain matter on the just 4 chains. 4 Half inch chains would be a big different story compared to 3/8 and even 5/16. I had to laugh one time a Landstar driver came up to me and said I must haul a lot of heavy equipment with all those 3/8 chains I had hanging in the rack. I said not really just what the guy had when he sold the whole shooting match to me. I bought chains binders,straps and tarps from him for a set price. I also added to that over the years so I had about 15 chains and binders with about that many 4 inch straps and a few 2 inch straps. Only had the straps because some places with some loads would not let you use chains like transformers and crane boom sections for a couple. Yes and that 1 strap on less than 1100 LBS and we've all seen how they can twist under even a chain on rough enough road. I guess I always figured if it needed 0 chain it probably would stand 2 just as easy to hold it down. Duals are another thing I saw a guy loas a pair on 90 Just a few miles east of the MN/SD scale headed west one evening. Straps were loose as he crossed the scale. Was looking for somebody to pick them up and bring them in so he3 could reload them. I mentioned to him where I had seen them laying in the median as I was already by them. Brick is one that needs a full corner board from top to bottm to keep them from working out in the lower level of the cube. I had those I put on when I was going to be going where I would be possibly loading a load of them. Had a guy why I didn't have this or that one time.I told him If I had everything everybody wanted me to carry I would need a second truck running around with me to haul it. He didn't like that so well but was the truth.

 

[G1000VISTA]

Yes and those pads that many hook to can be folded over with the weight like that. Big thing is the lack of rating for the trailer sides. Also how much do they really think those cam over with a little lever like they use for load locks in van trailers really do most times I found them later laying on the floor where the twist of the trailer sides would let them wiggle out and fall. And a skid of anything with much weight will just plow them out of the way like a dozer pushing dirt. E rack bars are a different thing. they lock into a track fastened to the sides of the trailer. And the bars are a square extruded aluminum tube with the mechanisms in the ends and pinned. Reefer work is the scourge of the earth work and vans are the poor mans box freight. I suppose somebody has to do it but it sure is cheap for freight work. Get treated like a third class person doing warehouse work like vans and reefer .
G1000VISTA of course the size of the chain matter on the just 4 chains. 4 Half inch chains would be a big different story compared to 3/8 and even 5/16. I had to laugh one time a Landstar driver came up to me and said I must haul a lot of heavy equipment with all those 3/8 chains I had hanging in the rack. I said not really just what the guy had when he sold the whole shooting match to me. I bought chains binders,straps and tarps from him for a set price. I also added to that over the years so I had about 15 chains and binders with about that many 4 inch straps and a few 2 inch straps. Only had the straps because some places with some loads would not let you use chains like transformers and crane boom sections for a couple. Yes and that 1 strap on less than 1100 LBS and we've all seen how they can twist under even a chain on rough enough road. I guess I always figured if it needed 0 chain it probably would stand 2 just as easy to hold it down. Duals are another thing I saw a guy loas a pair on 90 Just a few miles east of the MN/SD scale headed west one evening. Straps were loose as he crossed the scale. Was looking for somebody to pick them up and bring them in so he3 could reload them. I mentioned to him where I had seen them laying in the median as I was already by them. Brick is one that needs a full corner board from top to bottm to keep them from working out in the lower level of the cube. I had those I put on when I was going to be going where I would be possibly loading a load of them. Had a guy why I didn't have this or that one time.I told him If I had everything everybody wanted me to carry I would need a second truck running around with me to haul it. He didn't like that so well but was the truth.

Ten four. We use half inch and bigger chains. And ratchet binders instead of cam overs. Those things need outlawed.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I figured it had to be a bigger chain or risk a lot for just 4 chains. As for the lever cam over binders.I set them first then tighten the ratchet binders to get everything set. No pipes on the lever that way. I was not hauling excavators that weighed in over about 45,000 so never had to worry about the chain size over the 3/8 though I did think about having a couple for the detach trailer. They would not have fit in the cutout slots in the frame for tie downs. 3/8 was all that would fit and if hooked in the stake pockets the hooks might not have fit in them. It's a Landoll trailer. I do like it though for loading no climbing.

 

[trackrat]

we always put safety wires on our snap down binders

 

[caterpillar guy]

I believe Canada still requires that from what some of the drivers I talked to said. This was a few years ago now though. I just wound the extra chain around them.

 

[will-max dairy]

IF the chain has the original hooks I would say it is a hi test chaine with would be good for 4300 Instead of the 6600 that grade 70 id rated for. Still can be used for tie down workj just have to keep in mind that it will need an extra chain or 2 to make up for the difference in strength. You could tie down a D-8 Cat with sewing machine thread if you can put enough on.

Or 75 zip ties...

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7510043352805575982

 

[JohnRowehl]

Or 75 zip ties...

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7510043352805575982

I think 1 clevis would be faster and also reusable.

 

[will-max dairy]

I think 1 clevis would be faster and also reusable.

but you still gotta give the chain or strap a little twang, slap the load and say... "That's not going anywhere."... that increases the tensile strength by 150%. Just ask any dad.

 

[will-max dairy]

I don’t agree with some of the rules either but as they say rules are rules.

Another thing that doesn’t get talked about a lot here is regular freight not on wheels or tracks. Things like pallet freight or lumber.
This would also include tractor parts.

Less than 5 feet AND 1100 lbs needs 1 chain.
Over 5 feet OR over 1100 lbs needs 2 chains.
Over 10 feet needs 3 chains.
Over 20 foot needs 4 chains.
And so on.

So if you go to the lumberyard and buy one 2x4 24 feet long to be legal on the way home you have to tie it down with 4 separate chains and binders or 4 separate straps.

How crazy is that.

Sounds about right. Where are you going to put one strap on a 24' long (any object) to guarantee it doesn't twist enough to stick off the side of your flatbed?

 

[Non-farmer]

I don't have a trailer hitch and I have a 6 and a half foot box. I am NOT buying any 24 foot 2x4s. 10 feet is my limit, and I Ilet it rest on the top of the closed tailgate and tie it down with Home Depot twine

(Plus, of course, the obligatory red flag which The Ho is kind enough to provide )

 

[john in la]

I don't have a trailer hitch and I have a 6 and a half foot box. I am NOT buying any 24 foot 2x4s. 10 feet is my limit, and I Ilet it rest on the top of the closed tailgate and tie it down with Home Depot twine

(Plus, of course, the obligatory red flag which The Ho is kind enough to provide )

And you are legal.

10 ft long freight or less requires 2 tie downs.
The twine at HD is strong enough to hold down a few 2x4s so you are covered there.
And here is the catch phrase in the law.
A headache rack (the front of your pickup bed) can substitute for 1 tie down.
So the front of the bed provides one tie down and the HD twine provides the second tie down.
Get something 10 ft 1 inch long and now you are in trouble because that requires 3 tie downs.