Question about chain

Several years back I was at my parts and equipment supplier, it is now a fleetpride, but back then it was an independent shop. I needed some chain hooks, and they brought me some chinese ones. When I noticed, I ask if they didn't have some American made ones. I am an American made buyer and usually they stocked American if they could. He told me yea, we have them but you don't want them. I, thinking he was talking about price, told him I did want them, so he tok them back and brought me some JUNK, that I wouldn't have put on a dog chain, he laughed and went back and got my chinese ones. lol

 

I don't know that I have ever had a chinese chain, but all chain I have had has not been equal either, regardless of rating.

 

If the price was not a crazy amount of difference, I would probably go with the USA.
Probably 90% of my trucking has been open deck, and to tell the truth, in over 40 years I do not recall the dot ever checking the rating on my chains or binders, just see if they were tight is all, and that there were enough of them for the weight.

 

Ron you must of misunderstood me. I cut 25' chains in half to get 12.5 foot chains out of it. 10 foot will work 90% of the time but the 10% of the time they don't you are going back to drag 4 more out of the head ache rack you are gonna be cussing yourself.

It really comes down to what are you gonna be hauling. Until you know that i suggest staying as versatile as possible. Can always cut another 2 ft off them later if you find a regular run that only needs 10 footers.

Oh and make sure your short ones for equipment and wheels are 3/8ths grade 70 or better. You only get half credit for direct securement. That's means a 5/16ths us only good for 2350 lbs. That won't even do a armored humvee or decent sized lull store fuel lift. Nothing sucks more than having to drag out twice the number of chains and binders cause yours are 1 size to small.

 

It has been years since I have had the need to buy any chains, and should never need to again,,unless I get stupid and buy a lowboy.

A lot of flatbed companies sell gear to their oo's and at good prices. I don't know if they still do, but some of them used to but a 55 gallon barrel with one chain in it and cut it into what ever lengths they wanted. It seemed like it was a lot cheaper like that..
If you have a friend leased to a major carrier you may be able to get a good discount.

I once bought all the flatbed gear off of an oo whose truck had broke down again and he was giving it back to the finance co, including headache rack and side boxes. I bought a trailer off another one, well actually from the bank, but same deal.

 

I have both Chinese and American made. Personally with chain I cant tell much of a difference. Both are nearly identical in size, the American chain is maybe a hair bigger and just a tad more weight.
left 2 are American right 2 Chinese. Both 3/8.

With binders theres definitely a big difference. The American made are bigger and all around made much much better. Yellow Chinese Red American.


On these chinese binders under the lever switch is that little nipple. Once that breaks or gets stuck or whatever the binder is unusable. Which has happened to me more than once.

On these American binders under that lever switch is a little spring type clip that hooks on to one of those two nut&bolts that's on the handle. Much easier to use. I believe if it does break you can undo those 2 bolts and put a new clip on it. So far I've never had issues with these.

Eventually I'll have all American made, well worth the extra money IMO.

The American Chains & Binders are made in Tennessee from a company called Columbus Mckinnon.

 

That the yellow binder is made for 5/16ths and 3/8ths. The red is made for 3/8ths and 1/2 inch. Binders always fit two sizes of chain.