Four Points Of Contact

when i was delivering tractors and other farm equipment, i always used a seperate chain for each of the 4 points. i copped some flack for that from one of the guys, but i just told him it wasn't his behind on the line if something when wrong. some of the roads around here are pretty rough, and if a chain happened to snap (pretty unlikely, but you never know), i'd prefer to be left with 3 points of contact rather than only 2.

 

While it's been a few years since I skateboarded, the only time I used two instead of four on wheeled equipment was if I was using the ends of the chain as tailchains, i.e. the center of the chain was slack, which is functionally equivalent to four chains. The new securement rules require four tiedowns on anything over 10K with wheels or tracks.

 

And there's your answer!

 

Did they change the wording of this from what it use to be that you say it has to be 4 and not 2 intermittently?

(1) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, heavy equipment or machinery with crawler tracks or wheels must be restrained against movement in the lateral, forward, rearward, and vertical direction using a minimum of four tiedowns.

Why wouldn't 2 chains = 4 tiedowns if used separately with the slack in the middle? I'm curious because I still primarily use 2 chains and will consider cutting my chains to be compliant.

 

Correct, 2 chain, 4 binders, slack in the middle of each chain = 4 tie downs. If in doubt as to the validity of this method, a way to prove it is to loosen off one binder, and see if the other binder on the same chain loosens off too. If done right, it wont.
Those that use 4 full length chains crack me up, there is absolutely ZERO advantage to it vs 2 binders per chain, with slack in the middle of the binder positions. Rookie method maybe? Dunno...

Martin

 

Ive ran my chains both ways and have been DOT'd and not one time had an issue running 2 chains using tail ends to meet the "4 tie-down" requirement, not saying I'm legal, more simply stating dot in several diff jurisdictions never questioned my methods of securement!! On my heavy stuff I normally run 5' x 1/2" 100 gr at all corners plus the ratchet binder anyway as well as the articulation point!

 

Need 4 binders if the load is over 10,000#'s but you can use either 2 or 4 chains. It's your choice.

I use 2 chains/binders on skid steers and forklifts under the 10k limit.

I purposefully bought six 5/16" chains and cut them in half. So now I have twelve 5/16" x 10' long chains that I use for securing vehicles. Lighter this way and goes much faster. I usually don't even have to hop onto the trailer

 

SCH I cant remember what 5/16 looks like (LOL)

 

I love my 5/16" chains. I have 6 and 6 3/8" chains that I always use last.

My 3/8" chains are a few feet shorter then the 5/16" so I can't always split them.