Chain requirements heavy equipment

You can still use 5/16 chain you just need to use about 30 of them.

 

WLL of 5/16 G70 is 4700lbs, as a direct tie down your WLL is cut in half, so each direct tie down is 2,350lbs WLL. 20,000lbs needs atleast 10,000lbs WLL securement. 2,350 x 4(minimum required for 10,000+ machine) = 9,400lbs WLL of securement, so you will need to add atleast 1 more 5/16" G70 chain to meet the Aggregate ( sum of all chains WLL ) weight requirements. Note that your securement of accessories such as blades/buckets etc is not to be used in calculation of your aggregate WLL

 

LOL my post was meant as a joke. I don't even carry any on the truck. All 3/8 and 1/2 inch for me. We do have a couple of trailers that have 5/16 in the boxes and that is nice when hauling scrap, much lighter to throw over the load.... LOL

 

Haha I know your post was a joke, I meant to quote Bdog last post and my stupid smart phone wouldn't let me. Most of my stuff is all 1/2" with 5 3/8" that I use for accessories like buckets or blades, hell even when I have my stinger stacked up it is secured with 1/2"

 

I started out with 5/16 chain because it would be the minimum anyone would carry. Regardless of chain specs, on that machine over 10000 lbs, 4 points of securement is required.
That means if you have a 12000 lb tractor and 1/2 inch chain, you would need 4 points.

^^^^^^^Thats the point of the whole exercise. Cover the mandatory 4 points for the vehicle over 10000lbs, and then cover for the weight. Got a couple PMs asking for clarification on whether or not 5/16 would even be legal to use.

Note: most stepdecks and flats will have the spools and stake pockets and D-rings rated at 5000 lbs. the heavier duty ones will have 6000 lbs. It makes using half inch chain useless because no matter the strength rating of the chain, you go by the weakest link, which would be the trailer.

There's the tricky part of the whole exercise. A chiller is big and heavy, and has limited securement points. You could be picking up something 11 ft wide, 44000 lbs, and only 5 places for securement, direct securement only. Your heavy haulers will carry a set of clevises. For chillers, I use a set of 9.5 ton clevises. If you are pulling such a load on a step, with the 5000lb pockets and spools, use your 3/8th chain, and use 2 chains per clevis.

"That sounds like a lot of work"

Hence, the stronger heavyhaul trailer with the much stronger securement points which allows you to use the WLL of the bigger chains to the fullest.

 

How do you interpret the following:

Unrated and Unmarked Anchor Points

FMCSAs cargo securement rules do not require rating and marking of anchor points. While the agency encourages manufacturers to rate and mark anchor points, the new rules do not include a requirement for ratings and markings.

- See more at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/cargo-securement-rules#sthash.q9yOdLBt.dpuf

That seems to contradict your point about securement points and their ratings.

 

If there is no marking, they have a base rating. So even if its a 1" chain and it may be grade 7, its still only worth x amount.

 

My post was specifically referring to anchor points on a trailer not unmarked chain.

 

Interpret this: you have a 30000lb coil loaded suicide on a trailer that has the stakes and spools rated at 5k. You use two 1/2 inch g70 chains and binders to secure it. Do you feel legal or do you feel lucky?