Chain requirements heavy equipment

I get that. Bad example. Its the same idea, the anchor points that do not have a marking default to x number.

 

so whats the default number?

 

Good point. I swear I had seen it some where, but now that you mention that I can't find it anywhere.

 

4000lbs?

 

I've been commended by a couple of different state DOT inspectors for the way I've secured machines before...not blowing my own horn here...just using those examples as a good guide that I was doing things the way they wanted, and beyond.

For example, one time I had a big Allis Chalmers HD21 dozer on, weighed 70,000 lbs. if I remember right. I used 1/2" "man-killer chains" on anything big like that. I used 4 of them in a cross pattern front and rear, and also (very important,) I use a chafe protector so as to not have the chains touching each other where they cross. I use either firehose that I cut and slip the chains through, or some sort of padding between them. I crossed a Virginia scale with that beast a 1/2 hr. after I loaded it, and the scalemaster asked me to pull around back...I said "Oh geeeeez, here we go..." He came out back and said "I'm not scolding you, I wanted to take pictures of the way you have this thing chained down so I can use it as an example in the next training session we have here..." Huh...I was dumbfounded at that one, but it sure felt good.

I can't remember the exact WWL of the chains and binders off hand now, and don't have time to research it, but I almost recall the 1/2" grade 70 being 15,000 lbs. WLL and the binders were a little less. remember also, the binder may be the weakest link in a set of chains you're using, so compensate for that loss.

So I had approximately 60,000 lbs. of WLL securement on that dozer with those 4 chains, then I added a couple of extra 3/8" grade 70 chains through the sprockets, straight across and down to the D rings. That covered the entire % of securement required anywhere. They also want 60% of the securement to concentrate on the heavier section of a machine; so an excavator needs more chain towards the side that the boom is resting.

My personal rule of thumb has and always will be, "put all you need on it, then a couple more...it only takes another 5 minutes...and you can go down the road without a problem."

I used to haul nationwide, equipment from east to west, and back. Crossing so many scales and inspections...I just didn't want the aggravation of dealing with some yahoo cop telling me I didn't have enough chains. I overkilled everything, still do. Last thing you want is a problem. I figure if something only requires two chains...put three. If one snaps, you still have two left. Same goes for straps in my opinion. Throw an extra one on...we need the exercise anyways, lol...

 

I hate to tell you but your math is way off. Not doing this to bust your chops but rather to keep some newbie out of trouble.

WLL for 1/2" grade 70 chain is 11,300 pounds. At the most you had 45,200 pounds of WLL with those 4 chains, not 60,000 pounds like you stated. Secondly you did not specify if you use direct or indirect tie downs. If you used direct tie downs then you only had 22,600 pounds of WLL. Then you mentioned the binder may be the weakest link. That is very true. While our chain is rated at 11,300 our binders are rated at 9900 pounds. So in essence your numbers could be a few hundred pounds lower. Then add in 2 each 3/8 chain at 6600 pounds and assuming these are indirect tiedowns and the 1/2 chain is a direct tie down, solely based on your description, you had an aggregate WLL of 35,800 pounds. Even if you used the indirect tiedowns for the 1/2 inch chain, you are still only at 58,400 pounds of WLL.

Now 58,400 is more than enough to secure the dozer but a far cry from the 73,200 pounds of wll that you thought you had. The only reason that I am pointing this out is that if your wll is off you can be under chained. I am attaching the standard wll right out of the regulations. Or rather what JJ Keller pulled out of the regulations and concentrated into one document.

Again, I am not busting your chops but rather trying to keep someone out of trouble with incorrect information.

 

Where do you come up with this?