Chain size 5/16 or 3/8?

From a purely observational point of view 3/8 chain when tied down well will not have any visible movement, while 5/16’s seem to stretch a little and you can see vibration on them.

I’m not questioning their rating, just less confidence inspiring when going down the road.

 

I bought my 5/16’s back in 1987 ….. used from an O/O that retired. The quality today isn’t close to the quality back then. I don’t have those issues you say with my chains. I carry 6 3/8’s “shorty’s about 3’ long.

 

Each.

 

My train tractors have around 400’ total on them between 5/16”, 3/8”. The 30’ are all 5/16”. The lowbed tractors carry 10 20’- 3/8” and at least 4 12’-1/2” to keep the math down on big crawlers.

 

I carry mostly 3/8 but I have two full 20’ 5/16 I carry, Other than the reduced WLL and noticeable difference in weight I don’t notice any difference in characteristics. I just hauled some cable reels (light ones) and used my 5/16ths on two sets and they stayed just as tight as the others.
I keep thinking I am going to pull all my full 3/8th out and load up 10 5/16ths full length and maybe 4-6 3/8th 10 footers

 

In the long run it really doesn’t matter. The chain is only a 16th different. This is minor. The thing your missing is the total of the securement. What is the binder rated at and also the point of securement. The total is the question. Most trailers, pockets and spools are rated at 3k, so do the math from that. Always look at the lowest point, then work from there.

 

Good call, how do you hook a 3/8’s chain on the lower rated spool and pockets ? Do you wrapped out like 3 or 4 spools to make it legal?

 

This is why the actual manufacturers manual/specs or what have you, is so important. The below graphic is from the Fontaine Trailer I pulled at the time and their reference material for the older non routed rub rail, this references using the older spools and pockets: