checking your tie down gear

Ok, I saw a thread about checking your straps for wear and such, but have question for everybody.
How often do you really check your chains?
I mean really check them.
The reason I ask this,is I had a couple of chains where I had them drag and ruined a few links.
I set them off to the side so to speak making sure not to use them on a ld.

So today I get out my cut off tool to remove the bad links.
Then I get to thinking, it been about 6 months since I really took each chain and looked hard at all the links.
I found several links on one chain that were kinda stretched, stress. Cut them out. Now new tail chains as I do not like add a links.
Then spotted one chain that had a slight bend in the link.
Cut that one out. More short chains.

Some times we just kinda glance at them and it looks great, but how often do you guys and gals really take the time to go over each chain and look at them link by link?

 

Yep, that's the thing.
Most of my chains I updated last year. So I have mix of some new and some old.

Just glad I allways carry more than enough tie down gear.
Took 1 20' 1/2" chain and cut it down into 2 now.
So now I got like 6 short chains. I call them tail chains as they are now less than 8' long, but they can work in different tie down spots.

 

Yes, you can buy the replacement links. Just never been a big fan of them.
I just make short chains out of them and buy new longer chain..