Ratchet binders

I caved in a pocket with a 5/8" chain and 5500 snap binder.. was it too tight? I only weigh 175 lbs, the chain was wrapped around the pocket in a swing back hooked to the chain.. brand new trailer.. smh..

 

I'm using WD-40 on mine now. I'll try the grease you guys talk about.

If you have one binding up on one side just stick the tip of your cheater bar through it and crank down on the handle until it breaks through that seized up section of threads. That'll save you alot of headaches.

As far as tensioning a ratchet binder as mentioned already you are capable of destroying your chains,trailer or even tie down points on cargo if you aren't careful with these. That is why my company will only issue ratchet binders to us doing specialized work with RGN's,Blade & tower trailers.

What i do and recommend is you get the chain to the point that it will no longer move or move less than an 1/16" and then leave it be.

Check your chains once in the first 100 miles. Normally at least one will need to be tightened further. After that you can quite often drive 3000+ miles without having to tension the binders further if your working with something that has solid tie down points.

 

If your in a real bind and can not find a good lube go the old school way.

Block of Butter or lard...

Great for clean your hands in a pinch too including tree turpentine.

 

Also like Fluid Film in spray can form. Sold in gallons and 5 gal. buckets too. Parafin-based lube/penetrant...stays put for months in binder threads, etc. Good all around lube, I use it to oil undercoat my vehicles before winter too. I spray it underneath the body, on frame, etc. with my air spray gun at home. Keeps the corrosion down drastically.

Found at any NAPA and all kinds of equipment dealers nationwide. Grey and yellow can.

Was actually developed by a US Navy sailor on a ship to keep things on board from getting ruined by salt water is the short story behind Fluid Film.

 

Now that's what I'm talking about. Newfie's know how to get it done.

 

You could fold your trailer in half of you wanted to with a ratchet binder. I rarely use mine, maybe every other month, so the cam is usually locked up, so I'll hit that and the threads with some PB blaster and drop it on the ground (works for freeing up the swivels on snap binders, too). One of these days I'll media blast all my binders and give them some matching paint and a good greasing. I've had the roll pin fall out of two of them, bent some threaded arms, and bent a handle on one, so I've got a parts bin going I'll have to Frankenstein a few new ones out of.

 

Aluminum... I though those pockets were rated over 5k lbs

 

Snap binders all the way. I had ratchets and told them I wanted snappers, walked into the shop Monday morning and 6 new snappers with locks and new chains in a pile with my name on the tag.....

I've put a few dings in the pockets of the flat deck for my roll off chaining machines down....not bad for 150lbs....just gotta know how to throw your weight around....