I have a Lincoln SA 200 with safety chains on it. My receiver hitch only sticks out about 8" from the pin slot. Total weight, 1700#.
The two safety chains on the trailer are 3/8" chain with large slip hooks. They are so long that even with a knot in each, they slightly drag the ground. The slip hooks just go into the round eye on either side of the receiver. They do look a little light, like 1/4" thick.
The chains were welded on the welder frame with what looks like 7018, and look like they'll be there except for a direct hit with a Hellfire missile.
I want to shorten them, and change from the slip hooks. Right now without a knot in them, they drag the ground for about six inches. With a knot, they barely clear the pavement.
I know that I must leave them long enough so that I don't run out of chain on a tight turn, but these are just way long, even with a knot in them. I think I'll replace the bigger than needed slip hooks with shackles. The big slip hooks look like if they were to get bouncing around, they would come off. Grab hooks would be a little better, and I could mouse them on, but that would make changeout a time consuming thing. And they still have the potential to come off in a tussle.
So, I think I'll just keep the bigger than necessary chains, shorten them, and put shackles on them.
But how long do I cut the chains? Is there a rule of thumb about length? Height above the pavement? Measuring them so they can't be pulled totally straight and taut on a tight jackknife? They are old chains, but good ones, and I would like to keep them, but have only one chance to get it right, unless I cut them too long, then I get more than one.
Any guidelines or cites?
And when hooking up safety chains, do they go parallel with each other, or criss cross? Should they be short enough so that if the trailer drops off the ball, the chains support it, and the tongue doesn't drag? (I need a new tongue/ball receptacle device, too, but that's no biggie.) Should they be put on with closed fasteners such as shackles? In the worst, do you want the trailer to stay attached, or be able to go off on its own trajectory?
I have seen some doozy "safety chains" from 1/4" rope to porch glider chain link to boat anchor rope. I've seen them wired together with baling wire, Dollar store soft metal keychain carbiners, welding rods, those screw closed D-ring things that take a cutting torch to get off once they're torqued (if they plain don't break from shearing). Anything's good that will bring the thing to a successful stop. I just like having three times working load on anything I rig up. A couple of very short socketed wire rope slings would work, but they would be spendy, and I think the proper chain would be as good.
I want something that's going to bring it to a 195% damn sure stop, or release it if that's the best way.
At times, I am pulling a 1500# bass boat, and another time a triple tandem that's pushing 10,000#. The sizes of the restraints would vary, but there has to be some general guidelines on length, how close they come to the highway, etc.
Just want to do it right.
Steve
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