Looped tiedown chains?

[bcp]

I think I posted this link a year or so ago for another reason. Anyway, I ran across it again and this time noticed that most or all of the chains are looped. I can't recall ever seeing this on an equipment trailer. Most often the chain seems to be hooked to the trailer and load, with the binder in the center to tighten the chain. Sometimes the binder is hooked to the trailer or load.

Any comments on this method?

Load and Tie Down of Three Damaged Locomotives



Bruce

 

[CalG]

Half the strain of the load for most of the links, but those links turning the corner take abuse.

 

[LD1]

Can get twice the force with the ratchet binder too. Like a block and tackle.

 

[tcartwri]

I use a modified version of this. You have to be really careful to keep the parallel chains separated so that they don't rub each other because they will damage each other in short order. And then you have to retire the chain.

 

[Oliver1655]

It also cuts the number of connections from 4 to 2. (chain is not hooked to it's self, just the binder.)

 

[aczlan]

And means no hooks needed on the chain (less $$$ especially if you have to frequently replace it)
Is that a locomotive that is being moved?

Aaron Z

 

[LD1]

Yep, a locomotive. Its in the link if you click on it.

 

[BrinkME]

http://www.tea.army.mil/pubs/nr/deploy/fgpamphlets/pam_55-19.pdf

I'm reading it right now . . .

 

[breadtrk]

That manuals brother for trailers

http://www.tea.army.mil/pubs/nr/deploy/fgpamphlets/PAM_55-20.pdf

 

[bdog]

You have to be careful that the chain can slide freely to get tight. I have secured things in this manner before and have had the side of the chain loop that the binder is on not get tight. Depends on what you are wrapping the chain around if this might be an issue or not.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I think this is because the DOT wants the load to be shared by each "leg" of the chain. If you think of it this way, a large object sitting on a trailer starts with a chain connected one side of the trailer, then passes over the load, and is connected on the other side of the trailer with a binder somewhere in there to take out the slack. Each leg of the chain only sees half of the load in theory.

I believe that if you fix the binder to a trailer, and connect it to a load with a short length of chain, that they only give you credit for 1/2 of the WLL of the chain; which is total BS. Someone else can jump in here and cite the FMSCA if they want to.