Proper chain size and grade?

[bigtiller]

Don't spend 4$ per foot on chain, home depot sells it for $36 for 20' with two ends.

Everbilt 5/16 in. x 2 ft. Grade 7 Tow Chain with Grab Hooks-882 - The Home Depot

 

[N80]

That is a good idea. But, I need open hooks with the spring loaded catch. I have seen some of these chain kits with one of each type of hook on the end so that might be an option. I have a pair of long bolt cutters but not sure they will work on 5/16 inch chain.

However, as mentioned above, I might just try doing this with the ratchet straps I have. The problem was ratcheting them down with the ratchet handle so close to the bumper and flat down on the deck of the trailer and ratcheted to almost its minimum length. I think I'll set the straps at minimum length, drive car up closer to the front than it needs to be, attach the straps and then let the car roll back to put tension on them. That way I would not need to work the ratchet handle at all. It still might be too fiddly and if it is I'll try the chains.

Just curious, if bolt cutters won't work, how hard is it to cut this grade of chain with a hacksaw or angle grinder?

 

[bigtiller]

A die grinder or an angle grinder will do the job in under a minute.

 

[GLyford]

Angle grinder with a thin cut-off wheel will do it easy. I haven't tried the hacksaw, but I suspect it would do it, you might just have a dull blade at the end. But if have the grinder, that gets my vote.

You might still be able to use the prepackaged chain with the grab hooks if you have room to loop the hook through and back onto the chain on the trailer side, then you would only need your other hooks on the car side.

 

[dalroo]

I bought a couple of the Home Depot chains and hooks are held on with cotter pin. Easy to remove.

 

[ClaySlayer]

If you don't have a Home Depot close Lowes sells the same chain for the same price. Took about 30sec per cut with my $15 Harbor Freight 4 1/2" grinder with a cutoff wheel. And at that price ($36 for 20') you probably still come out ahead even if you remove the hooks and use another kind.