ramp chain broke

[firemanpat2910]

As I was pulling my 20' trailer Sunday, 60 mph, 4 lane rd, I had just moved to the inside lane to pass some one who was turning right. the chain on the passenger side ramp broke (where it is welded to the trailer) and the ramp started dragging the ground. Talk about sparks!!!! luckily I only had the post hole digger and drag blade on the trailer, NO tractor. I tied it up and finished my work then welded a new chain on. I then checked all the links on the other chain. they seemed fine. It never occured to me to check these chains very close. I do my walk around before hauling but I only check that the ramp end of chain was set in the t groove . I never thought to test the chain. scared me bad enough that I will be building solid arms that pin on and still keeping the chains as a back up.

 

[Soundguy]

Glad it turned out ok. Reminds me of when i was hauling my allis 'g' home from a couple counties away, when i happened to look in the rear view mirror just in time to see black rubber and smoke explode from the passanger rear tire on my tandem trailer... You get that sinking feeling pretty quick.. especially on the interstate!

Soundguy

 

[Highbeam]

Equipment can fail on any of us. All kinds of unexpected stuff can happen whether it is brand new or tried and true.

 

[wushaw]

If you have it welded directly to the trailer, the welded link will be weaker than the rest.
They make these little link thingys that that kinda look like a hat that ya slide the chain link on then weld the link thingy to the trailer.
I saw a box of these things sitting on the counter at a trailer store here in Dallas once and couldn't figure out what they did so I asked and got a good answer, I have never seen them on any production trailer.

But then again your chain may have broke elsewhere and it just needs replacing