Chains Straps or Chains (or is this too personal?)

[rstcso]

Now that my tractor has been delivered and I have purchased an appropriate trailer, the question of whether to use DOT approved straps or chains has been haunting me. I have both, but would prefer to use the straps, but would like your opinions, thoughts and experiences. I have a FEL, rotary cutter and box blade. The cutter and box blade will be living on our property about 75 miles away, so they will make the trip once, but the tractor w/FEL will be making the trip and living at home with me. The roads are great, but there's about a 30 mile stretch of hills and twists and turns (posted 65mph, too).

 

[Will_C]

Brent; I use the 10,000lb rated straps. The advantage is that do not scratch or gouge the paint, so you can attach them anyplace. They are prone to fraying over time, so you need to keep an eye them. I think you will find most people are divided on this issue, some even using straps on one end of the tractor and chains on the other.
Will

 

[BigDave]

<font color=blue> The roads are great, but there's about a 30 mile stretch of hills and twists and turns (posted 65mph, too). </font color=blue>

<font color=purple> DEFINITITY CHAINS!!!! </font color=purple>

IMHO, of course. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[rstcso]

I did a search on this subject before I posted and found this to be very true. I didn't see as much on the straps, though, so that's why I did the post. I did find a lot of difference on how many tie points, where to locate them, etc. I guess I just didn't want to let the evening go by without somebody stirring up some kind of debate. Thanks to all. This is a great forum.

 

[DK35vince]

If you use straps,make sure they are not tightened over anything sharp.
I use chains because they just seem faster and easier for me.
But I always chain down at the same place on my tractor.
My bumper-grill guard and around the toe bar where a few scratchs don't really matter.

 

[dgood1]

Brent,

When I see the new tractors on the flat bed trailers going down I-20 they are all chained. If it's good enough for the truckers then it's good enough for me.

 

[Turfman]

Take a look at what the pros use. I bought straps and quickly converted to chains with binders. Everything I see on construction trucks and trailers is chained down. Don't forget to wrap the free end of the chain over the handle of the binder to keep it from popping open.

 

[RanchMan]

I've used both. Personally I like to use ratchet straps with axle loops (like race car drivers use) - one on each corner just inside the knuckle/drum assembly, along with a heavy chain on the back end of the tractor just for "backup." The axle straps work GREAT and are easy to get on/off with the ratchet.

I'll second the comment though about not having them near anything that can "chew" through them. Doesn't have to be sharp - any right angle can act as a blade or even something rough will "sand" through them. I've only lost 1 strap due to that (learning curve) in all the time I've used them.

Straps are great - I personally think they are easier to secure than chains but they do require a bit more thought - can't just wrap them around anything every-which-way and expect them to hold up (chains don't have this issue.)

I'd say in the end, it's 6 or 1/2 dozen - straps and chains can work equally well (I've seen truckers use both straps and chains) - both have +'s & -'s. For me though, due to convenience, I use straps when I can, chains when I must.

 

[Ozarker]

I use chains and binders. Straps can be cut by the vibration of the road if you inadvertently place them over a sharp edge. And it doesn't have to be a real sharp edge.

 

[Will_C]

I second the concern about the straps fraying. I am using plastic protectors on the strap and can be adjusted to ride where the strap contacts the metal.
Of course, I am hauling a BX. That does not have the weight of the tractors many of you are hauling. I probably would upgrade to chains with a larger machine.
Will

 

[pemad]

I use a Rachet Winch to hold my tractor in place. Real easy and dependable.

 

[buppy69]

I use 4 come-alongs. One on each corner.

Eugene

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

For my tractor I chain the front axle just using the clevis hooks then, with the tractor in neutral, I attach axle straps to the rear and use ratchet straps there. That allows me to get the load really tight and secure. Then I put the tractor in gear and engage the park brake. If I'm going a great distance I might throw an extra chain on each end just to be safer. NEVER have any portion of your ratchet straps touching anything. That's a task for your axle straps or chains. If you don't see a way to avoid that, get straps with chains on one or either end. For a good selection of high quality chains, straps, binders and just about anything else you could ever imagine related to towing or hauling check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.awdirect.com>AW Direct</A>.

Whatever you choose, make certain you stop a few miles down the toad and recheck your tie downs. As many years and as many vehicles as I've towed and hauled not a month goes by that I don't find something that's not as tight as I'd like when I do that little check. Would it really matter if I didn't re-tightne it? Probably not. Am I going to save that 5-10 minutes a trip by not stopping to check? Not in this lifetime. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[hosejockey2002]

I vote chains, definitely, You need a couple for dragging logs, and lifting heavy objects with your FEL anyway, and like the other guys said, the chains are not subject to environmental damage like straps can be. I prefer ratcheting binders over the lever type although they take a little longer to hook up.

 

[Kodiak]

Chains are also not subject to mouse damage like straps occasionally do.

Pro or con, what are your toughts on ratchet chain binders versus conventional chain binders?

 

[DK35vince]

Kodiak,
ratchet binder
Pro.-safer to use and don't flip open
con.-take more space to use,and take a little longer.

conventional binder
pro.-faster,
con.-can be more dangerous,a freind of mine moved equipment with a truck pulling a low boy trailer.
When releasing a conventional binder that was very tight,the handle flipped open pinning his hand between the binder and a dozer track crushing his hand.

 

[bgott]

I went to ratchets. It was durn near impossible to tighten the conventional binder between the tractor and box blade and then there was a time or two I found the binder on the rear flipped open. At the angle it set at the chain would slide off the handle and I wired it once and the wire broke. With the ratchets if it loosens up it doesn't come undone and I don't have to fight it.

 

[Ozarker]

I use conventional binders but have considered changing to ratchet type.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I feel the same way. I only use chains on the front end and don't use them for anything requiring me to tighten them down so binders aren't an issue. The ratchets make tightening so much easier I can't even imagine why I'd want to do it with chains and binders now.

 

[bubenberg]

we are in the lanscape business and have three trailers onthe road for most of forty weeks each year. we like a combination of straps and chains. they have both excellent and unique qualities.

across the motor block where your feed go we always use a strap with a thick rubber matt to smoothen the corners. the four corners we secure with chains and come alongs.

good luck