Safe load limit for chains

I didn't realise you were into that sort of thing? :)

How big is a chain? They're used to hold ships in place - but those chains are on the large side.

Black Rat (or somebody) do a 4WD recovery chain in a plastic pot for some silly amount of money – Rays sell them – take a look at that to get an idea of size required. Supercheap sell chain by the metre and the yellow pages should turn up any number of chain suppliers.

Loading? I guess any chain you buy from a proper supplier (ie. not Supercheap et al) will be tested for an SWL but how that would apply to the sorts of loadings when trying to recover a vehicle I'm not sure. Personally I'd buy the biggest chain Supercheap (or whoever) sell about 7 or 8mm diameter links from memory. The real advantage of chain in a recovery situation is that it won't turn into a flying scythe but just goes all limp and lies on the ground glaring at you :) Buy a few small shackles too so you can join it if it breaks.

Mike Harding

PS. Have you mentioned your new "interest" to Heidi :)

go visit your local slingrig or rigging/safety store.

The chain I have is 8mm, and whilst I couldnt get an SWL rating for it, nor could anyone at the slinging shops tell us. Apparently drag chain is different to any other standarad chains SWL. I was told it would be good for 4 tonne by a bloke at a safety store- and I havent found anyone that has said otherwise yet.

I found the pre-packaged chains were significantly more expensive than steel/rigging suppliers. Check your local one steel or fab shop too-
Its also worth getting one of each of the attachments- lug links, grab hooks and standard hooks- they all come in handy at some stage. I got an 8m and 10m and find the 8m is sufficient for almost everything.

Another option in the chain is getting calibrated stuff- more expensive, but you can grab hand winches for them that are dead easy to setup and you dont have half the hassles of a wire rope.

Gday iMusty

Your standard quality 8mm chain should be good for around 2.5 ton.

I wouldn’t be using it for minor recovery or towing by itself though as chain has no give and you will probably damage something. If using it to tow id put some largish gauge rope in-between 2 lengths of chain so you get a smooth pull and not a jolt.

The only time I have used chain (logging drag chain) is for pulling out stumps and moving fallen trees with a Ferguson tractor at the hobby farm, and I would not recommend chain for 4WD recovery if that is what you r intending to do.

I was 3m away from a chain that let go one night, I saw the sparks when it broke and the imprint in a Hilux tailgate after. I was lucky that I had moved away,it could have done some real damage to my ribs. Don't make a mistake they can be deadly Barnray

iMusty,
Is there any real need to use Chain? I’ve been in the offshore Industry for 13 years and there was a Total recall of all the Grade T Chain that we used for Lifting and Rigging Purposes due to Hairline fractures in a higher than average percent of chain slings, they require Re-certification if there dropped a lot and abused its a lot of hassle if you ask me. I know from Personal experience that chains don’t withstand the rigors of Dynamic load all that well compared to Synthetic Endless round Slings. there is a big weight Difference as well that you have to conceder! I have also seen the Sparks before the Break and the chain became one deadly weapon in my opinion! Would a tow strap suit your purpose or do you require a longer one they come in all sorts of lengths aswell I have seen them atleast 20m long but I would definitely speak to a Rigging Company like Sling Rig (If there Still Around!) or Aker Unirig or Bullavaunts.

All this is my own personal opinion!

HTH

chain will not only break it will kill I assisted a farmer remove a stump from a washout on a road I was on the tractor lowest posible gear a real crawl it was a large link at least 80cm it took the strain then snaped came back over the fuel tank leaving eight of an inch groove in the quarter plate steel, smashed my colar bone and through me over the bonnet, and we never even jerked on it

it parted on weld, any chain is only as good as the weld and it makes no diference if it has been tested because that very test may have weaked the weld

if you intend to take the darwin award just make sure everyone else is clear because it will break eventualy given the right circumstant, the car your pulling stalls and doubles the strain, the car your pulling surges forward then drops back this will do it everytime

cable will shred and lose some momentem but will still whip

nylon will whip but is at least light

I found the best was a snach strap but dont snatch just rock the vechical

or my favourite set up camp and dig or raise it up but then I do not go near the alps, desert forever

frank

ps this is no joke 3 months. shoulder reconstruction. concusion all for doing something I would have never done normaly just trying to help

I got a 5m length of 3/8" truckie tiedown chain with some rated hooks. I got it from a feed store near where I worked in Townsville, and it was quite cheap compared to the pre made ones in the 4x4 shops.
I only occasionally use it as a load equaliser when winching as I prefer nylon for every thing else. It is lighter, easier to work with, easier to spot damage in and kinder to the delicate hands.

But you can't beet a chain when it comes to skull dragging a log back to camp for a good fire.