trailer safety chain vs. cable

[crispyboy]

I have a travel trailer (8300 gvw) that I wanted put new safety chains on.
I saw some vinyl coated coiled cables advertised.
What do you guys think about safety cables in lieu of safety chains?
If the cables are acceptable, are there any quick attachment device where I could keep the cables indoors during the off-season?

http://www.pacifictrailers.com/boat-trailer-safety-hitch-cables-for-12000lb-cap/

Opinions please!

 

[TLane]

I like the snap hooks, I replaced the cheap hooks on mine with snap hooks.



Make sure the cable can't kink if it ever gets used - if it kinks as a load is applied it will most likely break.



I used a "quick link" on mine - kind of like a carabiner only with a threaded section that has a coupling nut on it to close it. You could also use a screw-together clevis.



Links for reference pictures of what I'm talking about:



Shop Blue Hawk 1/2" Chain Quick Link at Lowes.com

 

[TLane]

Actually, I used the wrong term... Instead of clevis, I should have said shackle:



Shop Blue Hawk 1/2" Chain Shackle at Lowes.com

 

[crispyboy]

Most of the quick links I have found so not have a high enough weight rating. I'm in Class 4 territory and needs to be at least 6000 lb or greater.

 

[HBarlow]

Vinyl coated cables will drag on frequent occasions wearing off the coating and will eventually drag enough to wear through the cables.

Safety chains work great and sometimes nothing beats the old tried and true methods and materials.

 

[GCroyle]

Harvey,



My AS has chains from the factory, they could drag a bit. I'm supporting them roughly in the mid point of the loop with a short hooked bungie cord crossing over the stinger, just enough to lift the chains a bit.



A Rookie's comment.



Gary

 

[BIGNASTY]

If chains with the hook are to long and hit the ground. Try twisting the hook before you snap it on the hitch each twist shortens the length of the chain. Try that with a cable it wont work. On mine I twist each hook/chain 2 times and have yet to have a problem.

 

[Bob4x4]

If chains with the hook are to long and hit the ground. Try twisting the hook before you snap it on the hitch each twist shortens the length of the chain. Try that with a cable it wont work. On mine I twist each hook/chain 2 times and have yet to have a problem.

I had to to that last week-end on a rental equipment hauler

 

[crispyboy]

I was told by an engineering type that twisting chains can actually amplify the load (torsion) put on a chain when it is put under load. A chain is designed to be loaded on the end of each link.



Anyway I will probably stick with chains but I need to extend them.

Does a repair link get squeezed together only or should it be tack welded?



View attachment 80595

 

[BIGNASTY]

I don't know about Automobile and the trailer chain but Just smashing them will not pass the DOT on class 8 trucks.

 

[mwilson]

This is far better and stronger... .



Mike.

 

[JMetzger]

mwilson, where do you get the CM Hammerlok shown in your post?

 

[mwilson]

Columbus McKinnon is the manufacturer, we use them up here on the choker cables that go around the butt of the logs when they are brought out of the woods behind a skidder.



Manufacturer link here, as you can see there are many different ratings of them.



Columbus McKinnon - Search Results for hammerlok



I just checked Grainger, they offer a few...



CM - Grainger Industrial Supply



This is the primary use for them up here... . to replace the chain links at the end of the cable choker...

 

[Jim W]

Columbus McKinnon is the manufacturer, we use them up here on the choker cables that go around the butt of the logs when they are brought out of the woods behind a skidder.



This is the primary use for them up here... . to replace the chain links at the end of the cable choker...

Mike,

I have not heard that term since the late 80's when I was working in the forestry section of engineering at Cat.

Jim W.

 

[mwilson]

Old School Loggging with a cable skidder and chokers... ...



A&S LOGGING, C6 TREE FARMER - YouTube



Mike.

 

[NIsaacs]

It looks like A&S was using log chain instead of chokers We used two sets of chokers per machine so the choker setter could pre set the next drag. A good one was invaluable and a bad one could hang you up every time:-laf



A good log cutter that fell to "lead" could also save you an incredible amount of time and a bad one could fall the trees in a big ole mess!



Nick

 

[mwilson]

I couldn't find a video where they were using cable chokers that could be seen, I figured that one at least would show the basic theory.



Good spot there Nick.



I thought that they were a messy bunch limbing right in the twitch trail ahead of the skidder.



We used to have 15 crews or so working in one area and it was amazing to see how some crews were organized and others were just a disaster... ...



Mike.

 

[Bill Stockard]

The timber was harvested on the place across the road from us a couple of months ago. They used a feller buncher feller buncher tigercat - YouTube like this one, a tree delimber to cut the limbs, a log skidder with a grapple, and a knuckle boom loader to load the log trucks. It was all mechanized.



Just this week, I can hear them in the distance harvesting another forest.



Bill

 

[NIsaacs]

Hummm... . "twitch trail" I never heard that term before, must be a Maine thing:-laf It was just a "skid trail" for us. Swamper, choker setter, stob, landing man, or jill poke were some terms that I recall.



Mechanized logging is an awesome way to log now days. It can really produce the timber if it is small and you have relatively flat ground, very expensive tho. It don't work on big timber or steep ground.



Nick

 

[mwilson]

Worker's comp insurance rates helped bring the mechanized logging into favor as well.



Hand crews simply could not afford the premiums at the end. .



Mike.