safety chain question

[rickasbury]

My safety chains are a hot mess. My chains themselves are I'm sure sufficient but the ends are just some S'S from a box store, have no idea of the strength. On the hitch side I'm good on my f 150 and the hitch has the receivers fot the safety change and the proper rated hitch/receiver and ball. What do I get for the chain ends so that connection is not the weakest link which I'm sure it is. The chain looks to be of the size I see on other setups. I'm assuming chain link size = strength. I'm close to 10k going down the road.

 

[redneck joe]

My safety chains are a hot mess. My chains themselves are I'm sure sufficient but the ends are just some S'S from a box store, have no idea of the strength. On the hitch side I'm good on my f 150 and the hitch has the receivers fot the safety change and the proper rated hitch/receiver and ball. What do I get for the chain ends so that connection is not the weakest link which I'm sure it is. The chain looks to be of the size I see on other setups. I'm assuming chain link size = strength. I'm close to 10k going down the road.

when shopping for shackles they are rated

 

[dingbat]

The hooks are the weakest link. The “S” type hooks are the worst of the worst.

The class 4 hitch on the F150 has poor/inconvenient chain connection points.
Ended up buying a set of shackles for ease of connecting chains of adequate strength.

 

[Pmt133]

On our f150 the hookup for the chains is way back on the reciever and the the pin is located further out than normal. Ball sticks out further and chains that are normally "proper" length on every other vehicle we own are usually nearing too short on it. More an inconvenience than anything.

 

[rickasbury]

when shopping for shackles they are rated

So, you don't understand how little I know about this. Good thing my towes have been local and 35 mph- but I want to get everything straight. So these shackles would replace my S hooks...my tow hitch, which was factory, I had no issues connecting the s hooks to the hitch..i mean you have to get down there but never saw it as a problem...I'm not following how the shackles will attach to the hitch or is it one on the hitch and one on the chain? I'm 10k ..

 

[redneck joe]

so maybe i missed it but why replacing the S hooks?

 

[rickasbury]

so maybe i missed it but why replacing the S hooks?

I have 10k behind my truck...so if it comes off the ball, those s hooks will be straight line no hook!

 

[redneck joe]

i'm not the expert but they are designed for what they do. Not sure how to tel the rating on them but i've always had S hooks.

 

[rickasbury]

i'm not the expert but they are designed for what they do. Not sure how to tel the rating on them but i've always had S hooks.

We may not be talking about thr same type s hooks...these I can barley get one end into the chain...these are a hardware item like you'd hang something with..I'll look at e trailer, I'm really missing something simple. I'd like to get it a little cleaner looking but mainly to make sure I'm safe. I would like to make a trip down to both SE and SW FL, not real far from me but I want 0 problems from my trailer! My son in law, who has the money to just buy another trailer rather than service it, with his Contender on top...his son was pulling it in the neighborhood and a wheel fell off. I think he is pretty good about getting things serviced but it's been on the road a lot this summer. I have another thread on serving my bearings and brakes which I'm still working on...waiting for parts.

 

[redneck joe]

i think best bet is to start your own thread about your specific issue.,

 

[rickasbury]

Here is what I need for a 10k traiker. I have to measure my chain but I think I'm 3/8". Current S hooks would only be go for holding up the chain! One other thing i learned was that chains are chris crossed so in the even of seperation, they would cradle the trailer tounge.

 

[Jeff J]

10K behind an F150? They must have really upped the limit on the newer trucks. Mine legally caps out about 7500 pounds.

 

[flashback]

Towing capacity is all over the place depending on how the truck is equipped. Ford offers multiple Towing packages.

 

[rickasbury]

10K behind an F150? They must have really upped the limit on the newer trucks. Mine legally caps out about 7500 pounds.

Mine is actually a 2006...5.4 3 valve motor , 4.10 rear end. And 2wd! I see guys with superduties spinning wheels at the ramp dropping jaw when I ease mine out of the water. I'm not going cross country with it and I'm in Florida- but it's a great truck. I am for sure right at the limit and if i lived in the mountains I'd have a superduty.

 

[dingbat]

10K behind an F150? They must have really upped the limit on the newer trucks. Mine legally caps out about 7500 pounds.

My 2015 crew cab with 3.5 Ecoboost and heavy payload package is rated to #11,700

 

[Pmt133]

Yeah, our 22 is rated up to 12k or something like that. Realistically it runs out of payload way before you get close to its "max" but it'll comfortably do things in the 7-9k range no issue.

 

[airshot]

When pushing tow capacities to their max, strange things can and do happen. I have always taken 20-25% off those limits and have never had a problem. Been towing for over 60 years and always keep things on the safer side. Had to push a few limits when towing for the company I worked for. Those limits made for some scary tows even though the ratings were within range. Ratings do not include poor road or weather conditions, and we often estimate our load weights and then driver skills come into play. Far less chance of issues, easier on your tow vehicle if you drop 25% from your max tow rating, it will make the tow easier and safer.