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  1. #16
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    N.W.Tasmania
    Posts
    1,407

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    Michael, it may pay to check the regs, but I have the feeling that lifting chain, (grade 80, or grade T) is not legal for small trailers, and the long link chain with identifiers every 4 (I think) links must be used. For trailers over 4 1/2 tonnes, again from memory does use lifting chain such as Herc-Alloy, but for some reason not smaller trailers. I'm not sure of the reason, but their thinking may be that lifting chain is heat treated, and so can not be welded to the trailer. Instead it must be fastened to welded on lugs with a hammerlock or similar approved fitting. The long link trailer chain is not heat treated, and will be I assume a low carbon steel alloy, like mild steel, and this can be welded without loss of strength and toughness. Personally I see no reason why lifting chain of appropriate rating, and suitable fixings could not be used, but the guidelines appear to me to say otherwise.
    RT

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Emerald Central Qld
    Posts
    349

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    Is it illegal to pin safety chains to a trailer as I like to make things easier for me to repair , like when someone borrows the trailer and lets 1 or both chains drag on the bitumen .
    Or those who like to not tie the shackle pins with a cable tie after fitting the shackles, stops the pin from getting lost .

    I may be guilty of overengineering some things , but I can say that I have not had a trailer come away from the tow vehicle since I started building things heavier.

    Michael

  3. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    N.W.Tasmania
    Posts
    1,407

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike4 View Post
    Is it illegal to pin safety chains to a trailer as I like to make things easier for me to repair , like when someone borrows the trailer and lets 1 or both chains drag on the bitumen .
    Or those who like to not tie the shackle pins with a cable tie after fitting the shackles, stops the pin from getting lost .


    Michael
    I'm not sure just what you mean here Mike, are you saying that the use of a hammer-lock would be illegal, and if so just how are we required to anchor the chains? With lifting chain, the links are way too small to allow a shackle of similar lifting capacity to fit through them without using either pinned fittings or a hammer-lock, as an intermediate step. How is it done on heavy trailers which do use lifting chain?
    I can well understand your wish to use pinned fittings to replace damaged or abused chains when required, it would make it pretty simple, - no cutting or welding, just a pin punch and ball pein hammer and new chain and job done in 2 minutes. Again I can see no good reason for officialdom to intervene here.
    RT

  4. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

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    Google is your friend. Look at state govt motor vehicle sites. They should have PDF files covering this. I downloaded the one relating to trailers from SA years ago. All the details are in there including chain type and attachment. Much of this is standard across the country now but try your state to be sure.

    Dean

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

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    Individual State regs should be a thing of the past now. VSB 1 is a National standard.
    https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/..._b.aspx#anc_16
    Within VSB 1, it references ADR 62/01 Clause 14 Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/01 - Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006
    This states that for a 3500Kg trailer, each attachment point must withstand, without permanent deformation or cracking, a longitudinal force in Newtons of 9.81X 3500, or 34335N, which equates to 3501Kg according to my conversion program. The vertical load required is half this figure.
    The main restrictions on attachment to the drawbar are that shackles are not permitted, welding is allowed up to 3500Kg ATM and the weld must cover 50% of the circumference of the link and not restrict movement of the next link, finally, lifting chain (Grade T), must not be welded. Lifting chain and Hammerlocks are fine provided you do not weld the lifting chain on.
    This would tend to rule out the use of a 1 tonne rated shackle in my opinion as, even allowing for a 4:1 safety factor, 4000Kg is way too close to 3500Kg for a setup that would let me sleep soundly at night.
    PS. Don't forget breakaway brakes are required above 2000Kg ATM

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