Securing <span class="highlight">shackles</span> on trailers
Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 11:52
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Member - Andrew (QLD)
After running out to the local hardware store to buy some more
shackles for our local volunteer organisation, i figured someone had to come up with an easier way to secure the pins from being lost. :(
We have several boat trailers, an 8x5 box trailer (with a poor independent
suspension setup IMO), and several other trailers which come and go at times.
None of them seem to have a shackle on them when required, either due to being left on the other vehicles or losing pins when manoeuvring them around the shed/property.
Apart from tightening them better, and instructing others to look after them....is there any alternatives to prevent loosing pins and/or
shackles? Is there some concept to ensure that the pins don't become lost?
Thanks in advance.
Andrew
Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 12:00
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 12:00
Gday,
Weld the shackle on to either the tow vehicle or the chain and put a dob of weld on the pin so it cant come all of the way out?
Go back to the old pig tail type set up.
Cheers
Hairy
AnswerID:
386860
Follow Up By: Shaker - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 12:15
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 12:15
Pigtail is illegal.
FollowupID:
654429
Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 13:30
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 13:30
Maybe so, but Im sure like anything, there will be something similar that will pass regulations if you change the design a little.
Find the regalations in your state and Ill come up with something.
Cheers
FollowupID:
654433
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 13:50
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 13:50
Thanks for the ideas. We will stay clear of pigtails etc as (if they are legal) it only fixes the problem with the vehicle, not the trailer per se. we transfer trailers to other vehicles so
shackles on the trailer is the preferred option.
The "welding of the pin" has given me an easier idea.........maybe a cable tie on the pin where the thread finishes. Off to try out that idea.
Andrew
FollowupID:
654437
Follow Up By: Member - Timbo - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 14:42
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 14:42
Hairy, I understand 'pigtails' are illegal because the chain must attach to a closed loop so that it can't come off by itself (ie. not without you undoing a shackle). Perhaps also the 'pigtails' can uncurl if ever called upon!
Andrew, you could try a short length of string/fishing-line/similar: tie one end through the hole in the end of the pin and tie the other end around the middle part of the shackle (if you tie it tight, the 'eye' that the pin goes through will prevent the string slipping off). Perhaps before tying the second end, you could pass the string through the end loop of the chain.
Image Could Not Be Found
Failing that, try sweeping the floor of the shed - you might recover some of those lost pins :)
.
FollowupID:
654444
Follow Up By: Member - Timbo - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 14:45
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 14:45
Just thought I ld clarify - don't use it as pictured! Obviously you will still need to put the shackle through the end of the chain (the string won't be strong enough for that! LOL but it might stop the
shackles going missing)
FollowupID:
654445
Follow Up By: Tenpounder (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 15:16
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 15:16
Congratulations, Timbo!! a simple, cheap idea that should work. Might even allow the use of rated
shackles (see below), which would make it legal as
well.
FollowupID:
654448
Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 16:04
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 16:04
As per the sketch, but use gal or s/steel wire and loop it through and crimp the wire, as you do with rigging on a boat.
FollowupID:
654454
Follow Up By: Nargun51 - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 17:02
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 17:02
If you use wire you will need a swivel at one end, or make the wire fairly long; you have to allow for 3 - 4 360 degree rotations
FollowupID:
654461
Reply By: Member -Signman - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 13:45
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 13:45
H/D carabiner ??
AnswerID:
386875
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 13:55
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 13:55
Yeh, we have HEAPS of them floating around, just don't know of the legal ramifications. Last time i looked, it mentioned
shackles as the joining method, no real mention of other options IIRC.
The springs on the gates of the crabs go and the gates seize in our coastal environment often, so would like to avoid them if possible.
Andrew
FollowupID:
654438
Reply By: Tenpounder (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 14:21
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 14:21
Hi there. On the topic of what's "Legal" I have read that
shackles must be RATED to be legal. So I tried to buy some rated
shackles to replace the hardware
shop version, all to no avail.
Local hardware
shop: 'uh?'
the internet 'uh?'.
Perhaps if you visit industrial chains and fittings websites, but watch for the prices!! I'm sure you can buy rated carabiners from mountaineering outlets, but I'm also sure you can not substitute the hardware
shop anodised aluminium versions.
I suspect the average volunteer organisation would have a cash flow crisis if it sought to buy rated
shackles, and then replace them as they got lost, week after week.
AnswerID:
386877
Follow Up By: PradOz - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 14:27
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 14:27
rated
shackles are at BFC and most 4WD outlets but be prepared to pay for them. even the smallest rated ones are so expensive
FollowupID:
654442
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 15:37
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 15:37
Expensive? I don't see that being the case in the smaller sizes.
Paid $5 for a rated (for lifting) 1.5t bow shackle and $5 for the 2t D
shackles yesterday....they had ran out unfortunately and this is normal prices. BCF, 4wd outlets etc are 2 hrs away....bit hard to run down to the
shop and grab one when we need it ;)
Andrew
FollowupID:
654450
Follow Up By: Tenpounder (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 15:56
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 15:56
Thanks, Andrew, for the useful update of info. Perhasp I should have tried a bit harder!
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:30
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:30
lol nah, responding to my question was greatly appreciated.
Andrew
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Willem - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 16:08
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 16:08
I use springloaded clip on hooks on both trailers. Have been doing so for years with no issue.
AnswerID:
386888
Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 16:52
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 16:52
Gday Willem,
Yeah...me too, carabeena type clips, but look out ........are they rated? Have you done a course in safe use of carabeenas and are you licenced to use them...Mmmmm I think not...... Me either. Hahahahahaha
The thing I find stupid is the
shackles apparently need to be rated, but then the
shackles usually get bolted to a little bit of 5mm plate on one end, and welded to the "A" frame with spoggy $hit on the other.....LOL
Cheers
Hairy
FollowupID:
654460
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:38
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:38
That bird- bleep weld holds quite
well i hear Hairy LOL.
I hear you Willem, it's just that we need to be doing the right thing in all eyes...the first chance someone gets to complain then we are left defending our actions. I was involved in one nose to tail accident once where they wrote off our boat.....there was some scrutinee of all our connections and components which i had done correctly.
Seems to be a double standard sometimes when it comes to "joe blow public" and local/state/federal government entities.
Andrew
FollowupID:
654470
Follow Up By: Willem - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:53
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:53
Ok then Andrew, go buy a rated carabiner or take an unrated one to an engineer and get it rated.
I just had a look at carabiner on the net and it looks nothing like what I am talking about. Mine looks like an upsidedown figure 8 with a spring loaded side in the larger loop.
Yeah I know you have to obtain a certificate in OHS to even look at one but luckily we mere mortals like Hairy and meself can go the easy way....LOL
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:57
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:57
I know what you are talking about Willem...seen them around the place.
Oh to be a mere mortal like you (and hairy) :)
Andrew
FollowupID:
654475
Reply By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:48
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 18:48
Am I missing a point here? Why do the pins get lost?
The only reason I can think of is maybe because the pin is not tightened into the shackle each time, whether on duty or at idle.
I found that the small flats on my shackle pins did not permit enough grip to tighten securely or to undo if they become self-tightened. It was not always convenient to use a pin or wrench for purchase so I fitted a sturdy key-ring to each pin to provide finger purchase. I had no further problem.
Seems to me that if the pin is not tightened and can be lost then it may
well become undone in use with attendant problems!
AnswerID:
386903
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 19:11
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 19:11
....because we have 50+ people of various levels touching the
shackles for various reasons.
Shackles go missing on trailers due to theft at boat ramps etc. (high people to boat ratio)
We also move the trailers constantly due to a small shed and they seem to disappear into the dark unknowns.
Andrew
FollowupID:
654478
Reply By: Fatso - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 21:55
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 21:55
You can get
shackles that you can not remove the pin from.
Try a marine
chandler. I have got some stainless steel ones that have irremovable pins.
AnswerID:
386948
Follow Up By: Fatso - Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 21:56
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 21:56
Got
mine at whitworths.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Mandrake - Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 14:27
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 14:27
how about a small rubber o-ring placed titghly on the pin after its gone through the first eye of the shackle - That would stop it falling out and still allow the chain to move on the pin ?>
Mandrake - Its all magic to me !!
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Mandrake - Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 14:28
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 at 14:28
Not titghly - s/be tightly - SHEESH
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 11:55
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 11:55
Thanks Steve, i tried the idea yesterday though had forgotten that most
shackles have a narrow opening (probably due to strength requirements) and the thread is almost this width in many cases. Placing a cable tie or o-ring here doesn't let the threaded section to clear the opening enough. :(
Andrew
FollowupID:
654712