Recently issued Circular on shackles

rockylizard · Guru

Recently issued Circular on shackles

RustyD · Guru

What I've been looking for is a heavy duty carabiner for a while now (quick add and release). Saw them on a large trailer with a dingo-digger on last week stopped next to me at traffic lights.

www.google.com.au/search
and look at the "images".

Kebbin · Guru

Rusty I think you will find that all state road rules mention attaching safety chains with shackles, so this would probably rule out carabiners of any sort.

macka17 · Guru

Carabiners are TOO easy to stretch the threads. and bind.

A few of us tried them on yacht rigging\sheets. Fine on smaller sails,
But with large. Heavy usage. They tended to stretch and bind after a while.

Shackles are proven safer and better. over a lot of yrs.
in ALl sizes.
sized to suit of course.

We used some huuge ones in lifting. I usually carried up to 20 in my shackle box on crane.
Sized to suit whatever crane capacity it was.
Stainless are NOT a good idea either for snatch loads.

If you do want them. Go on net to marine chandlers.
They'll have some. (Whitworths, maybe)

Did anybody watch AUST\France game tonight.

Lots of mishandling the ball by our "professionals".
But congrat's on a good. Points win.

TONGA\NZ. is the one to watch I reckon.

RustyD · Guru

Carabiners on safety chains are not under stress like on a yacht. They don't so much stretch but potentially snap. They are available for industrial purposes but by the time they can hold what a shackle can, they are too big to go thru the chain loops.

PeterD · Guru

Nothing new there. In the past it was rated failure loading of the shackle must be 1.5 times the mass of your van. The failure load of rated shackles is 6 times their rated working load. If you do your maths with the figures in the table you will see that it concures with the previous stated in the forums.

Hylife · Guru

More of the same old wives tales that have been spread around for the last 5 years.

There is no legislation, yes that's right, zero laws, about the shackles that you use to connect your safety chains.

The only laws are the 2006 ADR 62/00 - Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles.
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2006L03054/Download

The ADR references AS 1872-1976 "Safety Chains for Trailers and Caravans" and AS 4177.4 1994 Safety Chains up to 3500 kg capacity"

Whilst the method of fixing the chain/s to the drawbar are covered in depth, neither the ADR or the AS mention anything about the method or shackles you should use to connect the chains to the vehicle.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2006L03054/38e68a92-8b24-4483-b080-898e679d0662

This is just unsubstantiated bullsh!t reporting/scare tactics/rumour/old-wife's-tales by hack journalists to sensationalise a lot of something about nothing, perhaps to get you to buy more cr@p you don't need.

Go read this article if you want the truth.
https://www.goseeaustralia.com.au/news/818-national-rules-short-on-specifics-but-south-australian-police-urge-rated-shackles-for-towing-safety

El Gringo · Senior Member

No, this is an article giving advice only, even stated in the article that there is no obligation to comply.
However it seems this recent circular might be the start of new regulations to come.

Thanx for posting the link.

Kebbin · Guru

Jumping to conclusions Hylife, the article mentions Australian Standards purely as a guide it doesn't mention Road Rules for shackles, but it is clear to me that there should be a standard Australia wide. I think from memory Qld do specify rated shackles, could be wrong.

RustyD · Guru

I read all the requirements of attaching chains to vehicle and it was all about failure and strength of the connection. The requirements used shackle sizes as an example, not as a requirement. That is why Ive been looking for a carabiner to do same job. Have issues with both hands (accident related) trying to hook up a shackle.

macka17 · Guru

Rusty.
Weld a small inverted hook on Drawbar above shackle mounting point.
Hook chain on that leaving end coupla links swinging.

You only have to take weight. movabilty of those few links then???

Maybe.

In the crane. moving. Towing game. we have "rated " chains, shackles,Wire ropes and slings.
for just that.
EVERYTHING is rated, even the rope and wire slings we spliced up.
(Number of tucks per end Per Dia of rope,
Try splicing an 8 wrap ship towing rope sometime. (Square Rope)
THAT is interesting. The first coupla times.

As to Not using weaker than load capacity equiptment.

Shackle rated to chain. rated to load.
Use under rated. lose load. YOU ded meat.

ANY accident on a crane. You step off. Licence suspended till.
Sorry getting off course.
Just saying PLEASE use rated gear. SAFER.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Rusty,
The best I would suggest to you would be to visit one of Dept of Transport (or equivalent in Victoria) inspectors, explain your predicament to them & see if there is a suitable solution. I agree with the others in that "normal" carabiners are not designed to take the weights that caravans exert in an emergency.

I'm able bodied but at times I find attaching shackles difficult - mind you adding stone flaps hasn't made the situation easier! And some towbar manufacturers insist on tucking the bar under the body too!

--------------------------------

macka17 · Guru

Hey.
When doing so, above.
Ask if "maybe" you can have a rated shackle welded to drawbar cross beam. inverted UPwards.
To REPLACE the hole we use in such.
All you have to do then. Is drop link of chain over fixed end of captured shackle,
then insert ONE end of pin through such. Maybe????.

It'll only be an open ended link. No different really.
to the hole cut in rail. Which will also be stronger with the weld added all round it.

You never know.