- PRODUCT
-
-
-
-
Tow Chains
Trailer operators carry a specific kind of chain to do their job. In addition to those tow chains, tow straps, hitches and other equipment that operators need to safely rescue and transport disabled vehicles. But to be sure, not all chains are suitable for towing. The trailer operator must select the tow chains.
Keep in Mind Two Most Important Factors
There are two factors to consider when using chains to tow or lift overhead.
i. Tensile Strength
The first is tensile strength, a measurement of how much force an object can withstand before breaking. That is where the grading comes in. A higher-grade tow chain can handle more force than a lower-grade tow chain.
A G70 grade is capable of handling 700 newtons per square millimeter. It might elongate somewhat during towing, but it is unlikely to be compromised under normal circumstances. G70 chain has a strong enough tensile strength to withstand the punishment delivered by most towing operations. Having said that, it is not strong enough for safe overhead lifting.
ii. Working Load Limit (WLL)
The second factor to consider is the working load limit (WLL). Although this measurement is similar to tensile strength, it is not quite the same thing. Working load limit measures how much work a tow chain can actually do before breaking. If a tow truck is towing a car in a cradle, with the rear wheels still on the ground, the load being carried is less because the ground is supporting some of the car’s weight. If that same tow truck were to lift the car straight off the ground, the load would be greater.
This suggests that the same chain may be appropriate for one operation but not another. So tow truck operators have to understand working load limits in relation to the kind of stress each particular recovery will have on the chain being used. Attempting recovery operations without understanding tensile strength and WLL is dangerous.
