Recommended Safety Chains For A 7,000 Pound Tandem Axle Trailer

Question:

7 by 12 cargo trailer GVW 7000 double axle with electric . Each axle is 3500 LBS What are the correct saftey chains for this vehicle. The current chains I have 30 inches long with S hook not sure what they are rated for that is on the truck Does the 5000 lb chains that have 2 chains means 10000 lb total or 5000 lb What class would I need

asked by: JP

Expert Reply:

The rating listed for a single chain, like the Curt # C80031 at 5,000 pounds of capacity, will double when two are used. So the # C80031 used as a pair will mean you would have 10,000 pounds of capacity. With that said, I am not a huge fan of the S-Hook design as it can be a pain to get the rubber retainer band piece over the hooks when it's cold out and they can break as well. If you are wanting something that has good capacity and has clevis hooks, which I prefer, check out the Reese Safety Chain Kit # RP49151.

This is technically used for gooseneck hitches that need to attach to the loops in a truck bed, but can also be used as standard safety chains as well. These will have a 20,000 pound capacity, so they will be a bit overkill, but with something like this I stand by "If It's Worth Doing, It's Worth Overdoing". I do recommend double checking to make sure the 5/16" hook will fit the safety chain loops on your hitch though. If they will, I highly recommend the # RP49151.

You can also use safety cable, like the Curt # C80176, but you are getting pretty close to the max capacity of them. If you prefer to stay with this style, I recommend going with something like the Blue Ox Permanent Base Plate Safety Cables # BX88208 and then putting a # C81820 S-Hook On the ends for easier attachment. This will give you a 10,000 pound capacity.