Extending Safety Chains

PacNWChris wrote:
Hmm ... diametrically opposed opinions. lol :)

Anyhow, if I only need to add a few inches to give me the desired length, I'm still at a loss for the best/safest way to do this. If I was to go the Clevis link route, which is what is included in the ProPride extension kit, I'd likely need to add only one or two links of chain! So it would go something like this: original chain, clevis link, new link (or two) of chain, hook. Is what I'm picturing in my mind accurate?

As opposed to: original chain, quick link, hook. Like I said before, the 3/8" quick links have a 2200# safe working limit. Is that inadequate?

Much thanks!

There are specific strength requirements for safety chains so be careful about just throwing something together. According to the Pearless website that I will leave to you to find and read it basically says each chain must have a breaking strength equal to the GVWR of the trailer so Peeps simplistic view is not correct. Now this even gets more complicated IIRC because this breaking strength had time limits on it that must be met and generally chains are rated for a "working load" which is like 3 or 4X the breaking strength. However I'm not sure if this second breaking strength is the same as the one that safety chains must meet. To be safe I would recommend considering going WAY OVERBOARD on whatever you use to lengthen your safety chain so you are guaranteed 100% that you haven't weakened or comprised the safety chain rating than came OEM. I had to add a couple of inches to my system and what I did was used two oversized QDs that had a safe working load that exceeded the GVWR of my trailer. That way I assured myself that the weak link was still in the factory installed safety chain system and not from something I added to it.

I can't remember the specifics, but I think my safety chains are 3/8, my trailer GVWR is 7500 and I used two 9/16" Quick screw type links with a WL each of over 6K.

Larry