chain binders

Bit of a odd one me and the farmer next door were having a chat over a cuppa and I was reading a farming parts flyer that was on the table. I was surprised that they had old school chain binders for sale, I thought that the dvsa did not like them and a few people I know have been told to scrap them by vosa.
So the big question is is this true that the are not considered a secure load restraint by the dvsa.

agri-linc.com/shop/products/id/gwstens3.htm

oil tanker:
I thought that the dvsa did not like them and a few people I know have been told to scrap them by vosa.
So the big question is is this true that the are not considered a secure load restraint by the dvsa.

agri-linc.com/shop/products/id/gwstens3.htm

If the ministry don’t like them you can bet it’s because there is no label they can read and therefore they can’t tell if they are safe or not.

It seems gone are the days when a bloke looks at a rachet strap and a set of dogs & chains and knows,without too much effort which will be the stronger of the two.

as long as the load is secure then i cant see legally what DVSA can do about it,I appreciate though they are a grey area, we cant even have them on the truck anymore as TATA completely banned them years ago, but i,m not aware of an outright ban on them as such

We always use load binders but the ratchet type. I think the cantilever type are frowned upon due to the fact that they can spring up when they are released.

Welshman:
We always use load binders but the ratchet type. I think the cantilever type are frowned upon

Frowned upon maybe , but if they secure a load (which they do very well) then i cant see how Vosa can outlaw them , disapprove yes, but take you to court for an insecure load? I.m not convinced

chaversdad:

Welshman:
We always use load binders but the ratchet type. I think the cantilever type are frowned upon

Frowned upon maybe , but if they secure a load (which they do very well) then i cant see how Vosa can outlaw them , disapprove yes, but take you to court for an insecure load? I.m not convinced

I used them for years but they are not great and open up quite happily unless you wrap the chain ends around them to hold them closed, also the tension achieved in relation to a double threaded tensioner is not that great, tension is relative as to where the chain link comes too. Personally I would ban them.

I think perhaps the vosa men watched ice road truckers trying to use them. all you needed was an alloy scaffold put log to beat the chain with then keep tightening up the slack add the tube on the end for the last go. job done. mind you the ratchet type makes life easy still got the alloy adjuster though.

hotel magnum:
I think perhaps the vosa men watched ice road truckers trying to use them. all you needed was an alloy scaffold put log to beat the chain with then keep tightening up the slack add the tube on the end for the last go. job done. mind you the ratchet type makes life easy still got the alloy adjuster though.

That’s what we do on the timber,nothing wrong with dogs.
When you loose them off stand to one side though as they are quick :laughing:

I wouldn’t recommend looping the chain around as PuntaBravo suggests as if it does open up then the tension against the loop kinda makes it that it hasn’t opened up enough for you to get any leverege to close it again and the chain is too tight to undo it.

That’s my experience anyway.

Even with a scaff pole as an extension I can’t believe they put nearly the force on the chain that can be achieved with the ratchet screw type possibly not even as much as a strap.

Not sure why they never included some sort of pin to lock closed in the design.

Been quite a while since I used a chain and stretcher, and yes they weren’t the safest kit, seen loads of drivers fall off loads tightening them, but you could get them tight, a lot tighter than a strap. A 4’ scaff pole was essential kit when using them. Never had them come undone, but I use to wrap the loose chain around the handle and body as that is what my old man showed me.

I was introduced to these things as a kid over 45 years ago…my old man used these his whole life with no incidents of injuring himself or of a load becoming loose never mind losing it. I remember it being scary watching them getting tensioned when I was young though…until I was old enough to learn to use them correctly myself.

Yes they can be dangerous to use for the unwary, yes you should wrap the spare chain around the lever when closed, yes you need a 4-foot pipe to tighten/loosen them and yes you should step to the side when opening them!

The ratchet models are easier to use for new drivers and safer to use if you’re climbing about on the load to tighten/loosen them. However they work a treat when used properly. The lever models are feared by folks who have not used them which is a fair shout as they can hurt if wrongly handled.

Not certain but I’d doubt there would be a problem putting enough tension on a chain using a ‘dwang’ as I know it compared with a ratchet version.

Anyone else got experience of either version?

Have used both but was not a great lover of ratchet …never seemed to get tight enough on load (steel mainly)…

i liked to put them on the top of the load while i stood on the trailer sideguards, i then slowly stepped down to the floor letting my weight pull the scaffy pipe down as i got down to ground level. worked a treat for me, the job i really miss using them on is steel plates, they where ideal for that, putting the twist type tighteners on top of a load of plate from ground level is a right pain in the arse

We still use them here in NZ but they have an extra pivot point which prevents kick back. We have no choice as the forestry industry here won’t allow us to use straps.