Load Securement

Same as on a steel rub rail. As long as your chains stay inside the rub rail and use either the stake pocket or spools you're fine. I suggest using the spools because the corners of the pockets get torn up using them on aluminum rub rails.

 

I agree you CAN use the pockets ,but coming from someone who's bought a used trailer and tried to put a side kit on after someone screwed up the pockets with chains.......STOP IT!


Also depends on the brand of trailer. Reitnouer pockets aren't welded to the trailer, only to the rub rail. They're only clipped into the side rail, kinda scary if you choose to use them as an anchor point.

 

Check the trailer manufacturer's literature. They will tell you the anchor point and WLLs.

Not all trailers are equal.

But you loop around the spool or the pocket and hook the chain to itself. I've seen guys hook to the pocket and that is a no-no.

 

Why's that? If I drop the chain through the pocket, bring it back up the other side and hook it to the pocket how is that a no-no. Again I don't use my pockets but I see no issue as long as it's a rated securement point. At least this way it won't come unhooked if the chain get some slack.

 

AGREE!!!
Reitnouer must have changed at some point. My pockets are welded on the back side as well now.

 

That's the only way my company wants you to do it!

 

I would say a stake pocket isn't designed to have a chain hook on one side of it. It is weaker this way and not worth the full WLL.

It is designed and rated to support the chain as a whole and not just one side of the pocket.

And the cops want the chain hooked to itself.

Take your chances...

I ain't no engineer even though I sometimes go WOOO! WOOO! CHUGGA! CHUGGA! CHUGGA! CHUGGA! when I'm driving.

 

I would say to do that on a steel rub rail w/ pockets welded to the c-channel. However on an aluminum rub rail, they're far too soft to use the pocket. Hardened G-70 chain wins the battle with aluminum every time, so stick to the spools. I've done both sides of the equation (hauling on an aluminum trailer and working in the shop re-welding the aluminum rail because some drivers' carelessness)

 

I was partially incorrect. It depends on whether you have steel or aluminum trailer.

This from Fontaine

"Figures 1 thru 9 are representative of the methods used for testing standard anchor points."



See fig. 1,2,5 and 6 all have WLL of 5400 lbs. for steel trailers. However fig. 5 with chain hooked onto side of aluminum pocket only has WLL of 4,000 lbs.


http://www.fontainetrailer.com/pdfs/trailer-operator-manual.pdf