What Chain length do most of you use on a 48' flatbed?

20ft is perfect. I have 12 chains.

20ft let’s you use 1 chain for 2 tiedown points on most things and it’s long enough for big spools or anything else you come across. I’ve never once wanted longer chain and I’ve always had enough.

 

20 is plenty long enough. 16 should be long enough for steel and general freight. Longer sets are for when you're using one chain for multiple securement points.

 

I carried 3X20' double grab hooks
9X16' double grab hooks
4X5' single grab hook
4X5' 1 grab and 1 slip hook
12 ratchet binders
8 lever binders

 

We carry six 20ft 3/8 chain and four 25ft 5/16 chain on our trucks.

 

Ive got 20 chains on my truck , all 5/16 and all 20ft ... I have ran into a problem a couple times where another 5 ft of chain wouldve helped.. I.e. a max 13'6 load with chain over the top of freight and freight stacked side by side , i have run out of chain by about a foot... Very very very rare that it happens.. Usually its i wish i had some shorter ones to make tie down a more effiecint process.. They dont cut easily like straps lol

 

I don’t chain a whole lot, what products stack that tall that want chained vs strapped?

 

Some of our structural steel loads you would want to measure to make sure you'd fit under the bridges. Years ago, we had 5/16" 25', but in latter years I've just used 20' chain. We also got some nifty little 2 ft extensions for some of the bigger stuff.
Straps are a heck of a lot easier to throw, but then you still gotta climb all over to put edge protectors in.

 

years ago. I hauled a load of these type of liftgates from southern cali up to a little fab shop in idaho falls, they had a bout 15 on the trailer.. I think they would put 5 side by side if i remeber correctly.. They bolt on a bracket on the top of the liftgate specifically for ur chains to go over.. I guess straps would work in theory , customer wanted chains so thats what i threw, long story short by the time my chain made it to the other side it was about a foot short... Nothing a binder and a pop up chain couldnt fix... Only time its ever happened to me. I think anything else like u said could be done with straps

 

I have 20s and 16s. I’ve had a situation where the 16s weren’t long enough, so I’d say 20s are the best.