F250 hitch rings

[Colo_Native]

I have a F250 and need to use a shackles for the safety chains because the idiot designer of the hitch rings didn't make them right to fit the hooks. Is a 20000 lbs shackle enough for a 11000 lbs trailer. They are 3/4" shackles

[Ralph_Cramden]

austingta wrote:
Nominal Size (in.) Diameter of Bow Carbon Maximum Working Load (Tons) Alloy Maximum Working Load (Tons) Inside Width at Pin (in.) Diameter of Pin
3/16 1/3 n/a .38 .25
1/4 1/2 n/a .47 .31
5/16 3/4 n/a .53 .38
3/8 1 2 .66 .44
7/16 1-1/2 2.6 .75 .50
1/2 2 3.3 .81 .63
5/8 3-1/4 5 1.06 .75
3/4 4-3/4 7 1.25 .88
7/8 6-1/2 9.5 1.44 1.00
1 8-1/2 12.5 1.69 1.13
1-1/8 9-1/2 15 1.81 1.25
1-1/4 12 18 2.03 1.38
1-3/8 13-1/2 21 2.25 1.50
1-1/2 17 30 2.38 1.63
Insure screw pin is tight before each lift.
Use bolt type shackle for permanent installation.
Do not side load round pin shackle.
Use screw pin or bolt type to collect slings.


Probably not. Notice it says no side loads, which are a problem in a breakaway.

You can quote that **** all you want, but the fact remains that on 90% or better of Travel Trailers, especially with a Lippert frame, both chains are attached to the tongue by having the end links slid over something like this. And this is what happens if you forget to detach the chains, have the trailer wheels chocked and pull away, so what do you think would happen if the hitch failed?

[Ralph_Cramden]

Groover wrote:
I am just wondering what it would be like sitting in the cab of the truck with 20K pounds yanking on the back. That is about 3g's of deceleration! And that is if only one of the chains is pulling on it with no safety factors.

Most likely it wouldn't be yanking you back, if the chains do their job the breakaway switch is not going to engag,e and even if it did those tires will probably be skidding if you're at any sort of speed at the time. It might be pushing you forward.

[Groover]

I am just wondering what it would be like sitting in the cab of the truck with 20K pounds yanking on the back. That is about 3g's of deceleration! And that is if only one of the chains is pulling on it with no safety factors.

[dodge_guy]

Yes it may seem stupid at first, but you have to remember that if they designed it to fit your hooks it wouldn’t be strong enough for the heavier trailers it’s designed for. Install the 3/4” links on the hitch or change out your hooks for ones that will fit.

[WTP-GC]

4x4ord wrote:
Why not change the hooks on your safety chains?

Not a feasible option if you frequently tow multiple different trailers or some trailers that don't belong to you. Add some chain or shackles or the like. The connection points on my 2017 duramax are alamot as useless too.

[PDX_Zs]

Ha! No joke ion weakest link.

The chains (of uncertain quality) were welded to our frame with the lamest of tack welds.

After you look there, most methods of attaching to truck will seem robust by comparison.

[Grit_dog]

Colo Native wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
^Youre kidding right?
The whole truck and trailer will disintegrate before a 3/4" shackle comes apart! Breaking strength somewhere close to 20tons X 2 shackles.
Look at the other parts of the trailer chain/ attachment system. Guessing it's not 3/4" cable and 1/2" plate connections.
Those shackles couldn't be more overkill. They'll work fine.

Agree the truck and trailer would be destroyed. I was looking at double the trailer weight which is about 11k and the shackles are rated at 20k

Perfect. Just look at the weakest link, figuratively or literally, in the safety chain system.
Those big ole shackles won't hurt anything, kinda like useful truck nutz hanging from the hitch.
And a 3/4" shackle is not rated for 20klb, it's rated for 4-3/4 tons if memory serves, but its yield strength is close to 40klbs. All "legal" rated rigging has a minimum 5:1 factor of safety.

[spoon059]

Ralph Cramden wrote:
Now let the debate begin on how the world will come to an end, a catastrophe will happen, someone will sue, it's in violation of the Interstate Commerce act, so on and so forth etc.

But what does the manufacturer's little yellow sticker say? 😉

[Colo_Native]

Grit dog wrote:
^Youre kidding right?
The whole truck and trailer will disintegrate before a 3/4" shackle comes apart! Breaking strength somewhere close to 20tons X 2 shackles.
Look at the other parts of the trailer chain/ attachment system. Guessing it's not 3/4" cable and 1/2" plate connections.
Those shackles couldn't be more overkill. They'll work fine.

Agree the truck and trailer would be destroyed. I was looking at double the trailer weight which is about 11k and the shackles are rated at 20k

[Ralph_Cramden]

Grit dog wrote:
^Youre kidding right?
The whole truck and trailer will disintegrate before a 3/4" shackle comes apart! Breaking strength somewhere close to 20tons X 2 shackles.
Look at the other parts of the trailer chain/ attachment system. Guessing it's not 3/4" cable and 1/2" plate connections.
Those shackles couldn't be more overkill. They'll work fine.

Isn't that the truth LOL. You have to love these forums, complicating the uncomplicated since 1852. People may want to take a good look at how those chains are connected on the trailer end. Most I have seen simply have a short piece of 5/16 rod slipped through the end link on both chains, and then it's welded at each end to the underside of each main A frame member. That's usually done by some nose pickin meathead who was hired at Lippert the day prior, and whose previous experience with metal was opening Coors Light cans.

These will also get the job done in the OP's situation if a shackle is not handy in a higher indicated weight capacity than shown. Or a combination of both which I had to do on my 2015 GMC.






Now let the debate begin on how the world will come to an end, a catastrophe will happen, someone will sue, it's in violation of the Interstate Commerce act, so on and so forth etc.

[Bedlam]

It sounds like an issue with your trailer safety hooks rather than the truck receiver. My Ford towed many different trailers and did not have that problem. I did egg out the hitch pin hole in five years on the stock receiver but was able to get a welder to sandwich plates on the outside and drill a clean hole.

[Grit_dog]

BTW all rigging (shackles) if rated, have a 5x factor of safety. Braking strength is 5x the WLL.

[Grit_dog]

^Youre kidding right?
The whole truck and trailer will disintegrate before a 3/4" shackle comes apart! Breaking strength somewhere close to 20tons X 2 shackles.
Look at the other parts of the trailer chain/ attachment system. Guessing it's not 3/4" cable and 1/2" plate connections.
Those shackles couldn't be more overkill. They'll work fine.

[austingta]

Nominal Size (in.) Diameter of Bow Carbon Maximum Working Load (Tons) Alloy Maximum Working Load (Tons) Inside Width at Pin (in.) Diameter of Pin
3/16 1/3 n/a .38 .25
1/4 1/2 n/a .47 .31
5/16 3/4 n/a .53 .38
3/8 1 2 .66 .44
7/16 1-1/2 2.6 .75 .50
1/2 2 3.3 .81 .63
5/8 3-1/4 5 1.06 .75
3/4 4-3/4 7 1.25 .88
7/8 6-1/2 9.5 1.44 1.00
1 8-1/2 12.5 1.69 1.13
1-1/8 9-1/2 15 1.81 1.25
1-1/4 12 18 2.03 1.38
1-3/8 13-1/2 21 2.25 1.50
1-1/2 17 30 2.38 1.63
Insure screw pin is tight before each lift.
Use bolt type shackle for permanent installation.
Do not side load round pin shackle.
Use screw pin or bolt type to collect slings.


Probably not. Notice it says no side loads, which are a problem in a breakaway.