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01-05-2018, 04:36 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master 
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 822
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Safety Chains Too Short?
I just got a new F250 and a new shank for my Equalizer WD hitch. The new shank is 18" long which is nice because it enables me to lower the gate on the truck without hitting the trailer! However, I hooked it up for the first time today and the chains are really too short. Not by a lot, but when I turned hard to back into my driveway, they were definitely too tight.
I really don't see a way to add a link or two so what's the alternative?
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01-05-2018, 04:43 PM
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#2
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.-. -...
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake
, ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,838
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Quote:
Originally Posted by billrector
...
I really don't see a way to add a link or two so what's the alternative?
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Buy and install new longer chains?
__________________
Ray B.
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01-05-2018, 04:48 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,707
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Double Clevis and a couple of appropriately rated chain links.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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01-05-2018, 04:50 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,707
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__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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01-05-2018, 05:22 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,744
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Most hardware stores will have threaded, locking links you can add which will give you a couple more inches.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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01-05-2018, 05:24 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,707
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumatic
Most hardware stores will have threaded, locking links you can add which will give you a couple more inches.
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Be sure they're rated for 50% of trailer gvwr each. It was hard for me to find the threaded links at 5k. Not sure what AS the OP has. I did find 3500# threaded links.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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01-05-2018, 05:39 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 822
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g
Be sure they're rated for 50% of trailer gvwr each. It was hard for me to find the threaded links at 5k. Not sure what AS the OP has. I did find 3500# threaded links.
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Good point. Looks like I would need a 5/8 inch diameter one to get the proper working load limit.
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01-05-2018, 05:51 PM
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#8
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Moderator
Vintage Kin Owner
...
, ...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
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Safety Chains Too Short?
Quote:
Originally Posted by billrector
Good point. Looks like I would need a 5/8 inch diameter one to get the proper working load limit.
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Google Screwlinks, or Quicklinks. Box store links are typically unrated and only threaded on one end. Kong or Mallion Rapide are rated and relatively inexpensive at a smaller diameter.
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
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01-05-2018, 05:53 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,707
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I still like the farm and fleet stores a and double clevis. Plus they have every kind of bulk chain a guy could ever need.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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01-05-2018, 06:22 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2002 19' Bambi
Lafayette
, California
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,603
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We used large lap links to extend ours. Google "chain repair lap links" to find various sellers and sizes.
Tim
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01-05-2018, 07:25 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member 
2018 28' Flying Cloud
Clayton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 405
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You didn't say what you were hooking your chains to.
This is what we connect to:
Holes in hitch receiver aren't sized to accept the tow chain hooks, but these are, and provide plenty of slack.
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01-06-2018, 05:21 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2019 30' International
Pennsylvania
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by billrector
I just got a new F250 and a new shank for my Equalizer WD hitch. The new shank is 18" long which is nice because it enables me to lower the gate on the truck without hitting the trailer! However, I hooked it up for the first time today and the chains are really too short. Not by a lot, but when I turned hard to back into my driveway, they were definitely too tight.
I really don't see a way to add a link or two so what's the alternative?
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I'm more interested in exactly what shank you have for that Equalizer hitch? 
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01-06-2018, 05:23 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 822
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Quote:
Originally Posted by majorairhead
I'm more interested in exactly what shank you have for that Equalizer hitch? |
Here you go...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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01-06-2018, 05:49 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2019 30' International
Pennsylvania
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by billrector
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thank you!
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01-06-2018, 09:30 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
1976 31' Excella 500
Chappell Hill
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 485
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What's that shank rated at?
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01-06-2018, 10:06 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2017 30' Classic
Anna Maria
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Erik
You didn't say what you were hooking your chains to.
This is what we connect to:
Holes in hitch receiver aren't sized to accept the tow chain hooks, but these are, and provide plenty of slack. |
I came up with the same solution for our F-250. There was no way to hook the safety chains into the holes on the factory hitch.
( great minds think alike :-)
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01-06-2018, 10:30 AM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
2018 28' Flying Cloud
Clayton
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 405
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franklyfrank
I came up with the same solution for our F-250. There was no way to hook the safety chains into the holes on the factory hitch.
( great minds think alike :-)
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Or great minds go to https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum279/ 
~erik~
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01-06-2018, 10:30 AM
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#18
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Johnnyooo
2015 23' International
Colrain
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 115
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You can buy threaded locking carabineers at the big box stores ...They come in different weight ratings ..I had to do the same thing...My safety chains were just a little bit short...I bought one for each chain and it lengthened the chains just right....
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01-06-2018, 10:35 AM
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#19
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ObviouslyKnot
2024 30' Classic
KALISPELL
, Mt
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 864
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ProPride had a nice chain extension kit, probably would still sell one for your Equalizer 😊
__________________
James Mileur (& Belinda)
2024 Classic Twin, 2024 RAM 3500 Megacab, ProPride hitch
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01-06-2018, 11:28 AM
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#20
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4 Rivet Member
2007 23' Safari SE
Annandale
, New Jersey
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 448
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Similar situation and went with the Reese Quick Links
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