Staying Connected: Safety Chains
What size shackles are required for safety chains to be safe and legal?
While specifications of safety chains and their attachment to the trailer are clear and easy to find (see Section 16 of VSB01 “National Code Of Practice – Building Small Trailers” ), the attachment of the safety chains to the trailer is a different matter altogether.
It appears that most people use either ‘D’ or ‘bow’ shackles for this purpose as these seem naturally suited to the job and are usually supplied by either the towbar or trailer manufacturer. However, the type and rating of these shackles varies considerably.
