b' Insurance you are the weakest linkA good lie always carries an element of of the towing vehicle using D or bow are up to the task. They could be thetruth. Once again there has been a lot shackles. As a safety device, the weakest linkof talk about rated D Shackles and chains, and consequently the shackles, Speaking about weakest links and whilereported penalties for not using rated D must be strong enough to keep the trail- we are talking about rumours; rumouror Bow shackles when towing has done er connected to the towing vehicle and has it that some people are not awarethe rounds, more than once. prevent the drawbar from touching the that all vehicles are factory fitted withFor the record, there is no new law, the ground if the coupling should break or tie down points; not surprisingly theyAustralian Standard, AS 2741 was become disconnected from the tow are designed to tie the vehicle downreleased in 2002 (yes, 19 years ago) hitch. (Tip: If you cross the chains they during transport or shipping.Theyand even then the Standard does not create a cradle, to hold up the draw bar should not be used for towing or recov-specifically cover the use of rated of the trailer in the event of a problem ery.shackles in an application such as with the coupling) You may purchase a rated recoveryattaching a trailer or camper trailer to a Although there do not appear to be any point but where the hook is bolted totow bar. This standard covers the use of specific requirements for shackles, it is your vehicle is very important if you areshackles for lifting purposes.recommended that shackles should going to use it in a recovery. Often theMy clear understanding is that there is have the following characteristics: use of two recovery points and acurrently no regulation requiring shack- The shackle grade is S or 6. properly rated equalisation strap inles used on trailer safety chains to com- The working load limit is 1000kg. order to spread the load is advised butply with the Australian Standard. The shackle diameter is 10mm. again, the angle of the recovery canHowever, some State authorities do pro- Either a bow or D shackle may be used. place excessive stress on either vehicle. vide guidelines or advise for selecting Many vehicles have been damagedsuitable shackles, not to mention, it Obviously you need to consider the size unnecessarily due to a lack of know-makes sense to have some peace of and weight of your particular trailer and ledge. It is worth doing your homeworkmind in the event of a breakaway.although there arent any specific when it comes to understanding whereAustralia-wide, safety chains are requirements for the use of a rated D to, and where not to attach a snatchrequired as part of the towing mecha- shackle when towing your trailer, boat or strap. nism on your trailer. caravan, its still advisable to adhere to Your recovery points are often theThey connect the trailers A-frame, or any guidelines in your State. After all, weakest link drawbar, to the main tow-bar framework you want to make sure the componentsCGUInsurance LimitedABN 27 004 478 37128 MARCH2021 TRACKWATCH'