Load a mini excavator onto a flatbed with straps built for cars, and the first hard brake at 45 mph puts 10,000 pounds of tracked steel walking toward the cab. Tie down chains for skid steer and mini excavator transport exist because webbing stretches, chain doesn't, and equipment this heavy needs securement that won't give when it matters.
- 3/8-inch Grade 70 chain rated at 6,600 lbs handles most skid steers and compact excavators in 2026 -- Buy.
- 5/16-inch Grade 70 kits at 4,700 lbs suit mini excavators under roughly 5,000 lbs only -- Consider.
- Ratchet load binders rated 7,100 lbs pair correctly with 3/8-inch Grade 70 chain without overloading the hook.
- Corner protectors aren't optional on tracked machines -- skip them and a sharp frame edge cuts the chain in one hard stop.
Why chain beats straps for this equipment
A skid steer or mini excavator has hard edges, exposed frame rails, and enough weight that a strap failure isn't a slow leak -- it's an unsecured load rolling off a trailer at highway speed. Grade 70 transport chain is rated in tons, not hundreds of pounds, and it doesn't abrade against a bucket edge the way nylon webbing does. Truckers and haulers running heavy equipment year-round default to chain and binders for exactly that reason: DOT cargo securement rules for articles of heavy machinery generally call for an aggregate working load limit of at least half the equipment's weight, spread across a minimum of four tie-down points. A single strap rated at 3,300 pounds doesn't clear that bar on an 8,000-pound skid steer. A pair of 3/8-inch Grade 70 chains at 6,600 pounds each does, with room to spare.
TruckNTow has outfitted haulers and towing operations with rigging equipment since 1959, and the pattern hasn't changed in 2026: chain wins on anything with tracks, tires, or attachments that can catch a strap edge.
How to size tie-down chains for skid steer and mini excavator transport
Three variables decide which chain and binder combination is correct for a given load in 2026: chain diameter, chain grade, and binder type.
Chain diameter and grade. Grade 70 chain in 5/16-inch carries a 4,700-pound safe working load; step up to 3/8-inch and that rating jumps to 6,600 pounds. Match the chain to the equipment's operating weight, not its bucket capacity -- a compact track loader that looks small on the lot can still weigh 9,000 pounds fully fueled.
Chain length. Most flatbed and trailer setups need 10-foot to 20-foot lengths to reach from a frame anchor point to a stake pocket or D-ring at a workable angle. Shorter chain forces a steep angle that reduces effective holding power; longer chain gives you the slack to rig a proper diagonal.
Binder type. Ratchet binders give you incremental control and are easier to tension correctly than lever binders, which snap to full tension in one motion and can overshoot on a cold chain. A ratchet-style load binder rated for 7,100 pounds is built to work with either 5/16-inch or 3/8-inch Grade 70 chain, so it covers both ends of most fleets' equipment mix.
Ranked picks for 2026
1. VULCAN Grade 70 3/8-Inch x 20-Foot Chain and Binder Kit -- the workhorse. Rated at 6,600 pounds safe working load per chain, this chain and load binder kit is sized for the weight range most skid steers and standard mini excavators fall into. The 20-foot length gives enough reach for diagonal rigging on a flatbed without doubling chain back on itself. Buy for any operation hauling equipment in the 5,000 to 9,000-pound range.
2. VULCAN 5/16-Inch Grade 70 Chain and Folding Handle Binder Kit -- the lightweight pick. At a 4,700-pound safe working load, this 5/16-inch chain and binder kit is correctly sized for smaller mini excavators and compact utility attachments, not full-size skid steers. Using it on anything heavier means you're running below the DOT-recommended margin. Consider it only after weighing the equipment on a certified scale.
3. VULCAN Folding Handle Ratchet Binder, 7,100 lbs SWL -- the binder that matches the chain. This binder is rated to pair with either 5/16-inch or 3/8-inch Grade 70 chain, which means one binder style covers a mixed fleet instead of stocking two separate SKUs. Buy if standardizing rigging equipment across trucks is the goal.
4. VULCAN Security Chain and Lock Kit, 5/16-Inch x 6-Foot -- not a load securement chain, but a theft deterrent. Case-hardened and built to resist bolt cutters, this kit is for locking equipment to a trailer overnight, not for highway tie-down duty. Don't confuse this product category with transport chain -- it's rated for security, not for the dynamic load a moving trailer puts on a tie-down point. Skip it as a load securement substitute; keep it in the toolbox as a separate anti-theft layer.
5. VULCAN Ultra Heavy-Duty Corner Protectors, 20-Pack -- the cheap insurance most haulers skip. At 9.5 x 6 x 6 inches, these corner protectors sit between the chain and any sharp frame edge on the equipment being hauled. A skid steer's bucket lip or an excavator's track frame will nick chain links over repeated hauls without them. Buy as a standing item on the truck, not a one-time purchase.
Comparison table
| Kit | Chain Diameter | Length | SWL | Best For | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 70 3/8" x 20' Chain and Binder | 3/8" | 20 ft | 6,600 lbs | Skid steers, standard mini excavators | Buy |
| Grade 70 5/16" x 20' Chain and Binder | 5/16" | 20 ft | 4,700 lbs | Compact mini excavators under ~5,000 lbs | Consider |
| Ratchet Load Binder, 2 Grab Hooks | Fits 5/16" or 3/8" | -- | 7,100 lbs | Standardizing across mixed fleets | Buy |
| Security Chain and Lock Kit | 5/16" | 6 ft | Anti-theft rated, not for transport | Overnight equipment security | Skip (for transport) |
| Corner Protectors, 20-Pack | -- | 9.5" x 6" x 6" each | -- | Protecting chain at frame contact points | Buy |
Compatibility and fit by equipment weight
Weight, not equipment category, decides chain sizing. A compact utility loader in the 3,000 to 5,000-pound range can secure safely with 5/16-inch Grade 70 chain at 4,700 pounds SWL per chain, run four points. Step up to a standard skid steer or mid-size mini excavator in the 6,000 to 9,000-pound range, and 3/8-inch Grade 70 chain at 6,600 pounds SWL is the right call -- running smaller chain here eats into the DOT-required securement margin fast. Anything above 9,000 pounds, including full-size excavators, generally needs 1/2-inch chain rated closer to 9,200 pounds SWL, run at four or more points depending on trailer configuration.
Check the equipment's actual operating weight on the spec plate or manufacturer data sheet before buying chain -- bucket attachments, counterweights, and full fuel tanks add hundreds of pounds that the base machine weight doesn't reflect.
Safety and DOT securement rules
Four tie-down points minimum on tracked or wheeled heavy equipment is the baseline most haulers work to in 2026, with the aggregate working load limit across all tie-downs equal to at least half the equipment's gross weight. That means two 3/8-inch Grade 70 chains at 6,600 pounds each (13,200 pounds combined) comfortably cover a 9,000-pound skid steer with margin left over.
Rig chains at the steepest practical angle to the anchor point -- a chain running nearly flat across the deck loses holding power fast compared to one angled closer to 45 degrees. Check binder tension after the first 25 to 50 miles of a haul; chain settles and webbing-adjacent hardware can loosen slightly once the load shifts on its suspension.
A chain rated below half the equipment's gross weight isn't a tie-down -- it's a suggestion.
Maintenance and care
Inspect every link for cracks, stretch, or gouges before each run -- a chain that's been dragged across gravel or pinched under a bucket edge can lose rated strength without showing obvious damage. Store chain coiled and off wet trailer decks between jobs; rust pits weaken links from the inside long before they're visible from the outside. Replace any binder with a bent handle or a hook that's opened past its original throat width -- both are signs the binder has already seen an overload event.
FAQ
What size tie down chains for skid steer transport do I need?
Most skid steers in the 6,000 to 9,000-pound range need 3/8-inch Grade 70 chain rated at 6,600 pounds safe working load per chain, run at a minimum of four points. Heavier machines above 9,000 pounds typically need 1/2-inch chain rated closer to 9,200 pounds.
Are chains better than straps for mini excavator transport?
Chain is the standard choice for mini excavators because it resists abrasion from bucket edges and track frames that would cut through webbing straps over repeated hauls. Straps still work for lighter attachments but lack the working load limits chain offers for anything over roughly 5,000 pounds.
How many tie down chains does a skid steer need?
Four tie-down points is the standard minimum for skid steers and similar tracked or wheeled equipment under DOT cargo securement guidance. The combined safe working load across all chains needs to reach at least half the equipment's gross weight.
Is 5/16-inch Grade 70 chain strong enough for a mini excavator?
5/16-inch Grade 70 chain is rated at 4,700 pounds safe working load, which fits compact mini excavators under roughly 5,000 pounds. Standard-size mini excavators heavier than that need 3/8-inch chain at 6,600 pounds SWL instead.
What load binder works with skid steer tie-down chains?
A ratchet-style load binder rated at 7,100 pounds safe working load and built to fit both 5/16-inch and 3/8-inch Grade 70 chain covers most skid steer and mini excavator hauling setups. Ratchet binders give more controlled tensioning than lever binders on cold chain.
Do I need corner protectors when chaining down heavy equipment?
Yes -- corner protectors placed between the chain and any sharp frame edge on the equipment prevent link damage that reduces the chain's rated strength over repeated hauls. Skipping them is a common cause of chain failure that looks sudden but was actually gradual wear.
Can I use a security chain for load tie-down instead of transport chain?
No -- security chain and lock kits are built to resist cutting tools for anti-theft purposes, not rated for the dynamic loads a moving trailer puts on a tie-down point. Use dedicated Grade 70 transport chain for securement and keep security chain as a separate overnight measure.
One last thing
The detail most haulers miss in 2026 isn't the chain rating -- it's the binder handle. A folding-handle binder that won't fully seat flush against the chain link is under-tensioned even if the gauge reads correctly, and that gap is exactly where a load starts walking on a long haul.
Shop the full chain, binder, and rigging line at TruckNTow, family-run out of Detroit since 1959, with free ground shipping on every order.