WARNING: The ‘D’ shackle scam in QLD

Social-media rumours about new trailer regs and rampant fines are a storm in a "D" cup, says local police

Bundaberg Police has issued a statement on its online Community News site stating that the poster doing the rounds on social media about apparent new laws regarding ‘D’ shackles on QLD trailers is incorrect. This is despite the hearsay and hoax leading some high-profile fishing and boating figures to state on Facebook that the police have been pinging people in their area.

The dodgy poster doing the rounds says that: “Cops in Gympie have been pulling over everyone towing a boat or box trailer and issuing a $235 on the spot fine. No questions asked.”

But according to a statement from Bundaberg Road Policing Unit, issued August 8, 2014, titled Incorrect rumour – towing shackles, no rules have changed in relation to towing shackles.

Additionally no related infringements have been issued, despite claims on social media that scores of trailerboaters have been pinged.

“This is an incorrect rumour currently being circulated via social media. For more information on towing visit the Transport and Main Roads website,” the police units says.

There is a Safe Towing Guide from QLD Transport and Main Roads that you can download with all the rules and regs. See http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Vehicle-standards-and-modifications/Loads-and-towing/Safe-towing.aspx.

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The Safe Towing Guide states, under Safety Chain Connections (Shackles, Pins or Bolts), that the Department of Transport and Main Roads “recommends that the shackles used should meet Australian Standard AS 2741-2002 “Shackles”, or another equivalent recognised standard, and have a break-load limit of the shackle is rated at least 1.5 times greater than the ATM of the trailer.

You can easily identify a shackle that meets AS 2741-2002 “Shackles” because they will be permanently marked with the following information:

<< The manufacturer’s name or trademark

<< Quality grade of the shackle, e.g. (“M” or “4”, “S” or “6”)

<< Working Load Limit (WLL) or Rating; and

<< Identification marking in order to correlate shackle to test certificate

Some additional points to note regarding shackle regulations in QLD:

<< Rated bolts, chain shackles or other suitable fittings (i.e. hammerlocks) may be used as devices for connection on safety chains providing the break load limit of the device is at least 1.5 times greater than the ATM of the trailer.

<< Generally, the break-load limit of a rated shackle will be six times greater than its work-load limit.

<< Pin diameter of shackle will be greater than the diameter of the main shackle body.

<< Same size shackles of different quality grades will have a different WLL (i.e. 6mm “S” grade shackle has a greater WLL than a 6mm “M” grade shackle).

<< Stainless steel shackles are unsuitable for trailer use due to the material’s general low resistance to bending stresses.

<< S” or “6” grade “D” Shackles bear similar characteristics to “S” or “6” grade Bow Shackles

<< Bow shackles provide for greater angular usage compared with “D” shackles.

Who knows, maybe the source behind the social-media rumour is a local hardware shop with an oversupply of shackles?

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WARNING: The ‘D’ shackle scam in QLD

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