Towing safely and legally in Australia comes down to using properly rated, compliant equipment. The Vehicle Safety Chain Hook Kit from Conveying & Hoisting Solutions is the first kit on the market with Federal Component Type Approval (CTA) for full compliance with ADR 62/02: Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles.
Each kit includes heavy-duty Grade 80 safety hooks and fitting hardware that have been crash-lab tested and federally approved by the Department of Infrastructure. The hooks have been purpose-designed for towing use, featuring a slightly narrower profile so they fit more chains while maintaining full strength. Each hook is also clearly marked with its towing capacity rather than just a generic Working Load Limit (WLL), ensuring the rating applies specifically to towing applications. Unlike many generic lifting hooks sold with only a WLL rating that does not legally or structurally cross over to towing capacities, these hooks are fully compliant and purpose-built for towing safety chains, ensuring you meet every requirement under Australian towing regulations.
What’s in the Hook Kit
The kit comes pre-configured to match your trailer’s Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM):
- Light Trailer Kit – For trailers up to 2,000kg ATM, using 8mm chain (Minimum Breaking Strength 4,480kg).
- Heavy Trailer Kit – For trailers up to 4,000kg ATM, using 10–13mm chain (Minimum Breaking Strength 8,000kg).
Each hook features a 4:1 safety factor as per AS 3776 and has been fatigue-tested over 20,000 cycles. The design naturally aligns under load, ensuring the chain link seats correctly at the base of the hook where it is strongest and safest.
The kit also uses a removable QuickLock connector, a unique design that allows you to take the hooks off your vehicle when not towing, unlike traditional permanent hammerlocks.
Using Add-On Hammerlocks for Trailer-to-Vehicle Connection
The following information applies to users who wish to attach the hooks to the trailer chain and then connect the hook onto the car.
Most new vehicles, including utes, 4WDs, and SUVs, have towbars with small safety chain holes, usually around 10 to 13mm in diameter. That is fine for basic D shackles, but too small for the heavy-duty hooks included in the approved kit.
The hook will simply not fit through smaller towbar holes. In this setup, an add-on hammerlock connector is used to create the correct size hole for secure attachment.
The G80 Hammerlock Connector acts as a permanent adapter for your vehicle’s towbar. It attaches directly through your towbar’s safety chain points and creates a strong, larger connection hole that the hook can clip into effortlessly.
In simple terms:
- The holes in most towbars are too small for the rated hooks.
- Add-on hammerlocks give you a larger, rated link to connect the hook.
- They allow you to use the approved hook kit without modifying your towbar.
Each hammerlock is made from Grade 80 high-tensile alloy steel, with a minimum breaking strength of 8,000kg. Its double-double shear pin design distributes load over four shear planes, meaning even a small pin can safely handle enormous forces.
When paired with the approved hook kit, the result is a fully compliant, high-strength towing connection suitable for caravans, trailers, and work equipment.
Compliance and Certification
The Vehicle Safety Chain Hook Kits have been granted Federal Component Type Approvals for 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm versions (CTA-061303, CTA-061305, CTA-061304). This means they have been tested and approved directly by the Australian Road Vehicle Regulator, meeting ADR 62/02: Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles.
Each kit includes:
- A compliance sticker showing the CTA approval code.
- Fitting instructions for correct installation.
- Hardware made to AS/NZS 3776 and AS/NZS 4177.4 standards.
With federal approval in place, you do not need to perform your own engineering assessment. Compliance is already built in.
Why It Matters
Under Australian law, safety chain connections must have a Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS) at least 1.5 times the trailer’s ATM. The Heavy Trailer Kit provides an MBS of 8,000kg, giving a wide margin for trailers up to 4,000kg ATM.
That means if your caravan has an ATM of 3,000kg, you are covered well beyond the legal minimum, fully compliant and safe.
Summary
- ✅ ADR 62/02 Approved: Full federal certification with compliance label included.
- ✅ High Strength: Grade 80 components, 4:1 safety factor, fatigue tested.
- ✅ Flexible Setup: Hooks can stay on the trailer or vehicle, removable if preferred.
- ✅ Hammerlock Add-On: Only needed when connecting hooks to the chain and then attaching to the car; provides a properly sized connection point for vehicles with small towbar holes.
- ✅ Easy DIY Fitment: Everything supplied, no special tools needed.
For the safest and simplest towing connection available in Australia, pair your Vehicle Safety Chain Hook Kit with the G80 Hammerlock Connector. Together they create a fully legal, ADR-compliant connection that is as easy to use as it is strong.
اترك تعليقا