Wire rope clips, sometimes referred to as u bolt clamps, u bolt clips, u clips, u clamps or cable clamps, are used to secure the loose end of a wire rope when forming an eye. Wire rope u clips have a u-bolt that is secured into a saddle by two nuts. Wire rope assemblies almost always require two, or more wire rope clamps to secure the wire rope properly. When using wire rope cable clamps to form an eye in a wire rope, the working load limit of the wire rope is reduced by about 20%.

Wire rope clamps come in many different designs to fit any rigging application:

• Single Saddle U Bolt
• Double Saddle U Bolt
• Mid Grip
• Piggyback Wedge Socket
• Fist Grip

Here at Tri-State Rigging Equipment we pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality wire rope clamps from only the most reputable manufacturers. We can provide you with any wire rope clip on the market so, if you are unable to find what you are looking for, or if you don’t know exactly what you need, call or email our sales team to speak with a rigging product specialist.

Drop Forged and Malleable Wire Rope Clamps

Wire rope cable clamps come in a variety of materials ranging from galvanized and zinc plated steel, to stainless steel. The two most important different types, however, are drop forged and malleable wire rope u bolt clips.

Drop forged wire rope clips are more heavy duty than malleable rope clips and can therefore be used for more heavy-duty rigging applications. In addition, they are galvanized with a heavy coating of zinc that resists the corrosion and abuse found in rugged work environments. Wire rope cable clamps of every type are not designed to be used in an overhead lift but drop forged wire rope u bolt clamps can be used to suspend an overhead load. This makes wire rope cable clamps ideal for use with:

• Guy lines
• Support lines
• Scaffolding

There are two questions every rigger needs to ask themselves when deciding which, if any, wire rope clip is right for the job:

1. Is the load being held in place or being moved?
2. Is the load being suspended above the ground or on a fence or other object near the ground?

Regarding the first question, if the load is being moved, wire rope clips are not to be used. If the load is being held in place, heavy-duty drop forged wire rope clips can be used. For the second question, if the load is near the ground, malleable wire rope clips may be used, as their lighter duty design is more than enough for the job. On the other hand, if the load is being suspended above the ground, heavier duty drop forged wire rope clamps must be used.

How to Properly Use Wire Rope U Clamps

In the rigging and lifting industry there is a common saying that is used to remember the correct way to use wire rope u clips: “Never saddle a dead horse.” This means that the saddle of the u clamp should always be in contact with the live side of the wire rope rather than the dead side. The dead side of the wire rope is the side of the eye that has the cut end. The dead end is attached to the live end of the wire rope to form an eye and it is imperative that the saddle be on the live side of the wire rope.

Tri-State Rigging Equipment is a service provider and distributor for all wire rope cable clamps, and u bolt clips for rigging serving clients from coast to coast, Canada, Mexico and especially focused in the states of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma.