safety chain question

redneck joe

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Mar 18, 2009
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need to add a few inches to mine so ordering some curt carabineer clips/links and this came up as a sponsored ad.

What is the practical reason for these or is it a 'convince you that it is needed and looks cool' item?



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dingbat

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Nov 20, 2001
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need to add a few inches to mine so ordering some curt carabineer clips/links and this came up as a sponsored ad.

What is the practical reason for these or is it a 'convince you that it is needed and looks cool' item?
I can think of two purposes.....

Facilitate connecting clevis hooks in the "cut outs" on most hitches is a PIA.
I have something similar, not as heavy duty, on the truck to make it easier for Mrs. Dingbat to connect the safety chains and break away clip to the hitch.

Easy place to connect a tow rope for the "Clowns who don't air down"
 

Captain Caveman

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Mar 1, 2005
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I guarantee that 9 out of 10 people that buy a setup like that will never use it. It's like the jeeps that you see driving through the city with spare gas tanks and winches that are as pristine as the day that the professional installer put them on the vehicle for its owner.
 

Mc Tool

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I guarantee that 9 out of 10 people that buy a setup like that will never use it. It's like the jeeps that you see driving through the city with spare gas tanks and winches that are as pristine as the day that the professional installer put them on the vehicle for its owner.
yeah , we get them here too .... same guys that have their skis or surf board bolted to their roof rack ( they swap them over depending on the season ).
A guy up the road has a Hilux that has all the crap on it and lifted so high its damn near undrivable ....and the noise off the tires on sealed road is unbearable ......forever getting wheel alignments and chewing out rod ends and ball joints .... and Im sure he throws buckets of mud over it . He would have been better off facing the truth and getting an weener enlargement
 

airshot

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Jul 22, 2008
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There are all types of links to add more chain to make it longer. Some are fairly cheap, just match the rating on the chain.
 

Pmt133

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I can think of two purposes.....

Facilitate connecting clevis hooks in the "cut outs" on most hitches is a PIA.
I have something similar, not as heavy duty, on the truck to make it easier for Mrs. Dingbat to connect the safety chains and break away clip to the hitch.

Easy place to connect a tow rope for the "Clowns who don't air down"
I've pulled a lot of people from the sand down in OBX. I'm convinced no one airs down.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Joe, chains are cheap. I would go longer.

however the question asked in post #1..... they are bling to go on bro trucks that dont climb anything other than a curb to go to a backyard BBQ

its like the angry brow grill on jeeps or a 10" lift kit on a truck with the front driveshaft removed because of driveline bind.

its a way to separate money from someones wallet.

because if you attempt to recover a vehicle by pulling on the safety chain cut-out loops on a chromed bumper hitch like that shown, you may just end up pulling the little bit of steel off the bumper.
 

Pmt133

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Don’t want to blame anyone….but the incident rate goes way down between October and April ;)
We have the same problem. Apparently sedans with NY plates aren't actually great for driving on island beach state park. :rolleyes:
 

airshot

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Guess I should have ask whether the poster was just towing a trailer or doing serious vehicle recovery. For routine trailer ing a connect would be fine but serious recovery would be better with a longer chain.
 

Chris1956

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Mar 25, 2004
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29,142
Some carabineers look strong, but are real wimpy. If you want it strong get a shackle.
 
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