How to Hook up Safety Chains?

[minuteman62-64]

Time to replace the safety chains on my trailer. The existing set-up has two chains, each about 2 1/2 feet long, each bolted through the chain to the trailer tounge on one end and each with a hook on the other end. I purchased a couple of new chains today from Harbor Freight, expecting the same configuration. Instead, each chain is 4 feet long with a hook on both ends.

Do I put some sort of "eyes" on the tounge and fasten one hook of each chain to one of the "eyes" and the other end to my truck? Forget the hooks on the trailer end and bolt each of the chains to the tounge as the old chains were? Bolt the middle of each chain to the tounge and hook all four hooks to the truck? Other?

 

[Thalasso]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

Time to replace the safety chains on my trailer. The existing set-up has two chains, each about 2 1/2 feet long, each bolted through the chain to the trailer tounge on one end and each with a hook on the other end. I purchased a couple of new chains today from Harbor Freight, expecting the same configuration. Instead, each chain is 4 feet long with a hook on both ends.

Do I put some sort of "eyes" on the tounge and fasten one hook of each chain to one of the "eyes" and the other end to my truck? Forget the hooks on the trailer end and bolt each of the chains to the tounge as the old chains were? Bolt the middle of each chain to the tounge and hook all four hooks to the truck? Other?

#1. Is the chain and hook rated for the load. It has to be load rated for the GVW of the trailer and boat.
#2. Attach it like the old one.
#3. Can you get away with 2Ft instead of 2 1/2 ft. If so cut one in half and make two out of it.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

#1. Is the chain and hook rated for the load. It has to be load rated for the GVW of the trailer and boat.
#2. Attach it like the old one.
#3. Can you get away with 2Ft instead of 2 1/2 ft. If so cut one in half and make two out of it.

#1: Yes, each chain is rated at 1250# - trailer/boat/motor/load combo just under 1000#.
#2: So I'd cut off the hook on one end and use Grade 8 bolt w/washer, through bolt hole in tounge. That would work.
#3: That might work - I'll check the length more closely tomorrow. Then I could return the other chain.

Thanks!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

Time to replace the safety chains on my trailer. The existing set-up has two chains, each about 2 1/2 feet long, each bolted through the chain to the trailer tounge on one end and each with a hook on the other end. I purchased a couple of new chains today from Harbor Freight, expecting the same configuration. Instead, each chain is 4 feet long with a hook on both ends.

Do I put some sort of "eyes" on the tounge and fasten one hook of each chain to one of the "eyes" and the other end to my truck? Forget the hooks on the trailer end and bolt each of the chains to the tounge as the old chains were? Bolt the middle of each chain to the tounge and hook all four hooks to the truck? Other?

Harbor Freight is also known as the China Mall. do NOT trust the ratings on the chains from harbor freight. go to a trailer shop or at least a tractor supply.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

+1^

 

[cribber]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

Safety chains are one of those things you pray you never have to use and you're glad they're there when you do. Just replace like with like as your current setup and you'll be fine. My trailer uses coiled braided steel cables for safety chains. Get the best of either type you can afford for replacements. Also replace all of the attaching hardware as well for longevity.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

Take them back and get a refund, go to a place like West Marine and get the correct chain. They will cut it for you or go to a local hardware store.

 

[Outsider]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

Safety chains should be short enough so the tongue won't hit the road if it comes off the ball. Having seen what happens to the tow vehicle when a tongue takes a bite, I'll give up a little turning radius (if necessary) to keep the tongue up ...

 

[sschefer]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

Take them back and get a refund, go to a place like West Marine and get the correct chain. They will cut it for you or go to a local hardware store.

Correct answer Silver Eagle.. I get my chain at home depot and cut it to length right in the store. They sell the hooks also. You don't need grade 8 hardware, grade 5 actually has a higher horizontal shear strength than grade 8. Grade 8 has a higher resistance to stretch and you're not worried about that.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

I checked the length of the existing chains. Turns out that by cutting a 4 foot chain in half I'll end up with new chains, each a couple of links longer than the old ones - which is perfect for the combo of hang and turning radius.

So, that leaves the disposition of the chains I purchased at HF. Return one and use one, or return both?

What's the issue with HF's safety chains. They spec at 1/4 inch, Grade 30/1250 lbs. just like the ones I've seen at Walmart and West. Yeah, they are from China. So are probably 50 percent of all the products I buy. I've used HF's Haul-Master ball/hitch assembly for a number of years with no sign of failure.

I know Chinese steel had a bad rep some years back. However, they are now the largest steel producer in the world, by a large margin.

Anybody had an actual problem with HF's Hitch-Master hitches or safety chains?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How to Hook up Safety Chains?

What's the issue with HF's safety chains. They spec at 1/4 inch, Grade 30/1250 lbs. just like the ones I've seen at Walmart and West. Yeah, they are from China. So are probably 50 percent of all the products I buy. I've used HF's Haul-Master ball/hitch assembly for a number of years with no sign of failure.

I know Chinese steel had a bad rep some years back. However, they are now the largest steel producer in the world, by a large margin.

Anybody had an actual problem with HF's Hitch-Master hitches or safety chains?

no issue, and chances are that if you buy a chain somewhere else, its going to be from china also. Just as a FYI, not everything at Harbor freight is from china either, they have some lines of tools/jacks that are US made, and the failure rate on those is pretty much the exact same.