safety chains

[vaccfam]

I have a stock mac 25 trrailer vintage 1983m On this trailer, there is a single chain welded to the bottom of the tongue just behind the coupler.<br /><br />Can anyone tell me the proper way to secure this to the vehicle?<br /><br />Newer trailers have 2 chains that are crossed. Is a single chain still legal?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mike

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: safety chains

Go to a local welding shop, and get the proper setup, it will not be that expensive.

 

[vaccfam]

Re: safety chains

Is there a website with a picture of the proper set up?<br /><br />Mike

 

[Seaboo2]

Re: safety chains

I belive he means that the proper set up is a 2 chain set up. The reason you cross the 2 chains is to catch and hold the tounge (from digging into the road), there is NO (realistic and safe) way to do this with 1 chain. 1 chain may be legal but for a small amount of money spent you can increase the safty margin alot.

 

[dakotashooter2]

Re: safety chains

OK is the catching the hitch part truth or fiction? I've dumped a few myself and seen a few dumped an frankly I've never seen it work that way. The weight of the hich usually splits the chains and drops to the pavement. Crossing chains does seem to reduce tension on the chains when you turn corners and possibly allow shorter chains.

 

[bomar76]

Re: safety chains

If the weight of the hitch will split the chains.... <br />They ain't stout enough!<br />You have to use equipment up to the task.....

 

[DJ]

Re: safety chains

Crossing the chains is "supposed" to catch the hitch.<br /><br />It also makes them slightly shorter, thus keeping them from dragging, in most instances.

 

[ob1jeeper]

Re: safety chains

djohns AND bomar are both correct...<br />As a rule of thumb, you want these chains to be of sufficent tensile strength to NOT break, under a 5G (that's 5 times the weight) of whichever is the heavier of the trailer or tow vehicle.<br /><br />Chains which are not strong to keep the trailer at least guided by the tow vehicle, in the event of a hitch failure, have the potential of allowing the trailer to become an un-manned and un-guided missle, capable of inflicting a LOT of damage... Especially to oncoming traffic.<br /><br />AND crossing the chains does indeed allow them to be run short enough, such that they won't drag the ground, and become weakened... Chains that rub on the ground should be re-adjusted, and replaced if they get anything more than a light scuffing, from having done so.<br /><br />If it were me, I'd sure-as-shootin' spend the extra couple pennies, and make sure those chains are sized WELL in excess of that 5G guideline. But then again, I also NEVER want to see my trailer go sliding past me on the highway EVER again... Good Luck...

 

[wezie]

Re: safety chains

I think they are to be bolted to the tongue vs welded.<br />Welds break and although they may be strong, there are no practical means to test the weld.<br />Safety chain kits come with the bolts.<br />Just a thought.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: safety chains

bolted to the tongue vs welded.<br />Welds break and although they may be strong, there

Yea thats what I said about the riveted vs welded boats.

 

[dakotashooter2]

Re: safety chains

I wasn't talking about splitting as in breaking the chains I was talking about splitting/moving the X made by the chains. On most settups (factory) I have seen the X is more like a V with a tail or an X with one long side and one short and the chains actually cross within several inches of the attachment at the trailer. I'm not saying the doesn't work, it just doesn't work as well as is envisioned. At high speeds that keep the chains tight it probably works but at lower speeds or when slowing the hitch just pushes through/moves the crossing point and drags.

 

[DoctorCAD]

Re: safety chains

What about cable vs chain. The cable is generally coiled, how can it be crossed?

 

[seadiva]

Re: safety chains

the chains do work with the cross. my partner here at work had gone to the lake a few weeks ago. he said he had notice the boat in the rear view mirror looked diffrent. he looked again a little down the road and the boat seemed to move up real high then low. he pulled over to see what was wrong, and the trailer hitch somehow came off of the ball and the chains were the only thing holding the trailer, it was sitting on the cross of the chains. lucky. just think if there was only one chain?

 

[PDS]

Re: safety chains

Just my opinion,jackknife the trailer and count how many links of strong chain it takes from (crossing chains) to the other side and use the same amount of links on the other chain. This will keep chain from dragging on the ground and, in the event of accedintaly loosing trailer off of hitch help keep it in control until you stop. BTW, jackknife it by backing up till trailer is about as sidewise as it can be(low speed) and don't use S-hooks, they might fall off. P.D.S.

 

[roadranger]

Re: safety chains

I get to move around rental generators on trailers at work. The rental agency always insists on crossed safety chains at the hitch. <br /><br />When they make the hitch hookup, the chains are generally LONG to accomodate various vehicle hitches.<br />What they do to keep the chain from dragging is twist the chain several times to take the slack out of several links to shorten up the chain. The more you twist the chain up, the shorter it gets. Course, you can go to the extreme, and make them too short!