Towing, Safty chain question

[kenmyfam]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

Asked a few of my neighbours that have campers and house trailers. They all cross theirs.

 

[cbear34]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

I cross mine. reasoning is the chains catching the tongue. If you look in your truck owners manual it will probably tell you how to do it in the towing section. I have a 94 K1500 and the GM manual says to cross the chains.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

Hmmm. Parallel universe?

Sounds that way, doesn't it?

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

I hadn't up to now.....but this is the place to learn about such things. I'm in.

 

[Have Fun Today]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

Send this one to the Myth Busters, lets find out once and for all!

 

[Outsider]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

OK, here's a way to set up trailer chains; there are others, but this method is optimum for me. The idea is to not only satisfy the law, but also to minimize the dangers associated with coming unhitched at speed; so with that in mind ...

1. Place your trailer tongue on the ground with the vehicle hitch directly above.
2. Measure chains (crossed or not, your option) so the tongue, with chains attached, would be just short of dragging.
3. Properly hitch trailer and attach chains. Proceed to a clear area , have a spotter, and execute maximum turns in both directions. If you can make max turns without reaching chain limits, you're good to go. If not, you can bend/break something if you turn too sharp; decide if you want longer chains (see below) or larger turn radius and make adjustments accordingly.

About the only thing worse than losing a hub at speed is to lose the tongue and have it dig in. If seen both, and it weren't pretty sights. Think about it, it makes sense and increases your safety margin (both for you and those on the road around you) ....

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

Just drag something with two ropes and you'll see that if there crossed it will pull straight uncrossed it will go all over.

Don't know about that sticker but do know you cross em so it WILL pull straight

 

[JRJ]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

One problem I have is that the attachment point on the trailer I have has a single point of attachment for the chains, not a bar with an attachment point on either end. As a result there is no way I can cross the chains. I don't like it, but short of getting a bar welded on there is nothing I can do.

This trailer is about 8 years old and that is the way it came. Made by 4winns if I remember correctly. My question is if crossing the chains is required by law how was the manufacturer able to produce one that can't?

You can cross your chains. Even though the ends attach at one point, there is a left and right. Attach the left chain to the right of your receiver and the right chain to to the left of your receiver, and you have crossed chains. Required by law in most states and dictated by common sense everywhere else.

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Towing, Safty chain question

Send this one to the Myth Busters, lets find out once and for all!
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OHHH thats a great idea!


I always cross my chains, dont relaly know why lol...Ive had 4 boats now and I DO REMEMBER that on my 1st one I never did but then a guy I thgink at the marine shop corrected me and told me I was wrong and the chains needed to be crossed and that it was the law in AZ. If a coop saw that he could kick my *** so ever since then I cross them.

When I bought my NEW BAYLINER 2 months ago when they hooked it up to my truck at the dealer they crossed the chains and showed me where to hook them on and its as all agree, hooks from behind not forward and corssed chains so I will continue to do that.

If the toungue comes off man its not gonna be pretty! Either right or wrong if you loose the tounge your basicly screwed so just slow down and try to pull over as slow and easy as you can I guess....