What is the proper length for chains on the tongue when towing. Is it imperative they be crossed. Son is taking possession of my little Ventura and heading to Cranbrook tonight. Hopefully someone will soon answer this.
Long enough so they will not bind when making the sharpest turn.
Short enough that they do not drag on the ground when on level surface.
Crossed so it may prevent the tongue from hitting the ground should it come unhitched.
The tongue should rest where the chain is crossed if things work as planed.
1. What is the proper length for chains on the tongue when towing?
2. Is it imperative they be crossed?
1. You want to have just enough slack in each connected chain so that it [b]will not bind during a hard right or left turn.
2. YES. The purpose of the chain is to catch the trailer tongue and prevent it fron hitting the pavement if the ball breaks free.
Some people have the chains short enough so that they can just hook the ends to the receiver loops. Mine are longer so that they double back and hook into themselves. I make a "Cat's Cradle" below the hitch when I chain up.
Thank you so much for your help folks. My son was so surprised reading the first two comments and then he had to leave. He is heading to Campbell River, Bc and then to Cranbrook, BC. I have introduced him to this forum and encouraged him to join. His mind is awhirl in the modifications that he wants to make. Boy, I even parted with my disco ball!
I had the opportunity today to check a section of Oregon law that I had believed to require crossing the chains, but read that the chain(s) must merely prevent the tongue from dragging on the ground.
If your chains originate from one bolt, as they usually do on Scamp, it is impossible to cross them, just wind them, therefore they have to be short enough that the tongue can't hit the ground, which means they have to be centerlined to accomodate turns.
One of the main reasons to cross your chains is so that when(if) the hitch comes off while traveling the weight now hanging on them is more stable. If the were not crossed the weight could sway from side to side easier then if they were crossed, creating and even more dangerous situation then you would already be in. Think of the sideways stability of the following shapes. With the trailer hitch weight on the bottom, he first would swing easily side to side, but in the later be much more stable.
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2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
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I fully agree that crossed are better than single, but if your chains originate from only one bolt, you can't cross them, just twist them.
Scamp 13' and 16' often (usually? always?) come from the factory that way and if the owner wishes to cross the chains then he/she must make modifications.
"The Eggstacy"
Boomerang
YES. The purpose of the chain is to catch the trailer tongue and prevent it fron hitting the pavement if the ball breaks free.
2009 Escape 19
Linear Mode
