Safety chain question.

[Kevin K]

What is the best way to hook up the safety chains when towing?
A

Run both sides of the chain under frame

B

Run one side over top of frame and one side under frame

C

Run both sides of the chain on the top of frame.
I tend to go with B when towing.

[Chester Taje]

I copied this from a web site.


You must have two separate means of attachment between your vehicle and the trailer. Safety chains should be crossed under the tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the road should the primary hitch accidentally disconnect. It is recommended that chain hooks have latches or devices that prevent accidental disconnect. The breaking strength of each chain should equal the gross weight of the towed trailer. (See: Farm Vehicles and Equipment and The Highway Traffic Act, Appendix A - chain grades charts.) Chains are required for goose neck type trailers that utilize a ball and socket type hitch. Fifth-wheel type hitches that have safety latches do not require safety chains.

[Ed Harris]

I have to say I have not seen a chain attachment point like yours before.
It seems like it would put all of the stress of the load solely on the bolt that the chains attach to and that it is on the wrong side of the frame?

I would think it would be less stressed if the chains were attached under the frame not over.
The way it looks to me there is a lateral force on that single bolt which is where it will be the weakest.

I would simply get new,longer chains annd wrap them around the frame on each side and then connect that end for good.
Then I would cross them under the tongue and connect to the tow vehicle.
Just make sure the length is right so the tongue will not hit the ground should the chains come into play as Ches says above.

I have used a few sets of the Aircraft cable style chaons from Walmart annd they work well for this.Another bonus is that when they are not connected to the vehicle they just re-coil to the trailer and are compact.

Just my thoughts.
Ed

[Frederick L. Simson]

What is the best way to hook up the safety chains when towing?
[b]A Run both sides of the chain under frame
[b]B Run one side over top of frame and one side under frame
[b]C Run both sides of the chain on the top of frame.

The correct choice is [b]"A"

SAFETY CHAINS CAN PREVENT RUNAWAY TRAILER in case hitch/coupler fails

[Bigfoot Mike]

You must have two separate means of attachment between your vehicle and the trailer. Safety chains should be crossed under the tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the road should the primary hitch accidentally disconnect. It is recommended that chain hooks have latches or devices that prevent accidental disconnect. The breaking strength of each chain should equal the gross weight of the towed trailer. (See: Farm Vehicles and Equipment and The Highway Traffic Act, Appendix A - chain grades charts.) Chains are required for goose neck type trailers that utilize a ball and socket type hitch. Fifth-wheel type hitches that have safety latches do not require safety chains.

This is very good. Thanks Ches.

[Roy in TO]

[quote]What is the best way to hook up the safety chains when towing?
A
Attachment 13548


I'd try to move the chain to the underside of metal then use option A.

It would be hard to torque the bolt and the chains would be coming from the correct side of the frame to "catch" the tongue if the hitch came undone.

[Doug Mager]

IMHO this current set up is ALL wrong. As posted earlier you should have TWO seperate chains (one on either leg of the frame) attached to the underside of each frame rails and CROSSED underneath the frame (as pointed out) forming a 'saddle' upon which the trailer tongue should fall in case it comes disconnected from the tow vehicle while motoring down freeway!!!!

[Pete Dumbleton]

Here's a photo from a chain web site. Three things wrong:



1. Chains should be crossed under frame so it won't drop completely.

2. S-hooks should have keeper on them or be replaced with better hooks.



http://www.tjtrailers.com/store/clevis-gra...slip-hooks.html

3. S-hooks are applied incorrectly; the end should come up from the bottom of the hole and down the outside so bouncing won't dislodge them. These hooks came out from the outside and down through the hole. Try it both ways and hit them from the bottom a few times to see which dislodges (I did mine the right way and in towing 12,000 miles in BC, YT, NWT and AK only one hook came loose once!).

[Al POGUE]

The answer is - A - , CROSSED UNDER THE TONGUE, in New York State, the Fine for not doing this is $150.00 plus court fee. WELCOME TO THE EMPIRE STATE.

[Pete Dumbleton]

With a single bolt, the chains have to be twisted to get them to cross.