Trailer Warning - Cross those Chains - Page 2

Rick Angles · 11-09-2010, 01:17 PM

The few trailers that I have towed in the past, I have crossed them but did not know why I did it. Now that I have my own trailer, it is nice to find out how to actually do things the right way.

A question about hooks. Do you run the hook into the hitch hole from the top or up from the bottom? So the open would be facing the truck or trailer? My hooks have wire like springs that cover the open surface of the hook, so I don't think they would bounce out, but nice to know if there is a correct way.

TS310C · 11-11-2010, 10:51 AM

When we bought our last trailer, I made the comment to the dealer that the chains looked a little small. The trailer is 36' long and 13'6" tall so it is pretty heavy. He told me that if the hitch breaks the last thing you want is to be attached to the trailer. The small chains will break so the trailer doesn't take you in the ditch with it. It made sense to me so we left the smaller chains on it. I guess that is what insurance is for. LOL

DW · 11-11-2010, 11:07 AM

I guess you aways learn something new, I had never heard of this !!!
Does crossing the chains apply to a goose type hitch as well ??

Chris Williams · 11-11-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TS310C

When we bought our last trailer, I made the comment to the dealer that the chains looked a little small. The trailer is 36' long and 13'6" tall so it is pretty heavy. He told me that if the hitch breaks the last thing you want is to be attached to the trailer. The small chains will break so the trailer doesn't take you in the ditch with it. It made sense to me so we left the smaller chains on it. I guess that is what insurance is for. LOL

This is just crazy! Would you rather be liable for whatever small damage to your tow vehicle is as you slow the trailer down, or for whatever carnage your out-of-control trailer wandering all over the highway is to all the other vehicles? And which alternative do you suppose will result to the least damage to your trailer and your race car? Connected to you, in whatever way, is the only real chance of a safe result.

Not only is their advice insane, it's illegal.

Chris Williams · 11-11-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DW

I guess you aways learn something new, I had never heard of this !!!
Does crossing the chains apply to a goose type hitch as well ??

No. The truck bed will support the tongue as you slow down, and the chains will keep it on the bed.

SG1809 · 11-11-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DW

I guess you aways learn something new, I had never heard of this !!!
Does crossing the chains apply to a goose type hitch as well ??

That's an interesting question. I have a Fifth Wheel trailer, not a Goose neck and installed on it are 2 cables with hooks. I could never figure out how they would attach to a 5th wheel but they are probably standard for a Goose neck. I can't see how you would cross them. I think the crossing is to support the trailer from dropping in case of an breakaway.

Pat I.

Bob Verwold · 11-11-2010, 12:31 PM

Not trying to change the subject , but aren't the small battery's hooked into the break system there for just that reason. When the cable breaks it automatically puts on the breaks.
Stopping the carnage that your out of control trailer might cause.......

Michael Pliska · 11-11-2010, 01:40 PM

I wonder how many people with bigger enclosed trailers have safety chains that meet the defined "each safety chain having an ultimate strength at least equal to the gross weight of the towed vehicles"? Take a look at chain ratings here: http://www.1st-chainsupply.com/WLLchart.htm
It looks like anyone with a bigger trailer needs two 5/8" chains to be legal!

On edit (I'll blame it on the cold medicine): Looks like ultimate strength is 4x WLL for Grade 70 chain, so 5/16" Grade 70 should suffice (I have 3/8" Gr 70 on mine now).

My trailer (16k GTWR) came with 1/4" chain held on with cold-shut links. Trying to pull the trailer over a hump in my driveway, the coupler broke loose. Fortunately the trailer didn't roll as it was hung up on the driveway, but the cold-shut links broke so easily I didn't even feel it in the truck. I discovered at that point that my breakaway switch was corroded and had quit working as well. From now on I check the breakaway switch monthly during racing season.

Chris Williams · 11-11-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Verwold

Not trying to change the subject , but aren't the small battery's hooked into the break system there for just that reason. When the cable breaks it automatically puts on the breaks.
Stopping the carnage that your out of control trailer might cause.......

If it works (battery not dead, switch still working - see below, etc.), and the brakes slow it down smoothly, and it doesn't wander all over the road while slowing down (or worse tip over), you get your trailer sitting in the middle of the freeway, with traffic coming up on it at freeway speed.

Or... you could drag the trailer, still hooked up to your tow vehicle and its brake controller, over to the side of the road, and stop it under some modicum of control.

Seems like a pretty clear choice.

Ken Haase · 11-16-2010, 03:20 AM

There are sad, and preventable, consequences to trailers being towed improperly, or illegally. A good friend and co-worker with my wife was on her way home from her shift as a nurse. It was a dark, wet, winter night and the highway was a mix of two lane changing to four lane sections. A small utility trailer (the type that have no lights and do not need to be registered) heavily loaded with firewood and being towed using an 1&7/8ths two-piece ball broke loose and crossed into the path of the nurse's car, killing her instantly.
Not long after that, an insurance investigator came by the dealership where I worked and asked if we sold that type of ball. Wasn't long before those were outlawed.

Don't skimp on this stuff.

11-09-2010, 01:17 PM	#11
Rick Angles Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Circleville,Ohio Posts: 113 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer Warning - Cross those Chains The few trailers that I have towed in the past, I have crossed them but did not know why I did it. Now that I have my own trailer, it is nice to find out how to actually do things the right way. A question about hooks. Do you run the hook into the hitch hole from the top or up from the bottom? So the open would be facing the truck or trailer? My hooks have wire like springs that cover the open surface of the hook, so I don't think they would bounce out, but nice to know if there is a correct way. __________________ Rick

11-11-2010, 10:51 AM	#12
TS310C Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Morton, IL Posts: 323 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer Warning - Cross those Chains When we bought our last trailer, I made the comment to the dealer that the chains looked a little small. The trailer is 36' long and 13'6" tall so it is pretty heavy. He told me that if the hitch breaks the last thing you want is to be attached to the trailer. The small chains will break so the trailer doesn't take you in the ditch with it. It made sense to me so we left the smaller chains on it. I guess that is what insurance is for. LOL __________________ Ryan Koener S/G 310C

11-11-2010, 11:07 AM	#13
DW Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Otsego,Michigan Posts: 101 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer Warning - Cross those Chains I guess you aways learn something new, I had never heard of this !!! Does crossing the chains apply to a goose type hitch as well ??

11-11-2010, 12:31 PM	#17
Bob Verwold Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fayetteville Ohio Posts: 656 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer Warning - Cross those Chains Not trying to change the subject , but aren't the small battery's hooked into the break system there for just that reason. When the cable breaks it automatically puts on the breaks. Stopping the carnage that your out of control trailer might cause.......

11-11-2010, 01:40 PM	#18
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer Warning - Cross those Chains I wonder how many people with bigger enclosed trailers have safety chains that meet the defined "each safety chain having an ultimate strength at least equal to the gross weight of the towed vehicles"? Take a look at chain ratings here: http://www.1st-chainsupply.com/WLLchart.htm It looks like anyone with a bigger trailer needs two 5/8" chains to be legal! On edit (I'll blame it on the cold medicine): Looks like ultimate strength is 4x WLL for Grade 70 chain, so 5/16" Grade 70 should suffice (I have 3/8" Gr 70 on mine now). My trailer (16k GTWR) came with 1/4" chain held on with cold-shut links. Trying to pull the trailer over a hump in my driveway, the coupler broke loose. Fortunately the trailer didn't roll as it was hung up on the driveway, but the cold-shut links broke so easily I didn't even feel it in the truck. I discovered at that point that my breakaway switch was corroded and had quit working as well. From now on I check the breakaway switch monthly during racing season. __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G Last edited by Michael Pliska; 11-12-2010 at 11:31 AM. Reason: Correction

11-16-2010, 03:20 AM	#20
Ken Haase Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 233 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Trailer Warning - Cross those Chains There are sad, and preventable, consequences to trailers being towed improperly, or illegally. A good friend and co-worker with my wife was on her way home from her shift as a nurse. It was a dark, wet, winter night and the highway was a mix of two lane changing to four lane sections. A small utility trailer (the type that have no lights and do not need to be registered) heavily loaded with firewood and being towed using an 1&7/8ths two-piece ball broke loose and crossed into the path of the nurse's car, killing her instantly. Not long after that, an insurance investigator came by the dealership where I worked and asked if we sold that type of ball. Wasn't long before those were outlawed. Don't skimp on this stuff.