2023 CURT Manufacturing LLC. At the end of the day, everyones situation will be a little different given the variables of each particular job. . You can also visit our RV accessories store for more information on safety chain options. Safety chains can make driving your RV much easier, and they also bring added security if the hitch lock were to fail. If your chains have hooks, make sure they are of at least the same rating as the required chain. Once you've hooked the chains up to each side of your trailer, cross them underneath the trailer tongue as you prepare to connect them to your vehicle. Our easy safety chains are made from high-quality steel and are grade-30-certified. Trailer Safety Chains should be as short as practical. The definition for safety chains is a normally slacked chain used for preventing excessive movement between the vehicle and the trailer. The hitch system you end up with will ultimately be determined by the trailer and tow vehicles capabilities, so well dive into some of the most popular configurations and show you how to equip yourself for whatever come across your hauling radar. Most of the laws are consistent across the board, but some haveslightly different details. Well get more into this later, but for now, just remember that tongue weight is critical to ensure that the front tires arent unloading and reducing their stopping capability and that the tow vehicle can manage the trailers weight shifts. Ideally you will be able to permanently fasten these chains to your trailer tongue with grade 8 bolts, but its not a deal breaker if you cant. Are the articles helpful? This 32", Class lll, safety chain will hold gross loads up to 5,000 lbs. Their effectiveness is related to how much slack there is in the chains; there should be enough for the trailer to articulate through its range of motion without pulling the chains taut, but if theyre too loose, the trailer has more room to free roamuntil you come to a stop, like a long playground swing. After a bit of research, it seems that every state that I looked at does require safety chains with trailers. If that cable is longer than the chains, it will never activate. Safety chains are metal box chains that are used as a part of your hitch system to provide added security when towing. For the trailer, GVWR is the total capacity, including the weight of the trailer itself. This is a bad idea on several levels which we discuss in, The first step is to use the right equipment. If your chains have hooks, make sure they are of at least the same rating as the required chain. Here are some of the best practices that I think of when Im looking at trailer chains on my trailers. No matter how far her are planning to drive down the street or across the state using safety chains when you tow is smartest, safe and required by act. Weve all spotted people who shouldnt be anywhere near a car hauler, often pulling those infamous orange and white rental trailers, and simply put, we dont want any one of our dear readers to end up being lumped in with these meme-able novices. Simple enough to build in an hour, and great enough to keep . Also, make sure to attach to something of substance, both on the trailer tongue and on the tow vehicle. endstream
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<. For instance, some states require chain, where cable appears to be a legal substitute in others. You definitely want that to activate in an emergency. Some of the inventions are cool, but they must overcome the legal and governmental inertia to use them. CURT has a few differently alternatives while it comes go securing your clip. If they are too long get them shortened. How best to strap a vehicle down for transport is an age-old debate, but generally, experts agree that its better to strap the vehicle at four points to the trailer corners, without crossing the straps in an X-pattern left-to-right. Maybe the better question to ask, since were required to use them: is How do we make them effective?. It seems like a silly duplication. The purpose of safety chains is to prevent the trailer from separating from the tow vehicle in event of a hitch failure, such as a hitch ball that has loosened. While the legal requirements for RV trailer safety chains vary from state to state, its always a good idea to take the extra precautions of using safety chains no matter where youre driving. Lets look at these 2, then some best practices. As for the hitch itself, there are several different locking mechanisms out there, all of which have a different operation while securing the trailer. A class III hitch is rated for a maximum gross trailer weight of 5,000 pounds, so you will want safety chains rated as high or higher than the hitch capacity, such as chains that have a working load limit of 5,400 pounds. If that cable is longer than the chains, it will never activate. If you find any, replace the chains immediately. A fifth-wheel hitch largely alleviates issues in this context, with the tongue weight in that setup sitting over the axle and removing the incidental fulcrum. Many times I see the last link of a chain welded to the trailer frame. $27.90, Have questions or need help? The chain should not be tight, but should not have much slack either. Learning good trailer construction by examining bad is a great way to focus on details.
In most places within the USA, when the trailer total capacity is over 3000 lbs, trailer brakes are required. Required fields are marked *. For the trailer, GVWR is the total capacity, including the weight of the trailer itself. And that was a TrailMeister Trailer Tip. . The chains should be crossed in an "X" fashion below the ball mount, with . 335 0 obj
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If your tow hitch doesnt have brackets, you can find spots on the frame of your vehicle where you can hook up the chains. CURT safety chains represent available in 27, 35 and 48 lengths also will a minimum break force ranging from 2,000 to 24,000 lbs. Your vehicles tow hitch may have brackets welded on to it. Transport fastener safety chains working in minimum break vigor from 18,800 lbs. Attaching safety chains the right way is easy to do: simply cross the chains underneath the coupler, one over the other, as you attach them to your vehicle.
You may need to get under the vehicle and use a flashlight to find an appropriate spot for the chains. The 5s are typically built with thicker steel and utilize more attachment points on the frame to better distribute the load. If you are towing anything, it is important to know how to attach safety chains to a trailer. For instance, some states actually require chain, yet cable appears to be a legal substitute in others. forever. Many thanks to B&W Trailer Hitches for their help in creating this video! . %PDF-1.5
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Chains may not be the greatest, but they definitely stack the deck in your favor. Here's a good way to estimate the amount of drop your ball mount needs: Measure up from level ground to the top of the receiver. A little slip-up could mean the trailer unhitches while moving over the crown of a driveway, or you end up being that guygoing viral for ghost-riding a trailer as it escapes down the freeway. Yes, if you are using a towable RV, you will need a safety chain. Safety Cables Or are trailer safety chains just a legal pain in the rear? Safety chains are crucial whenever youre towing an RV or a vehicle behind your RV. A little twist to adjust the length is one thing but stacking or over-lapping the links can create too much strain and stress wear on the chain. And Second, the Practical and Responsible side of doing it right. Use it outdoors, then roll it right in. On the surface it seems to reason that you dont ever want your trailer straying from the tow vehicle, so with belts and suspenders as it were, the redundant connection is good. CURT is ampere Lippert Brand . . Step 3: Cross The Chains Underneath The Trailer Tongue. Your account has been temporarily locked, so no orders can be placed at this time. Installing safety chains is relatively simple, below are tips for proper installation: Just as there are tips for installation, there are tips for how NOT to install them: The chains must be crossed and attached to the vehicle near the points of bumper attachments to the chassis of the vehicle, crossing the chains assists in reducing the probability of stress, plus they also act as a cradle in the even of a separation from the vehicle. Learn more about whether or not you need to stop at weigh stations when youre driving your RV throughout the United States. Still, if you use one, make sure of the rating and your load to avoid brewing a recipe for disaster. Are trailer safety chains just a pain in the rear? Trailer Safety Chain - Link Lock | Revolutionizing Trailer Chain Safety Too many times we just use and accept the chains that come with the trailer without thinking about the implications. But there are lots of other reasons that a hitch can fail, even if you do everything correctly. Read our basic guide for safe and happy towing. Cables dont adjust for length, and you cant fit them to be the right length. to 7,500 lbs. The crossed chains will provide a cradle or safety net for the coupler, keeping it from scraping the ground until you can bring your vehicle to a complete stop. *All questions are reviewed and approved before being posted or answered. We moreover have a vinyl-coated option to keep the chain well protected from the elements. Safety chains come in multiple classes, see the chart below, it is vital that the chains exceed your GTW (Gross Trailer Weight), the weight of the loaded trailer. Oh, and what are the sneaky little details. The chain should not be tight, but should not have much slack either. The purpose of the safety chains is to keep the auto transport trailer connected to your tow vehicle in the unlikely event the coupler comes off the ball or the ball comes off the hitch. Please help us with a review of your recent experience. . Most vehicles use a receiver-type hitch, as opposed to a fifth-wheel or bumper-mounted hitch, though most everything were discussing will translate. Up to 18,000 lbs total capacity. Also, never weld the chains to your trailer tongue, as this will weaken the chain and defeat their purpose. Conceptually, straight cables are pretty cool, but they would have to be made specific for each application so length is right. Treat them as if your life, and your horses life depends on them. They provide a secondary means of connection; it includes link chain and all the necessary means of attachment, they are there to retain the connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer, that should NOT be construed as vehicle control or the connection will be maintained in the event of an incident, such as a rollover, collision, etc. That is not just links of the chain. So for example, if youre using a Class 2 hitch that has a max GTW of 3,000 lbs, youll need your safety chains to be rated for at least 3,000 lbs. Secure the safety chains to your tow vehicle using the vehicles hitch, frame, or bumper brackets. Sounds good, but. A simple Solutions! help you choose a proper safety device for the your trailer's GVWR "Whenever you pull a trailer that is not equipped with an independent braking system that can stop it should it become detached from the vehicle, you must use a safety device (chain or cable) to attach the trailer to the towing vehicle." "The It is recommended that two safety chains be used at all times. Hitch-ball sizes of 1-7/8 and 2 inches are acceptable with a U-Haul trailer coupler. Get maximum height with a garage crane that still rolls through the door! These tips are just the foundation of good trailering habits. . Ancra International 20 Foot Chain And Hook Assembly - 45881-10-20 . The only exception is for fifth wheel RVs, which use a unique hitching system that does not require safety chains. Zip Breakaway Cable and Switch - 4 or 6 Length, Starting at:
While theyre much less common today, older truck bumpers with hitch ball mounts were generally rated for Class 3. And please dont forgot to those like, share, and subscribe buttons as well as using our Amazon links to help us keep producing content to help you on the trail and in camp. There are several inventions that people have come up with to eliminate the chains, and in many cases, make towing even safer. Safety chains are crucial for towing your RV. I used to think that safety chains were only in case my hitch were to fail. Check that the ball is secure (tight, etc.). (Control, because the crossover reduces the range of freedom for the trailer tongue.). I can already hear the scrolling and clicking away because safety is boring to talk about, but trailer preparation could be the difference between a minor blip and a DEFCON 1 traffic incident. to 26,400 lbs. Specifically, for chains to work properly, it is essential to use the right grade, and a size guide can help determine which one would work. Also read this other article about where and how to attach the chains. Safety chains, however, are universal. 135, How to safely recycle tires, fluids, and scrap metals. Instead, use connecting links (rated higher than the chain) so you can adjust length. The standardized sizes for these receivers and mounts are dictated by the hitchs weight rating. Our rental locations normally have chains available for purchase, but not for rent. When shopping for RV safety chains, make sure that the chains WLL Is not lower than your RVs GVWR. One other dreadful thought to support the Why Use Trailer Safety Chains read this article about dangling from a bridge by a single chain. It only takes a moment of distraction or absent mindedness to miss part of the connection process. Yes, I use trailer safety chains now happily to protect myself from myself. We also have a vinyl-coated option to keep the chain well protected from the elements. . . Articles are free, but of course, there are costs. Starting at the hitch, make sure it is securely on the tow vehicle. That being said, there are 2 parts to this . Check into your states rules to know whats required. This hitch isnt going to fail. Making sure everything safely connects is the first part of that. The trailer safety chains help prevent too much movement between the trailer and towing vehicle; they can serve as support . And, its a good idea because you dont want to be responsible for killing someone. Believe it or not, this is a big problem. The concepts are pretty easy to see with some good graphics. If youve been paying attention to the pushback that people who roll coal have been getting from the government, youve seen how certain behaviors can become subject to heavy restrictions once enough people ruin it for everyone. Using safety chains when you tow is smart and the law, they are necessary so that in the event that the ball or coupler fail, you are able to maintain control until you can safely pull over. Safety cables are a medium-duty safety option and are very effective for most standard trailers. In times past, I disliked trailer safety chains. To keep it as simple as possible, safety chain requirements state that the breaking strength of EACH chain, not the working load limit (WLL), should be equal to or exceed the gross trailer weight.A 5,000 pound trailer needs safety chains that each have a break strength of at least 5,000 pounds. chains with s-hooks Durable steel construction 5000 lbs. Trailer Safety Chains should be as short as practical. But other towable RV types, such as travel trailers, toy haulers, and pop-up campers require a safety chain when towing. If you use hooks, make sure they are rated above the chain, and avoid open hooks. One of the biggest mistakes new trailer users make concerns balancing the weight of the trailer such that it doesnt oscillate or sway laterally. 103.123.112.6 Crossing the safety chains on a trailer helps the chains act as a harness below the trailer tongue, which can keep it from dragging on the ground and getting further damaged if the trailer gets detached from the tow vehicle. AND make sure there is no way for them to bounce out, shake off, or otherwise come loose. Thats an all too common practice that introduces some dangerous side effects. Fully Engineered. A Feature of Synthesis Engineering Services, Inc. AYMMIC Trailer Safety Chain Grade 70 3/8" x 35",2pcs,Each Fitted with 1 Clevis Slip Hook with Latch end Fitting,Working Load Limit:6.600 Lbs,for Heavy Duty Traile and Gooseneck Couplers 4.7 (47) $3799 Save 10% with coupon FREE delivery Tue, Mar 28 Or fastest delivery Fri, Mar 24 More Buying Choices $35.01 (2 used & new offers) Americans enjoy nearly total freedom in their choice of trailer (with rare exceptions for states like California, which does regulate routes for large recreational vehicles), and that freedom comes at the price of self-enforced safety precautions. Unlock the full Lazydays experience! well, they cant think that far. This can help prevent accidents and keep you and your passengers safe. Most of the laws are consistent across the board, but some haveslightly different details. Making sure everything is safely connected is the first part of that. 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