VESC V-5 Specifications

Iplayfarmer · Sep 22, 2011

I came accross this when I was looking for a new stinger for my reciever hitch and thought I'd share. The link below is to the Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission regulation V-5 which give specifications for breaking strengths of hitch components, weights of the four light hitch classifications, safety chain attachment procedures, and lots of other info. The whole document is less than 20 pages and is fairly straight forward without an overabundance of legal jargon that a normal person wouldn't understand.

VESC Regulation V-5

It seems this document contains answers to a lot of topics that have been debated in these forum. I know each state has their own laws, but this regulation looks like it's designed as a template for states to adopt. If nothing else it's a starting point.

Some specifics that I found interesting are that a Class IV coupling has to withstand 3 times the rated trailer weight, but safety chains only have to withstand 1 times the rated trailer weight.

jonyyuma · Sep 22, 2011

Interesting about the safety chains ratings.? This might be by the same regulators whom said it is safer now with 5 tiny steel cables on the sides of the expressways? How come they cannot keep them repaired?

creekbend · Sep 22, 2011

jonyyuma said:
Interesting about the safety chains ratings.? This might be by the same regulators whom said it is safer now with 5 tiny steel cables on the sides of the expressways? How come they cannot keep them repaired?

Excellent point that you brought to attention. I also do not understand the safety chain requirement issues. Imagine the sudden force that takes place, if and when- hopefully never, that your trailer being towed suddenly breaks loose while traveling at Interstate speeds.

Iplayfarmer · Sep 22, 2011

creekbend said:
Excellent point that you brought to attention. I also do not understand the safety chain requirement issues. Imagine the sudden force that takes place, if and when- hopefully never, that your trailer being towed suddenly breaks loose while traveling at Interstate speeds.

I don't think that a 6,000 pound trailer actually requires 6,000 pounds of force to pull. The chains would have to hold the tongue weight and any additional force to stop or pull the trailer. Also, any need for the trailer chains to actually support a load would be VERY temporary.

jonyyuma · Sep 23, 2011

I had a friend whom had the ball come loose from the hitch. He said the trailer, minus harley flipped over and over twisting..the safety chains held tight. Some of the oem chains look so very light, and prob. are mfg. in China, so who knows the real load ratings?. Btw, I read where the new steel cables barriers for the interstate will not stop Semis? So what are they thinking at TDOT? Did they think we all drove golfcarts???

Diamondpilot · Sep 23, 2011

jonyyuma said:
I had a friend whom had the ball come loose from the hitch. He said the trailer, minus harley flipped over and over twisting..the safety chains held tight. Some of the oem chains look so very light, and prob. are mfg. in China, so who knows the real load ratings?. Btw, I read where the new steel cables barriers for the interstate will not stop Semis? So what are they thinking at TDOT? Did they think we all drove golfcarts???

I have seen the steel cables stop semi's. I guess its all at the angle they hit. Either way they are going to slow it down and have to be 1/10th the cost of concrete barriers. I would rather have 10 miles of some type of barrier then 1 mile of another.

Chris

Iplayfarmer · Sep 23, 2011

Diamondpilot said:
I have seen the steel cables stop semi's. I guess its all at the angle they hit. Either way they are going to slow it down and have to be 1/10th the cost of concrete barriers. I would rather have 10 miles of some type of barrier then 1 mile of another.

Chris

...and I've seen semis go right over the cement and the metal guard rail type of barriers. Nothing's 100%.