Safety chain length

[not2old]

I had a pick-up box trailer come off the ball at 30 mph. when overloaded too far to the rear with gravel. Safety chain prevented a real mess. It took a half hour with a shovel to move the load more to the front before I could get it re-attached. No damage done and a very good lesson learned that will never be forgotten.

 

[John_Mc]

... I’m starting to think a special DL endorsement and driving test (to include connecting the trailer and knowing it’s parts) should be required, to pull a trailer. If nothing else, the towing laws need completely redone to be more easy to understand and apply.

A number of European countries require a special endorsement to tow a trailer. I think it's a good idea.

 

[aczlan]

That is one way to learn how important those chains are. A very memorable way.

A friend I have known for years had his trailer come off the ball, and chains averted a major disaster. Damage to the back of his SUV, sure, but the trailer did not get away. Turns out....he was towing a trailer with a 2" ball hitch.....with a 1 7/8" ball! For years!

I wonder how many folks on the road are doing that now. You can get away with it, but the first time your trailer tongue lifts...may be your last.

The ball clamp inside the hitch is also adjustable. Most folks don't know or bother.

A friend would haul a tow dolly with a 2" coupler using a 1 7/8" ball for years, makes no sense to me, anything that we get with a 1 7/8" coupler gets a 2" coupler installed ASAP.
No sense in confusing things and having 3 different size balls around.

Aaron Z

 

[adam728]

A friend would haul a tow dolly with a 2" coupler using a 1 7/8" ball for years, makes no sense to me, anything that we get with a 1 7/8" coupler gets a 2" coupler installed ASAP.
No sense in confusing things and having 3 different size balls around.

Aaron Z

Last year an acquaintance borrowed a tow dolly, drove his truck a few hours down to buy a new truck, then used the new truck to dolly the old one back home. Found out at a railroad crossing that he had the 2" coupler, 1-7/8" ball thing going on. For as bad as it went, it couldn't have gone better. No damage, and an exciting 55mph loss of control and off road excursion.

I quadruple check ball / coupler sizes every time. Paranoid from other's experiences. Even just moving a brush trailer around with the tractor, it gets the right ball.

 

[timswi]

Last year an acquaintance borrowed a tow dolly, drove his truck a few hours down to buy a new truck, then used the new truck to dolly the old one back home. Found out at a railroad crossing that he had the 2" coupler, 1-7/8" ball thing going on. For as bad as it went, it couldn't have gone better. No damage, and an exciting 55mph loss of control and off road excursion.

I quadruple check ball / coupler sizes every time. Paranoid from other's experiences. Even just moving a brush trailer around with the tractor, it gets the right ball.

I bought a Reese drop hitch with all 3 sizes. Has worked out very well for me so far.

 

[dfkrug]

No sense in confusing things and having 3 different size balls around.

I use 1 7/8" balls and hitches for my ATV, towing a chipper and homebuilt trailer. For my PU, I have 2 streetable trailers, and use a 2". Those trailers are kinda big for the ATV, but I have moved them around the property that way. A sloppy fit, but not a danger with no load, and not on the highway.

You COULD do what Tim did and get a 3-ball setup. Even Horrible Fright has them for $26.

 

[aczlan]

I use 1 7/8" balls and hitches for my ATV, towing a chipper and homebuilt trailer. For my PU, I have 2 streetable trailers, and use a 2". Those trailers are kinda big for the ATV, but I have moved them around the property that way. A sloppy fit, but not a danger with no load, and not on the highway.

You COULD do what Tim did and get a 3-ball setup. Even Horrible Fright has them for $26.

I could, I do have a 1 7/8" ball mount hiding in the back of the shop and a tri-ball setup, but why would I want to? Everything is standardized on a 2" ball, I only need to keep one size ball in the vehicles (and on the tractors, golf carts and RTV) and I can tow anything on the property.

Aaron Z

 

[Tractorable]

When my sister and I were kids back in the 70’s my dad borrowed a trailer to haul a Ford 8N from South Carolina to Virginia behind our beautiful brown Chevy Caprice Classic station wagon.

Dad was testing out the ball hitch by towing the trailer around the circle driveway, with my sister and I on the trailer! The trailer broke loose with no safety chains and my sister and I went for a ride on a runaway trailer. It eventually came to a stop with no harm done, but made for a good story. Gotta love the 70’s, no helmets, no seat belts, and no safety chains!

 

[John_Mc]

I could, I do have a 1 7/8" ball mount hiding in the back of the shop and a tri-ball setup, but why would I want to? Everything is standardized on a 2" ball, I only need to keep one size ball in the vehicles (and on the tractors, golf carts and RTV) and I can tow anything on the property.

Aaron Z

I have the same thing. All of my trailers/splitters etc are set up for 2" ball. One trailer came with 1 7/8" coupler, but I switched it to 2". It's very convenient to be able to move anything with any tow vehicle (tractor, Tacoma pickup, M37 antique military truck, AWD minivan, Subaru Forester or an antique ATV). I do have one beat up old "in the woods" trailer that has a pin hitch, but it will get swapped over as soon as I get around to it (of course I've been saying that for years). I do have to pay attention to the town vehicle capabilities, but any of them work for moving things around when the trailers are empty.

 

[timswi]

I use 1 7/8" balls and hitches for my ATV, towing a chipper and homebuilt trailer. For my PU, I have 2 streetable trailers, and use a 2". Those trailers are kinda big for the ATV, but I have moved them around the property that way. A sloppy fit, but not a danger with no load, and not on the highway.

You COULD do what Tim did and get a 3-ball setup. Even Horrible Fright has them for $26.

$26--YIKES..I paid 10x that amount..Thinking the HF version is good on property and not necessarily on the road. Bought a 2500, so none of my draw bars fit anymore. This thing is heavy duty and seems to do a nice job..+I can move my camper around the property when needed..I wouldn't try it on the road though.