Safety chain length

[timswi]

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.

Yeah, mine was a borrowed trailer--2 5/16 ball and coupler, the ball clamp rolled up and didn't latch on to the ball..Scary thing was is that I was driving 55+ mph on the highway all day. The trailer came off later that night when I hit a bump in the road at about 25mph..That scared the beegeebers out of me after thinking about it. Got lucky.

 

[nikerret]

I am generally against more regulations and the commercial trucking industry is a gigantic pain in the ***, but after seeing some complete losers with no regard for anyone’s safety, 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.

 

[Reb954]

I have no problem with a bunch of new laws as long as they only apply to the rest of ya.

 

[Redlands Okie]

We have the laws to handle such problems already. The problem is lack of Enforcment. More law will not solve that issue.

 

[dfkrug]

I am generally against more regulations and the commercial trucking industry is a gigantic pain in the ***, but after seeing some complete losers with no regard for anyone’s safety, 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.

Yeah, it is quite a dilemma.

Here in CA, there must be 15-20 million drivers. Most are OK (if they keep off the phone), but some are bad drivers and they mess it up for everyone. Ever get caught in a multi-hour traffic jam cuz some knucklehead caused a pileup?

And it has gotten worse. Many (most?) high schools do not provide drivers-ed, as they did when I was young. The state requires No Training to get a license, if you are over 18, and many parents don't want to pay for training young 16-17yo drivers with learner's permits. I would actually like to see a training requirement for getting a DL for cars or MCs, maybe like they do in Europe. Or maybe like a CDL here in the US.

Untrained drivers are just too hard on the rest of us.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Yeah, it is quite a dilemma.

Here in CA, there must be 15-20 million drivers. Most are OK (if they keep off the phone), but some are bad drivers and they mess it up for everyone. Ever get caught in a multi-hour traffic jam cuz some knucklehead caused a pileup?

And it has gotten worse. Many (most?) high schools do not provide drivers-ed, as they did when I was young. The state requires No Training to get a license, if you are over 18, and many parents don't want to pay for training young 16-17yo drivers with learner's permits. I would actually like to see a training requirement for getting a DL for cars or MCs, maybe like they do in Europe. Or maybe like a CDL here in the US.

Untrained drivers are just too hard on the rest of us.

I certainly agree, home-training for most is always inadequate. The 'home-trainers' are seldom excellent drivers themselves, or at least that my knowledge of them. And put m/c training at the top of that list. Driving, i.e. riding, a m/c is NOT like learning to ride a bicycle!

Towing a trailer... add another training and testing phase. I'd venture to say that at least half of those towing a trailer couldn't back it up to save their life. Safety? Forget that!!!

In addition to the training of all new drivers, I think re-testing those over age 65 every so often should be required, to include sight and hearing. Hold the flames - I'm 79 and would include myself in that group.

 

[Aquamoose]

In addition to the training of all new drivers, I think re-testing those over age 65 every so often should be required, to include sight and hearing. Hold the flames - I'm 79 and would include myself in that group.

What does hearing have to do with driving?

 

[bcp]

In addition to the training of all new drivers, I think re-testing those over age 65 every so often should be required, to include sight and hearing. Hold the flames - I'm 79 and would include myself in that group.

Or sight?





Bruce

 

[Gem99ultra]

What does hearing have to do with driving?

What??? Are you crazy? How else would the be able to talk on their cell phone while driving?

 

[fried1765]

Absolutely agree. People have been killed by trailers coming off the ball with chains either not hooked up or non-existent. I had a low speed case of that once, it's not a good feeling. Thankfully the safety chains kept the trailer aligned behind the truck so I could make a controlled stop. I'm OCD about this now. When I hook up my trailers (no matter what size), I jack the trailer until the truck starts to come up. Some people think I'm nuts, till I tell them about my prior experience then they get it.

I had a major accident when I hit an unmaintained tandem trailer that broke loose one car ahead of me, at 75 mph on I-95 in Florida.
Lots of junk trailers on the road in Florida.

 

[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.