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.