Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[dragoneggs]

There's an RV place I know of that sells safety chains they modify. They hacksaw a link almost in two, epoxy the gap and spray it silver. That's so if trailer comes uncoupled it snaps, they say you don't want the trailer wagging behind by just those chains!

I hope that is a joke! I see a massive lawsuit should that ever happen.

 

[Doofy]

What amazes me most is how there aren't MORE accidents. That setup with just a few turns down road that rubber bungee would have to snap. Then a bump and hitch is off the ball.
There's an RV place I know of that sells safety chains they modify. They hacksaw a link almost in two, epoxy the gap and spray it silver. That's so if trailer comes uncoupled it snaps, they say you don't want the trailer wagging behind by just those chains!

I believe the safety chains are to prevent the towed object from going in to the other lanes and hitting someone. I have had a 14' tandem axle trailer come loose at 65mph and it was a wild scary ride. Trailer was banging in to the back of the truck, weaving back and forth to the limits of the chains and finally broke free, crossed in to the on-coming lane almost taking out a car, then went down an embankment and 30 yards in to the swamp. Whew! Took a couple hours to fish it out and hook it back up properly.
I had forgotten to switch out the 1-7/8" ball for the 2-5/16.

Could have turned out badly for me and the other car.

 

[Howling]

What amazes me most is how there aren't MORE accidents. That setup with just a few turns down road that rubber bungee would have to snap. Then a bump and hitch is off the ball.
There's an RV place I know of that sells safety chains they modify. They hacksaw a link almost in two, epoxy the gap and spray it silver. That's so if trailer comes uncoupled it snaps, they say you don't want the trailer wagging behind by just those chains!

Imagine the reaction when someone tells the cop about those special "breakaway" safety chains he bought.

They need to sell a set of the those chains to a DOT inspector.

 

[Dftodd]

How foolish. I'd sure rather have a trailer wildly wagging around behind my rig if I lost the hitch or coupler, than a trailer darting across traffic and taking an innocent life. That is hard to believe that an RV place would do that.

I'm amazed they haven't been sued back to the stone age in a liability lawsuit yet.

 

[Jstpssng]

I believe the safety chains are to prevent the towed object from going in to the other lanes and hitting someone. I have had a 14' tandem axle trailer come loose at 65mph and it was a wild scary ride. Trailer was banging in to the back of the truck, weaving back and forth to the limits of the chains and finally broke free, crossed in to the on-coming lane almost taking out a car, then went down an embankment and 30 yards in to the swamp. Whew! Took a couple hours to fish it out and hook it back up properly.
I had forgotten to switch out the 1-7/8" ball for the 2-5/16.

Could have turned out badly for me and the other car.

You are lucky. A while back another member told of a wild ride after snapping the front straps when trailering so that his tractor rolled back. If memory serves me correctly he later determined that while his trailer was rated for the load it was still too lightweight, so when he hit a bump the trailer flexed, causing the straps to break.

 

[Doofy]

You are lucky. A while back another member told of a wild ride after snapping the front straps when trailering so that his tractor rolled back. If memory serves me correctly he later determined that while his trailer was rated for the load it was still too lightweight, so when he hit a bump the trailer flexed, causing the straps to break.

If I ever need to transport my tractor, I'll be investing in "overkill" straps. Rather be safe than sorry.

 

[goeduck]

There's an RV place I know of that sells safety chains they modify. They hacksaw a link almost in two, epoxy the gap and spray it silver. That's so if trailer comes uncoupled it snaps, they say you don't want the trailer wagging behind by just those chains!

You have the obligation in my mind if that is true to report them. Better that than have someone killed in the oncoming lane.

The idea is to STOP if the trailer comes off the ball, it would not be wagging back there for long.

 

[ultrarunner]

Safety Chain snapped on my 4 x 6 utility trailer... The concrete freeway was road with sections of concrete roadbed sections raised more than an inch. Ball broke and tongue dropped... Only single chain required due to size.

Tongue hit raised lip of roadway explosively and crumpled the tongue. Always double chain now

 

[4570Man]

If I ever need to transport my tractor, I'll be investing in "overkill" straps. Rather be safe than sorry.

Must have been using too light of straps. When I use straps I do a 4 strap tie down. It’s the easiest way to not fray straps. I’m betting the tractor breaks in half before 2 10,000 pound ( yes I know that’s breaking strength not working load ) straps break.

 

[Dftodd]

If I ever need to transport my tractor, I'll be investing in "overkill" straps. Rather be safe than sorry.

I use chains and ratchet binders on the tractor, then over kill straps on the implements.