Trailer "safety" chains?

[workinallthetime]

Broke the chains off my trailer the other day trying to cut a step and move it around with the FEL. Does anyone knwo the point of these chains? I hear they are actually designed to break if the the trailer becomes seperated from the truck. Other tell me they are designed to drop to just above the ground so you can destroy the back of your truck but bring the thing to a stop. I would be sick if a saw my trailer pass me and head across the highway but ............

Whats the deal? anyone really know? Slapin some new ones on is no big deal just wondering if i should upgrade em.

 

[ultrarunner]

A highway patrol officer told me ideally you will have 2 chains with enough slack to cross under the trailer tongue so that if the ball breaks the chains will cradle the tongue and prevent the tongue from hitting the roadbed and strong enough to prevent having a runaway trailer...

Small trailers are only required to have a single chain in my state... after having a ball break once and the single chain snap when the tongue dug into a joint on the interstate... I now only run double chains on everything...

By the way... I saw my trailer bounce across the freeway and by shear luck... nothing happened!

 

[Skyco]

The chains should cross to cradle the tongue so it doesn't hit the road. If adjusted properly the trailer won't hit the truck either, well at least not much...
The chains should not break if properly sized.
The point is not so much to save your trailer and truck but to save someone elses life.
IMO I see way too much improper and dangerous towing practices. I really wish law enforcement would step up on this. In SC it is common to come up on trailers at night with no tailights completely blocking the tow vehicle lights. I also at least once a week see a skidsteer or something parked on a trailer doing 75-80 down the freeway with NO tiedowns whatsoever on it!

 

[Bedlam]

Im at a loss as to why anyone would want them to break. My concern has always been are the strong enough, and also where they connect tot the towing vehicle.

 

[Diamondpilot]

What the others have said is correct. They should be strong enough to not brake and should be installed in a X fashion to cradle the trailer.

Chris

 

[Bird]

Im at a loss as to why anyone would want them to break. My concern has always been are the strong enough, and also where they connect tot the towing vehicle.

Very simple. Some people are afraid that if the trailer comes loose, it might get to fishtailing and wreck them if the chains hold the trailer and towing vehicle together. They'd rather the trailer take off alone and just hope it doesn't hit or kill anyone else. Some of us, probably most of us here, would rather they stay hooked up and wreck us instead of hurting someone else.

But of course, if the trailer is properly connected to start with, it should not come loose. And if it does come loose, but the chains are strong enough and properly hooked up, you can probably gradually slow down with minimal, if any, damage to the trailer and the towing vehicle.

 

[QRTRHRS]

My feeling is that if you cannot afford a few feet of high grade safety chain, then perhaps you should not be on the road to start with.

As others have stated, they should be in an "X" pattern, gooseneck or bumper pull. The chains should allow you to reasonably jack the trailer around without stressing one chain or the other. If the chains drag then simply weave some bungie cord through them.

 

[Bedlam]

Thanks Bird for that explaination.I never really considered that someone would want to chance it in a way as to have it seperate.

 

[workinallthetime]

Thats all I needed, I always cross the chains and it was only by dumb luck i found out how week these things were welded to the trailer. I have heard so many different "IMO's" on the subject their reason had become clouded to me. I have been using the trailer with the chains broke off BUT i had a short piece of grade 40 3/8 wraped through the tongue as a "just in case" deals. The county dump is between here and where I have to go alot of the time and I cant count how many trailers I have seen stuffed off into the trees over the years.
Just to clarify also I would much rather total my truck and put myself in the hospital before I would ever want to endanger someone else on the road, my trailer looks like the grapes of rath runnig down the road but the load is secure, ALL the lights work, hitch is secure, bearing is tight, and tires are right.
Tomorrow new chains get welded on!!!!

 

[Willl]

I hear they are actually designed to break if the the trailer becomes seperated from the truck.

No, you heard wrong.

 

[workinallthetime]

No, you heard wrong.

thanks for clearing that up for me, the 10 post above just didnt quite do it Ace

 

[Willl]

Oops, me bad.

KMA

Did you really think they were supposed to brake away ?

 

[Willl]

thanks for clearing that up for me, the 10 post above just didnt quite do it Ace

Pretty sure you needed an eleventh one.

 

[mojoinco]

To beat a dead horse (and maybe keep a thread on top for a bit longer).

Well, I can be a moron, but not an idiot -- got to test my wifes brand new horse trailers safety chains (first time I have ever 'tested' a safety chain). About 1/2 mile from the factory. One railroad crossing and a hidden bump -- and poof, the nose was on the ground. I had not inserted the carrier far enough and missed it with the pin (all my fault - the carrier I have has a really short extension in front of the pin).

It has a flip type ball mount, and the 2" ball was grinding down on the asphalt. I was really glad I ALWAYS cross my chains and use 2 chains. Uncomfortable, and I had to buy a new tongue jack (it was against the bumper as I braked). And buy new drawers (and getting her off of the ceiling involved scratches and a cattle prod).

One of the disappointments was that the breakaway cable was cut in two. Great chains though. Dumb husband will not repeat that mistake (horse woman will forever be a PITA and check EACH time I hook it all up).

I have known folks that would put plastic chain on (paint it black to not be obvious) or to even put only one chain on so that the trailer will be 'jerked to the shoulder'. RIGHT.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Glad all is ok. Just last week I had to go to the local RV dealer to get some bearing parts and there was a big commotion just 100' down the road. A brand new 5th wheel and a new Dodge Diesel were unmatted and the bed and tail gate of the truck were smashed all up. The front of the trailer was also. They were using a forklift to try to separate the two. I am guessing they forgot to latch it up once they hooked it up. Now the $100,000 question is did the business hook it up or did the customer and who is responsible.

Chris

 

[workinallthetime]

UPDATE:
New chain welded and bolted to to trailer, grade 40, with real hooks. The original chain was very light weight and I had scraps of the grade 40 lying around. I put real hooks on the chain unlike the light weight chains the trailer came with. I had heard from alot of different sources through the years many different "IMO'S" about safety chains, the concept of a chain made to brake was beyond me, after all what would the point be? All is secure now with one less thing to worry about.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I like using Grade 8 bolts and grade 70 chain on small trailers and on the larger trailer like our 25ton it has 1/2 grade 70 that goes threw the frame with T notch to adjust for differant trucks. Why chain anything on the trailer if you don't chain the trailer to the truck? I would be lieing if I said I never forgot to lock the ball and bent a tailgate loading a tractor.