You ’re cruise along the main road at 60 miles per hour , towing your boat on a dawdler behind you . Suddenly , you hit a vast bump in the route , and your lagger becomes unhitched from your ball mount . Just like that , 12,000 pound of metal is flying freely down the highway , quick to slam into oncoming traffic .

When trailer hitches are n’t secured by rights , they can cause serious fortuity . That ’s why you need a second line of defense when tow a trailer . This is wherehitch safety chainscome in .

condom chain are used to keep the tow fomite and the house trailer connect in case they become unconnected along some part of the towing equipment . Not only is it just a good idea to have these on your stay whenever you ’re tow , it ’s the constabulary to have them installed . Federal laws , as well as police force in many cities and states , require you to have safety chains equipped while towing .

In this article , we ’ll discuss why you need a limp safety equipment chain , as well as how to properly instal these limp accessories on your towing vehicle so you do n’t cause any accidents .

Purpose of Hitch Safety Chains

In May 2007 , a small dawdler became unhitched from the Lincoln Navigator towing it on Maryland ’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge . The dawdler fly backward , have a seven - fomite crash that pour down three people . The Navigator had hitch safety chains , but detective say they were n’t installed decently and that the trailer did n’t have a safety pin [ source : McCaffrey ] .

This is an model of the kind of damage a lagger can do when it ’s not properly secured with duty tour safety chains . If the trailer coupling break from the ball mount , or the ball disconnects from the enlistment , the chains will keep the trailer from drift down the route during tow . They are designed to keep your vehicle and trailer attached long enough for you to safely add up to a stop and properly reattach them . They ’re ordinarily metal linkup between 18 inch and three foot in duration . Some drivers opt to employ vinyl - cake prophylactic cables to minimize noise .

Whether you ’re tow short distances or drop dead cross - country , it ’s authoritative to always apply base hit chemical chain . At the same fourth dimension , remember that safe chains are n’t intend to bind something down or to tow another vehicle out of the mud , like hitch hooks and anchorperson . Hitch safety chain are used more as an insurance insurance against

In this next section , we ’ll hash out how to the right way install this while of tow equipment on your vehicle .

Installing Hitch Safety Chains

Installing hitch guard chain convey a few redundant minutes when you ’re set up for a road trip with your trailer , but they ’ll be well worth it to keep your towing equipment safe . Whether you settle to employ cables or mountain chain , ensure they can support whatever you ’re towing . On many vane sites that sell towing accessory , you will see listings for " Class II " or " Class IV " chains . This have-to doe with to the weight of your trailer [ generator : Trailer Hitches ] . In short , do n’t get term of enlistment safety chains too light to hold up whatever you ’re tow . The sizes of the chains you get also depend on your towing vehicle . Most light responsibility motortruck will use 5/16 - inch thickheaded chains . Most medium - obligation hand truck expend half - inch chains , and toilsome - responsibility vehicle deal 5/8 - column inch chains [ source : AW Direct ] .

Here ’s how to put in them :

Have two range crisscrossing under the trailer tongue connecting the trailer to the bumper or the telephone receiver on your towing vehicle . Attachment devices ( like prevue hooks ) at the end of the chains should be sturdy and solidly in situation [ source : Lamm ] . If the chains are too tenacious , they can be twisted until they ’re poor enough . Also , telegram should be used at the hook direct to keep the chemical chain from accidentally fall off . verify you then attach the chains to the towing vehicle itself and not to another part of the lagger hitch . This ensures that the two unit will be kept together if the coupler divide from your receiver unit . traverse the chains under the clapper will allow them to form a net that catches the trailer ’s tongue in lawsuit it breaks liberal and falls to the roadway .

The chains must be minor enough to keep the lagger from drifting but with enough slack to allow the towing vehicle to turn with ease . They also should n’t be allowed to drag on the ground .

For more entropy on hitch safety chains and proper towing techniques , please see the links on the watch page .

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