Yesterday I picked up my stump grinder from a job site and move it to my next job

While driving into town I stopped for a soda..... lots of kids hanging out around the store, Got on the freeway and was cruising along at 70 mph when I hit a pot hole.....checked my mirrors to watch the stump grinder and it was lookin funny.....pulled over and found the hitch came off the ball

My guess is one of the kids at the store unlocked the hitch......Sure glad I cross my safety chains and keep them short so if it does come unhitched the tongue is carried by the chains and doesn't hit the road

This is the third time in my life that a trailer came unhooked......I happy to say safety chains put on correctly can save a nasty accident from happening.....I would have been real upset if my $8000.00 stump grinder got destroyed or hit another persons car

 

if wat ever im pulling wieghs more than my truk i dont hook the sfety chains, that trailer would throw me all around if i hooked them, i realy dont want to die

 

Not to start a battle, but what about someone driving in the opposite direction when that heavy trailer (without the safety chains) rolls into their lane? Especially if that heavy trailer has a break-away switch, it is safer for the innocent bystanders and drivers if it isn't allowed to go off in its own direction.

Just IMHO

 

I agree with you.......I had my loaded 44ft gooseneck trailer let loose because my hitch ball broke it rode in the bed of my truck safety until I got pulled over to the side of the road with my brake-away working it was tuff to get the trailer off the road but everything worked out and no accidents happened

I see too many trailers being towed with safety chains not hooked or incorrectly hooked or chains that are too long allowing the tongue to hit the road

Most trailer builders use cheap chain too.....I always use transport 70 grade chain with good hooks

 

That happened last night in Houston to a guy pulling a horse trailer with two horses in it. He made it out of Houston before he realize he lost the trailer, what a moron. Left the trailer in the middle of an intersection. He was ticketed for failure to have safety chains.

MikeyB

 

I had my boat fall off in the neighborhood one night.Left it right in the intersection. I didnt have the hitch locked on correctly(It was dark and snowing). Anyway when I checked the safety chains I found that the s-shaped hangers had simply straightened right out! I replaced them with 3'8 inch logging chain and 5,000 lb(each) u-shaped threaded connectors. I let it fall off on purpose comin out my driveway and the chains work proper now.

 

If the trailer comes unhitched, it's my problem to deal with - I don't have the right to "cut it loose" where it could injure or kill innocent people in oncoming traffic.

Rusty

 

Safety chains do work, occasionally, so do breakaway devices.

That being said, on-road hauling, I always use safety chains and breakaway devices. Off-Road on the other hand, if things could get the least bit squirrely, I unhook the safety chains. Its easier to pull something back onto a trail with a truck that is working, than have the truck AND the load in a bad position ( such as upside-down).

Just my experience from doing more than enough on and off-road work.

 

If your trailer breaks away and kills someone else, after they get done with you might want to.

 

I forgot to hook my chains and the latch. I attempted to drive my quad on the trailer and the trailer hitch ended up 2" deep in the middle of my tailgate. NOT GOOD! I suggest you always use good chains and cross them so the hitch won't hit the ground if it comes off.

 

I am not gonna argue whether chains should be hooked or not; but, if the trailer is of any size/weight, chains, regardless of quality, will most likely snap when the trailer hits the end of the slack.

Yes, if you are towing the riding lawn-mower, or cousin Joe's boat, safety chains will probably hold; but, with a big gooseneck, full of cattle, or a flatbed with a 4320 John Deere, safety chains are gonna break like glass.

You don't see them on commercial vehicles.

I think the main reason that they are required on smaller vehicles is not that trailers are apt to un-hook, when hooked properly; but, they are there on account of the morons that seldom pay attention to details, and rely on "safety" mechanisms to protect others from their ignorance, rather than using good sense.

 

I always cross my safety chains when i hook them up to the truck andthe breakaway always is hooked to the truck too. I actually forgot to unhook my safety chains one time and when i went to pull out from under the trailer it came with and bent up the jack. Stupid mistake but it never happened again after that.
matt

 

Safety chains on a bumper pull---Always; Gooseneck--Pretty much for looks if i even have them on.

 

Goosenecks and saftey chains?? Well if you use a gooseneck extensivley and never mic you ball, you will appreciate the chains as they will keep the trailer from coming thru the back of the truck and or off the back, ask me I know. Most guys or gals who pull goose allot will make the mistake that the ball and coupler will last forever, but I am here to say that in my opinion it is one of the most overlooked saftey issues, these hitches do indeed wear out, I have went thru two 2 5/16 ***** in the last 12 or so years and one came off the ball and the only thing that stopped the trailer from coming in the cab with me was the two 1/2 inch chains. I highly reccommend the saftey chains. Off my rant, ha ha. And for the guy who doesn't hook the chains up, you are out in left field on this one, you need to think of others. Goodluck,,Rick

 

Actually, good, thick, wide, nylon straps would be way better for safety "chains."

Instead of snapping in two, when the slack is run out, a strap would give a little and absorb the impact.

I agree that chains on a gooseneck are pretty much there for looks.