Yes, I think he means that if something went that wrong and the trailer came loose he didnt want it tied to him.

 

Made sense to me. My fathers friend had a trailer drop. Even though the trailer brake gizmo pulled out and engaged the trailer brakes it jerked him around so much that he and the trailer wound up in the other lane hitting an oncoming car. Lucky nobody got killed. After that, he would only tow with the cheapest chain possible hoping that the trailer would just leave and not hit anybody. Not the best way to do things so its lucky he never lost a trailer again.

 

There is only ONE reason for a trailer to seperate from a truck....NEGLECT, either in the proper hooking, selection of equipment, or inspection of equipment.


I see dozens of bumper-hitch trailers in the shop every day.

It is un-real how shoddy the hitches, tongues, *****, etc. are on 90% of them.

I constantly see old step-plate bumpers, with the step all bent to oblivion, torn loose from it's moorings, yet there will be the obligatory 2" ball, stuck in one of the holes at a crazy angle, and a 16' utility trailer snapped over the ball.

 

BearKiller I'll throw one more reason into the pot, sometimes the ball can shear off like mine did, a nice clean break no rust just a very rare but new fracture, like you I also figure that the step bumper is good for two things, those being when some ricer decides to total himself on it, the other being an easy way to get into the back.

 

Aren't safety chains hardened and tow chains not?

 

The brake gizmo should be the last thing to separate. The chains should be shorter than the brake switch.

 

Not sure but I think he's mad??

 

+1 on that! I think that was the example of chains too long and breakout too short.
I personally had no idea how to properly adjust length until I started hanging out around the towing forums.
-P

 

Did I miss something ??

 

Yet another tough subject. This is from the TN DMV site::: "Adjust the length of the cable or lanyard from
the key to the tow vehicle frame so that the
brakes are applied before the safety chains
break. Regulations do not state whether the
brakes must apply before the safety chains
break. However, if the brakes are applied and
the safety chains hold, the emergency braking
keeps the trailer directly behind the towing
vehicle so you can stop under control. This
also keeps the trailer from slamming into the
rear of the tow vehicle, minimizing damage.
Should the safety chains fail before the brakes
are applied (meaning your safety chains were
not the right size or were improperly attached),
the trailer ought to at least stop somewhere
nearby, but it may collide with other vehicles
before it stops." I get so confused.

 

No not really,,,,,, 92DuallyCTD made a request and I honored it. We will not tolerate the profanity that was posted and removed.
Folks can have debates and differences of opinion all day long, but it can and will be done in a civil manner.

 

I was helping a friend move steers from one farm to another, over country roads and up and down hills. Long gooseneck (tri axle). After two trips we were done and I had to get back. As I got out of his truck he said "I'm heading to town now so I guess I better lock the hitch"

We had made those runs with the GN just sitting on the ball

 

I have seen two 5th wheels come loose while going down the road, thankfully they were other peoples vehicles and not mine. One came to a pretty orderly stop and the other truck and trailer went into the opposing traffic and killed 3 people. Both were using the same in-bed configuration hitches, both were relatively the same age, and both were pretty good-sized 5th wheels - somewhere around 28' would be my best guess.

What made the difference between the two was that the fellow who came to an orderly stop had added safety chains to his trailer. Now I DO know that most like 5th wheel hitches BECAUSE they can be connected without having to get in the bed, etc and that is seen as a benefit, but the old fellow with the safety chains made a real interesting comment about the fact that if you are too lazy to get in the bed and be better secured, then you are also too lazy or too stupid to know that your hitch is OK. At first, I kind of thought to myself, grumpy old dude, but after watching both accidents take place, the old dude had a real point regarding safety when something goes wrong.

I converted my 5th wheel to a GN coupling with safety chains when I got the Dodge. The taller bed rail made me have to look at lifting my trailer, so while I was at it, I made the coupling change. I know there is a ton of argument about this type of conversion, trailer warranty, etc and will not go there, just wanted to give my opinion about the safety stuff. I have been more than pleased with the GN on my 5th wheel, better off road articulation and clearance. I have wondered if maybe the 5th wheel pins/hitches have problems or become damaged by the way 5th wheels are hauled vrs a semi and all flat road hauling, just a thought about the possible differences in use/applications.

I take the time to go over everything and make sure all is good to go and am as safe as possible, for myself AND the other guy. I have watched many people hook-up trailers and never look at much of anything. They use bailing twine to tie their emergency brake cables, etc. They hook one safety chain to their trucks at the bumper and hook the other to the first chain, all these go down the road as disasters waiting to happen.

CD