From: John De Armond Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel Subject: Re: Proper use of safety chains (was Progressive insurance comprehensive claim) Message-ID: <q96fduch4cklcned0kf0kjii4gn1t5tcks@4ax.com> Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 05:16:00 -0400 On Sun, 05 May 2002 05:56:18 -0400, Lon VanOstran <rvin1@voyager.net> wrote: >> A hitch failure will almost surely cause *some* damage to the tow >> vehicle anyway -- but a heck of a lot less than what it might do to >> some other vehicle if it went completely out of control, such as in a >> locked-wheel skid at that speed. No telling which way that sucker >> might slide -- not necessarily straight ahead, especially if one wheel >> happens to brake harder than the other. Could jerk the tow vehicle >> around with it... >> >> I'm open to being proven wrong, though... >> >> GB in NC > >I disagree. If a heavy trailer comes unhitched, there is going to be >back and forth swinging. It flat has to happen. Your only hope of >maintaining control is if the brakes come on and put LOTS of pressure on >the chains *pulling backwards*. I would want that sucker to STOP ASAP. Bullshit! After having lost the hitch several times and the hitch AND chain on one occasion (I was rather fast and loose with this stuff during my early racing days when I'd tow anything with anything that would actually fit), I can positively tell you that you are ABSOLUTELY WRONG. If you maintain your cool and don't panic, the trailer can be brought up against the tow vehicle by careful application of the tow brakes. That accomplished, all that remains is to come to a halt while keeping the trailer behind you. This is NOT difficult and assuming some sort of reasonable tongue loading, there is no unusual instability. The only time I had a bit of a white knuckle experience was when I was towing a race car trailer with an El Camino and the ball ripped out of the bumper hitch in mid-turn. I still got stopped with no bent metal but I did need a moment to get the blood pressure down! >Lon, who thinks those who believe their is any but the most miraculous >hope of maintaining control in such a situation are NUTS. And those who give advice without experience are idiots. The LAST thing I'd want is a ballistic trailer separated from my tow vehicle. Friend of mine had that happen with a small utility trailer and said trailer center-punched a pedestrian. The guy lived to file a NASTY suit. John From: John De Armond Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel Subject: Re: Proper use of safety chains (was Progressive insurance comprehensive claim) Message-ID: <q9t8dusg3r3pvmmgs1lerdoa69dt3385oe@4ax.com> Date: Sat, 04 May 2002 20:05:27 -0400 On Sat, 04 May 2002 22:57:16 GMT, MVolz <mvolz@houston.rr.com> wrote: >Of course, you know that even if the trailer comes lose the break-away switch is >supposed to apply full battery power to the trailer brakes and stop it. And the >break-away wire should should always be fairly tight, not dragging. And should be >checked periodically, very easy to do. NO! Tripping the emergency brakes with the safety chains still intact and functioning is likely to break them, making an unpleasant situation MUCH worse. The safety brake trip wire should be set so that it does NOT trip unless the safety chains part. If the safety chains are properly connected and remain intact, bringing the rig to a controlled stop is no big deal, involving little more than careful use of the brakes to avoid repeatedly smashing the tongue against the tow vehicle. The LAST thing someone wants in that situation is for the emergency brake to trigger and lock up the trailer wheels!!! John From: John De Armond Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel Subject: Re: Are safety chains worthless on a 10,900 pound trailer? Message-ID: <qmi3avceukh1frvas04mkpehb49kgr6u7f@4ax.com> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2003 18:23:26 -0400 The safety chains aren't there in case of an accident. They're there in case the hitch comes off the ball/pin/receiver or there is some other failure of the vehicle/trailer connection during normal operation. The safety chains enable you to bring the combo to a safe halt. Had that experience a couple of times. One time I was towing a fairly large utility trailer between Tn and Pa. It had one of those lever type hitches where the guts of the hits are retained by a big nut. The nut came loose and the guts fell out. It is my habit to criss-cross the chains under the trailer tongue and to twist them until they are tight in a full lock turn. This was so stable that I didn't even notice it and towed happily along until the next gas stop. No place to get a new hitch in the middle of the night so I just cinched the chains up a little more, clamped a big-*ssed vice grip on the hitch and ball and proceeded. No further troubles. John On 19 Apr 2003 20:35:49 GMT, Brian Elfert <belfert@visi.com> wrote: >My travel trailer has a GVWR of 10,900 pounds with a loaded weight of >8,000 pounds. > >The safety chains are made of chain with a working load limit of around >2000 pounds. > >How the heck would these chains help in an accident? Wouldn't they just >snap immediately? If the chains didn't snap, the bolts holding the >chains to the tongue would probably shear off. > >Brian Elfert |