[AT] Trailer safety chains?

[Larry Goss]

On my dual axle trailer, the chains are too long, but it's a simple thing to slip the S-hooks through the eye on the hitch and double it back so it hooks to itself.  That way the length of the chain is always right.  Originally, the bend of the closed end of the S-hook was too large to slip through the eye on the hitch, but a little modification with a BFH (AKA, a 16# sledge) took care of that problem.

Larry


----- Original Message -----
From: hank at millerfarm.com
Date: Monday, October 26, 2009 10:20
Subject: Re: [AT] Trailer safety chains?
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com

> 
> A lot of good replies...
> 
> The bottom line is they need to be long enough to reach the 
> tow  
> vehicle, but not so long that they drag on the ground.
> 
> They need to be long enough that when turning they to not 
> stretch  
> tight - this is half the reason for the crossed chains (the 
> other half  
> is a cradle to catch the tongue so it doesn't drag if the hitch 
> falls  
> off)   Most people attach the chains to one point on 
> the bottom of the  
> trailer right behind the tongue, and then this doesn't really 
> matter.   
> If you attach the chains to either side of the trailer there can 
> be  
> problems turning if the chains don't cross.   I can't 
> explain this  
> better without a picture.  (think of an exaggerated case 
> where you  
> attach from the side of the trailer to the side of the truck and 
> think  
> of what happens in a corner - this would be stupid to do, but it 
> makes  
> it easy to see the problems)
> 
> As others have pointed out, twisting the chains is not a good 
> idea.   
> If you have several tow vehicles with differing chain 
> attachment  
> points (I've never actually seen this, but it can happen), then 
> get  
> extension chains for each vehicle so you can use the right 
> length of  
> chain for each.  Make sure the hooks can be secure on your 
> extension.
> Quoting Herbert Metz <metz-h.b at mindspring.com>:
> 
> > The safety chains on our trailer need 
> replaced.    Is there a  
> > standard method of determing their installed 
> length?    We recently  
> > discussed that the chains need crossed (right trailer chain 
> hooks to  
> > left side of tow vehicle and vice-versa);  I should have 
> mentioned  
> > it at that time.
> > Herb
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> 
> 
> 
> 
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