safety chain mount questions

[opposedtwin]

I have always intended to put in place solid, semi-permanent safety chains on my trailer tongues but have always been in a hurry to get out in the spring. Then, I only think about them when hooking up my boat to the car and then I forget again while boating. I have long been skeptical that my current "system" installed by a PO was adequate and safe. It’s simply a thru eye bolt that goes through the tongue (see pic).

What is a safe mounting method? Seems like there are lots of jury rigged systems out there that I believe would fail if tested seriously. How are your chains mounted to your trailer? Let’s see pictures!

Thanks for any input!

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[dave-bernard]

that is not safe. drill a hole and bolt it at least 3/8in and replace the screw eye with a bolt. my opinion.

[wedgie]

I bolt em on with washers. Never can be too safe eh !

I also cross the chains underneath the tongue as instructed by my superiors at work. Anybody else do this ?

[wedgie]

I cut and pasted this explanation of why to cross the chains from the interwebs 😉

I’m not sure if you’d call it a ‘positive subject’ but I don’t remember in my 75 years (56 as a driver) reading much about safety chains on trailers…. Lot’s of drivers these days are towing little domestic trailers around, moving garden refuse, furniture, dirt bikes and other ‘stuff’ from A to B…
There are also thousands of assorted RV’s, and boats trailers, on the road too, from say 10′ to 20′ long… I have two trailers, an 8′ domestic and a little 15′ RV. In my travels, I often notice that the safety chain on a lot of trailers are not ‘crossed’ when hooked up to the towing vehicle… I believe a little space in your colum is warrented, to inform the drivers that tow these trailers, that it is imperritive that the safety chains on any trailer being towed, are CROSSED!!!!
The reason for this is, that when you cross the chains, they form a ‘cradle’ and should the ball and hitch mechanism come apart, the the tow bar will drop into the cradle, stopping it from dropping onto the road surface, digging into a pothole, and doing no end of damage…
I once actually saw a mechanism come apart on a loaded boat trailer, being towed by an SUV, going over a rail road crossing. The front end of the trailer dropped, and the towbar struck the side of one of the rails! The abrupt stop shot the boat forward, over the front of the trailer, bent the winch bar that holds the winch that loads, and locks the boat, snapped the safety cable, and sent the boat into the back window and door, of the SUV! doing considerable damage to: 1) the SUV! 2) the trailer! and 3) the boat……. This accident would NOT have happened, if the safety chains were crossed because the towing frame of the boat trailer would have dropped into the cradle.

[opposedtwin]

Ok, I like the idea of the washers/bolts. Would these angled tab type washers (in red) be strong enough to mount the chain on?

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[mr-asa]

quote opposedtwin:

I have always intended to put in place solid, semi-permanent safety chains on my trailer tongues but have always been in a hurry to get out in the spring. Then, I only think about them when hooking up my boat to the car and then I forget again while boating. I have long been skeptical that my current “system” installed by a PO was adequate and safe. It’s simply a thru eye bolt that goes through the tongue (see pic).

What is a safe mounting method? Seems like there are lots of jury rigged systems out there that I believe would fail if tested seriously. How are your chains mounted to your trailer? Let’s see pictures!

Thanks for any input!

That style of eyebolt is not rated for angular loading, so it definitely isn’t right.
Currently I have a 1/2" bolt through the tongue, and a couple of links of chain on either side of the bolt, then I just run a (I think) 36" safety chain with safety hooks on the end through the hitch and put a lock on the inside of it so it can’t come through the hitch, I hook the chain’s hooks to the chain bolted onto the chain.

It’s a little backwards, but I like it better as the chain can’t bind if you go too far one way, and I didn’t have to modify the safety chain to get it to fit onto the tongue.

[chris-p]

Actually crossing the chains isn’t just recommended, its the law to do so.

I have had a ball break on me before, it was the fact that I had the chains crossed that saved me a major catastrophe. The tongue landed in the cross, and I glided to safety. If this ever happens to you, NEVER brake. Just let your foot off the gas, and coast until you stop.

Equally as important, but very often over looked, is the actual safety chain for the boat. Many boaters I see on the roads are relying on their winch. How many of us run with old, rusty winches, that could easily fail at any moment. I always run a backup, safety chain, from the boat, to the trailer, in case the winch lets go. Best 20 bucks anyone could spend.

[PugetSoundBoater]

quote Wedgie:

I bolt em on with washers. Never can be too safe eh !

I also cross the chains underneath the tongue as instructed by my superiors at work. Anybody else do this ?

Washington State law requires the safety chains to be crossed under the tongue. Might be a federal law, One that makes sense for a change. 😀

"Some people want to know how a watch works, others just want to know what time it is"
Robbie Robertson

[49hiawatha]

I have been on the road for many miles and have seen loaded boat trailers , flip, spin , drag the tow vehicle in total chaos. I have scratch built several double axle enclosed trailers (30′)and advise you to go to a reputable trailer/rv place to see their builds if still confused.

[reivertom]

quote pugetsoundboater:

quote Wedgie:

I bolt em on with washers. Never can be too safe eh !

I also cross the chains underneath the tongue as instructed by my superiors at work. Anybody else do this ?

Washington State law requires the safety chains to be crossed under the tongue. Might be a federal law, One that makes sense for a change. 😀

Crossing the chains saved me untold grief and destruction in the 70s. I was pulling a horse trailer complete with two horses down a curvy country road when the tongue came off the ball. We really don’t know what happened, but I seemed like the piece that held the tongue together didn’t catch and a bump knocked it up and off. It was an unusual set up different that boat trailers. I just happened to look back and saw the trailer kind of floating up and down like a teeter totter, and parts of me puckered very tightly. I eased the speed down very gradually and stopped with no issues. The tongue was resting in the "cradle" made by crossing the chains. I wasn’t my trailer and I didn’t think anything like that could happen because others had used it with not problems. After some WD40, some thumping, and busted knuckles had it fixed so it couldn’t happen again and went on down the road.

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