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Old 08-23-2017, 05:00 AM   #1
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Safety Chains

When hooking the safety chains to your tow vehicle, do you criss cross them or just hook them up straight?
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Old 08-23-2017, 05:32 AM   #2
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I've always been taught to cross them. Idea is if the trailer for some reason comes off the ball if the chains are crossed it will catch the trailer hitch. I've never seen one come off but I'm sure it's happened somewhere.
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Old 08-23-2017, 05:35 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by SJSS Slingshot View Post
When hooking the safety chains to your tow vehicle, do you criss cross them or just hook them up straight?
Absolutely yes.
It's a state requirement in TX and many other states.

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Old 08-23-2017, 06:19 AM   #4
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YES!!!!!!
I had a utility trailer once come off. It was due to a failed coupler. The trailer nicely sat on the chains and I was able to control it.

Also as a word of caution. Take up the slack of the chain by twisting them. Remove the slack but allow enough slack to turn the TV and the trailer. This is also important. You don't want the chains hanging and the coupler hitting the street should it come off. The chains will not be as effective.

As was mentioned, you will be fined here in PA should you not cross the chains.

Hope this helps
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Old 08-23-2017, 09:28 AM   #5
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Yes, cross them. My parents deviated from their normal routine for hitching and getting on the road. Of course it was also when they were 'running late' getting started on a Friday evening for a weekend away. They made it to the 3rd turning when the trailer managed to come off the ball. They turned, the camper didn't. At the top of a short steep hill. Almost a disaster but was able to recover, reconnect and get home. Some minor bodywork to the back of the TV was needed.
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Old 08-24-2017, 06:19 AM   #6
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Thank you all for the great information. I will criss cross them for now on. My wife is the one that noticed me hooking them straight leaving the campground Tuesday morning, and said they should be crossed and not straight. So thank yall for this info, and advice and will let her know she was correct.
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Old 08-24-2017, 07:10 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by SJSS Slingshot View Post
Thank you all for the great information. I will criss cross them for now on. My wife is the one that noticed me hooking them straight leaving the campground Tuesday morning, and said they should be crossed and not straight. So thank yall for this info, and advice and will let her know she was correct.
If she's like my wife, and apparently many others too, she most likely already she knows she was correct - it's just a given

But maybe you can earn some brownie points by affirming her correct-ness?! Just don't tell her that she's correct because a bunch of folks on the Internet confirmed it. She was correct because the laws of physics etc. are indisputable and you just want to thank her for opening your eyes to her inherent wisdom of just knowing these things.
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Old 08-24-2017, 08:28 AM   #8
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She already knows , she reads these forums also. So next time we pull , we cross the chains.
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Old 08-24-2017, 11:40 AM   #9
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Remember, you can always cross your chains, but never your wife.
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Old 08-24-2017, 04:13 PM   #10
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I've always been taught to cross them. Idea is if the trailer for some reason comes off the ball if the chains are crossed it will catch the trailer hitch. I've never seen one come off but I'm sure it's happened somewhere.
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Old 08-24-2017, 05:06 PM   #11
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Thanks again yall, from now on , we will pull with the chains crossed, and hope always for safe pulling.
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Old 08-25-2017, 09:44 AM   #12
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With crossing the chains, how much slack should you have? I will give it a go the next time out.
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Old 08-25-2017, 05:01 PM   #13
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Let them hang down so they are about 4-6" off the ground. This normally leaves enough slack in them so When turning they do not get tight
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Old 09-19-2017, 05:23 PM   #14
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Thanks wood walker, will keep that in mind , we pulling out in October when weather a little cooler, and will try keep slack like you mention.
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Old 09-19-2017, 07:24 PM   #15
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If the chains are like most I've seen from the factory they are not strong enough to work.
I was pulling my 32 foot Rockwood home about four miles because I had sold it and I decided to not put the load bars on. When I went over a railroad track it came off the ball and hit the ground. When it did the safety brakes on the trailer came on and the chains snapped with not even much of a jerk to my truck.
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Old 09-19-2017, 09:27 PM   #16
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Once the emergency cable pulled the brakes should've locked up, unless you didn't hook that up either.
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Old 09-21-2017, 05:04 PM   #17
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I bought this camper used, and the previous owner has the emergency brake cable running thru the driver chain links and when I hookup the chain the brake cable hooks with the chain. Is this how it is suppose to hook up, or is there a proper way to hook up the brake cable . It has its own hook.
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Old 09-21-2017, 05:28 PM   #18
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No
Un wrap it and hook it up separate to your chain eyes on the truck. Do not hook it to the reciever hitch
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Old 09-21-2017, 08:19 PM   #19
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Yea! What Shane said!
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Old 09-22-2017, 03:39 AM   #20
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Thanks that makes sense to hook it up by it self on the chain eye.
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