Padlock on safety chains

Provided the padlock is at least as strong as the chain you would not have a problem.

I laugh sometimes when I see a caravan weighing over 2 tonne having its obligatory 2 safety chains secured to the tow vehicle with mild steel shackles that, if they were given a rating it would be 10kg max.

Cheers

Neil

I would shackle both chains and get a lock for the hitch mechanism.

Cheers Kev

Just to be sure you don't weld the chain the the A frame unless its mild steel chain. If rated chain is the legal requirement you can weld a bracket to the frame and attach the chain with a hammerlock.

Why not use a shackle and a padlock on the one chain, then you are covered.

Unfortunately whether using one or two chains they must be attached to the Tow Vehicle using 'D' Shackles. If you only require it for security purposes when parked somewhere then you could use a piece of chain looped through the A-frame and attached with a padlock.
ozjohn.

Occasionally i ahve had to park at the train station with my trailer, all i do is , go around remove the shackle and replace with padlock. When i get back I remove padlock and replace with shackle. Only takes a few minutes.

Alan

Does the camper have a 'ball' type hitch or the 'offroad uni' type?

If the ball type then you can buy, quite cheaply a hitchlock which will lock the trailer to the car and also van be fitted to the ball to prevent it being stolen when not connected to the vehicle.

They come complete with padlock and can be bought from most caravan parts outlets or even Supercheap and the like.

If your hitch is the treg type, replace the "R" pin with a lockable type. Lock it through the treg when trailer is disconnected & you are secure on & off the vehicle. You can buy them on this site for very little moola.
PS wrap some leco tape around lock when fitted..keeps dust out & prevents
lock vibrating loose on rough roads......oldbaz.

In Victoria (don't know about other states) one chain is OK but two are recommended in reuirements for a trailer to be registered. Safety chain(s) must be fitted unless a braking device has been fitted where the vehicle & trailer seperate. The safety chains are fitted to keep the A bar off the ground & NOT to allow a trailer to become an out of control weapon. I had to read the Vic Roads requirements for rego again because on one s/ment they say safety chains must be fitted to keep A bar off the ground if vehicles seperate however on the other hand it states if a brake controller (wire that activates trailer brakes) is fitted there is no need for chains!!! By the way fellow travellers & four wheel drivers. Use shackles on your dogs collar when you are walking same. That's all they are good for. People constantly use shackles bought in a hard ware shop or supermarket (D Shackles I am talking about) and wonder why, when under load they explode and become possible fatal missiles. My advice, use a load rated Bow shackle with the rating stamped on it.....towing your van? Use a 4.5 tonne rated BOW shackle. Hope this helps.

Why not put the padlock and shackle together on the one chain? Padlock for safety against thieves, shackle as normal strenght sagety.

You usually shackle the chain leaving a few links free, you can use a free link for the padlock

CJ

Cheers for the ultra-quick replies!!

I currently have a standard tounge type towball with a hitchlock. I am looking to upgrage to an offroad hitch soon hence the questions.

Some good ideas there. It seems whichever offroad coupling I get I should be covered.

Sorry if it's been said above - with one chain in use, you can shackle the chain to the car (decent rated shackle of course) and then padlock that chain to the car, just a link or so short of the end, through the other shackle hole - if the padlock breaks, the shackle is still there...... that should negate the need for your second / security chain.