Trailer safety chains
Submitted: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 11:55
ThreadID:
86044
Views:
3918
Replies:
9
FollowUps:
5
This Thread has been Archived
Michael46
When attaching the safety chain to the car is it mandatory to use a D bolt. I seem to remember that in the past there was a curly, something like a pigs tail piece of chain welded to the towbar and you could just slip the safety chain over it then sort of wind it on a turn and
hay presto your connected.
With the troopy I need to disconnect the trailer a lot of the time to get access to the
barn doors, connecting and disconnecting the safety chain becomes a hassle using the D bolt, as I secure the bolt part of the D bolt with a wire cable tie to prevent it from unscrewing.
Thanks in advance for any info
Michael
Reply By: Shaker - Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 12:09
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 12:09
The 'rams horns' method of safety chain attachment was outlawed many years ago.
The method of attachment has to be rated to at least that of the safety chain itself.
AnswerID:
453147
Follow Up By: Dasher Des - Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 16:37
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 16:37
Shaker, You are correct although I can't speak for the other states but here in SA, the shackles must be rated when used to attach to the towing vehicle. i have two 1.5 rated bow shackles to connect the camper to the tug.
FollowupID:
725930
Reply By: Member -Pinko (NSW) - Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 12:10
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 12:10
Hi Michael
Just below the reciever I have three 10mm. X 30mm. x 60mm. long steel pieces welded vertically with a 10mm. hole through the lot. I can put the last link in the safety chain between each vertical and insert a pin with an R clip on the end. Pull the pin out and the chains fall out.
I think from memory I made the lot up welded to a 60mm.x 60mm. x 8mm. square plate then welded to the towbar in one piece.
Stan
AnswerID:
453148
Follow Up By: snoopyone - Monday, May 23, 2011 at 17:40
Monday, May 23, 2011 at 17:40
Just an aside When I bought a towbar that had rather hard to connect to holes in it I asked the
shop to weld a piece like you have and they said
It is illegal to modify ANY towbar from its certified specs.
In other words DONT TOUCH IT Dont weld or alter ANY part of it.
Just repeating what someone, who I presume knows they lost business but stuck to the rules.
FollowupID:
728186
Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 12:15
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 12:15
Ditch the cable tie. Overkill.
AnswerID:
453150
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 14:00
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 14:00
Know what you mean re the cable tie - if you pinch the bolts up by finger you often can't get the bolt undone without a tool, due to the coarse thread biting tight. I stop short of pinching them tight and just slide a piece of mild wire through the bolt flange holes, then put a slight kink on the ends - easy to slide in and out - keeps the bolts in place. You do need something - I cycle a lot and see the bolts on the road here and there.
While your vehicle and the trailer may have a 'practical relationship' problem, robust safety chaining is your only friend if the hitch fails one way or another :-o).
AnswerID:
453155
Follow Up By: Pushy - Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 14:23
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 14:23
When you tighten the D shackle make sure the wing part of the bolt where you grip is at the top so that if it works loose it is less likely to fall out.
If it is the other way around it will always fall out.
FollowupID:
725916
Reply By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 20:41
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 20:41
Hi Michael,
Is it possible to leave the chains attached and just drop the hitch into the crossed chains. Would it hang low enough to open the doors then???.
Just a thought.
Cheers, Bruce.
| At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message |
AnswerID:
453207
Follow Up By: Michael46 - Wednesday, May 04, 2011 at 12:28
Wednesday, May 04, 2011 at 12:28
Nice idea Bruce, but the trailer would still be in the way
Michael
FollowupID:
726022
Reply By: Trev6 - Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 22:50
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 22:50
Hi Michael,
I had the same problem as you have with the
barn doors on my 80, the way I got around it was buy a second hand tregg hitch, it them missed the doors by around 25mm. I wouldn't go back to the ball as there is no greasy mess or rattly tow ball couplings.
Another option is to buy a different towing tounge with a lower offset than the one you have.
hope this helps
Tre6
AnswerID:
453225
Reply By: blown4by - Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 10:31
Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 10:31
You must use a shackle at least the same capacity as each chain to remain legal.
Put grease on the threads.
Keep a 3 inch or 4 inch nail in the door side pocket or a 6 inch shifter or tack weld some short "wings" on the shackle pin using short piece of 3 or 4 mm rod to form a wing nut.
Don't overtighten them.
AnswerID:
454229
Follow Up By: Lex M (Brisbane) - Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 19:44
Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 19:44
Seems to me that welding to the shacle pin would destroy the temper and upset the rating.......
Put a long bolt through the hole in the shackle as a handle.
FollowupID:
727104
Reply By: snoopyone - Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 21:20
Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 21:20
I keep a 6in crescent in the car and just undo them with that.
Always have the threaded end Down so as the pin wont fall out.
Never had one come loose yet.
AnswerID:
454283
Reply By: Michael46 - Monday, May 23, 2011 at 16:48
Monday, May 23, 2011 at 16:48
Thanks to everyone that took the trouble to repy with suggestions, I should be able to sort something out to make life a little easier.
Michael
AnswerID:
455258