Trailer Chains

[BBDuck]

I was told that the safety chains on a trailer had to be crossed to be properly installed. I.E. This was not told to me by a state official

So I thought I would do a little Mith Busting myself :lol: :lol:
It does not say anything about crossing the chains.

This is from the Texas Dept. Transportation Code

§ 545.410[0]. TOWING SAFETY CHAINS. (a) An operator of a
passenger car or light truck may not draw a trailer, semitrailer,
house trailer, or another motor vehicle unless safety chains of a
type approved by the department are attached in a manner approved by
the department from the trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or
drawn motor vehicle to the drawing vehicle. This subsection does
not apply to the drawing of a trailer or semitrailer used for
agricultural purposes.
(b) The department shall adopt rules prescribing the type of
safety chains required to be used according to the weight of the
trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or motor vehicle being drawn.
The rules shall:
(1) require safety chains to be strong enough to
maintain the connection between the trailer, semitrailer, house
trailer, or drawn motor vehicle and the drawing vehicle; and
(2) show the proper method to attach safety chains
between the trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or drawn motor
vehicle and the drawing vehicle.
(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to trailers,
semitrailers, or house trailers that are equipped with safety
chains installed by the original manufacturer before the effective
date of the rules.
(d) This section does not apply to a trailer, semitrailer,
house trailer, or drawn motor vehicle that is operated in
compliance with the federal motor carrier safety regulations.
(e) In this section, "safety chains" means flexible tension
members connected from the front of a drawn vehicle to the rear of
the drawing vehicle to maintain connection between the vehicles if
the primary connecting system fails.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, § 30.113(a), eff. Sept. 1,
1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1357, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

[Warden]

Now that figures, what did it say????

[Gentleben]

Dang mud say ya gotta have safety chains!! T a hold ur tariler ta u rtruk

[Warden]

"I was told that the safety chains on a trailer had to be crossed to be properly installed. I.E. This was not told to me by a state official


§ 545.410[0]. TOWING SAFETY CHAINS. (a) An operator of a
passenger car or light truck may not draw a trailer, semitrailer,
house trailer, or another motor vehicle unless safety chains of a
type approved by the department are attached in a manner approved by
the department from the trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or
drawn motor vehicle to the drawing vehicle."

I think this is another law that could be open to debate depending on the interpretation of it. The bold text doesn't answer the question of what manner is approved by the d.o.t.

[waterspout]

I cross mine ,,,, But,,,, the reason is, is they don't bounce around as much and I have never had a hook come off the hitch when crossed going down bumpy roads. On the other hand I have had them come off when not crossed on a bumpy road. makes sense to me anyway :lol:

[Nine Lives]

I had a buddy hook me up to a previous boat with a "bulldog" hitch. He was just trying to help me out and speed things up. I had crossed the chains and connected them and the lights while he was lowering the trailer to the ball. I took it for granted that he was familiar with this style of hitch, especialy when he got back into the truck and didn't ask any questions. On the way to our destination, we hit a typical bump in the road that caused the trailer to come off of the ball. As soon as it happened, I could tell. There was no traffic behind us, so I slowed and pulled over to the side of the road. The trailer fell down onto the chains, which acted like a cradle. The tongue jack stem (with no wheel) had about 1/4" ground off. It didn't bend the jack and the removable wheel assy. would still fit with no problems.

To this day I still cross the trailer chains. Even on my 6,000 lb travel trailer that has a weight distributing hitch.

[Gentleben]

ouch don't never say never, me and ole Zeke did that in a hurry hooked up took off, turned left, hit bump, here comes my trailer I turned it didn't.
Zeke said i did it i blamed him so there.

[Nine Lives]

I still told my buddy, since I was the driver, I shoulda still double checked it myself.

To this day, I have an agreement with the wife - no problems if I go behind her to "double check" before we leave when she helps me hook up. I just bring it to her attention, and hopefully in the future it won't happen again.

[medulla762]

Thanks Nine Lives! Mine will be crossed from now on.

I have been known to drive the 42 miles from Conroe to the house without latching the trailer to the ball. :shock:

I also went from Fat Boys to Texas City Dike without strapping the boat down. I even forgot to hook the winch cable to the boat. The boat was jsut sitting on the trailer. The wind was howling that day and I'm really glad I never had to get on the brakes. :shock:

[n-splendora]

It's the forums like this that make it interesting. Either learning from people mishaps or thier great Ideas.



Tom

huh ben trailer comes off, boat sinks, falls in water i see a pattern
ben have you been saying your prayers?
i cross mine and havent had any trouble yet

[Gentleben]

Prayers, ??Prayers ?? I talk to the Ole Mighty God everyday all day long , other wise your ole buddy st lucifer comes around , Lord asked about you the other day, as I took Him for a Mc ride I told Him you were still lookin fer ur shoes , :mad: :oops: Sorry Gator I was just kidding He did not ask about you :P

I did remeber about you as I took the Titanic to the hospital today and X my chains

[CajunDan]

Bozo, Here ye go..

[/quote]1) require safety chains to be strong enough to
maintain the connection between the trailer, semitrailer, house
trailer, or drawn motor vehicle and the drawing vehicle; and


You are right though, they never specify the type, construction, etc. Have to go to the DOT regs and fish for that one.

I'm with the crossing the chains deal. Works like a champ.