RE: Re: chains

[slowpez]

 

 

BTW---It turned out that wasn t what was causing the gouges. The gouges were caused by having the chains too short on coming off a mountain with hairpin turns.

 Reading the thread re: coupler adjustments brings up a question.  How long are the chains connecting the TV to the trailer supposed to be?  I was told that the purpose of the chains was to keep the trailer tongue from hitting the ground if it somehow separated from the TV but now I m wondering if that s true.  We shortened ours last weekend and now I m questioning that decision.  Thanks for any help.
 
 Susan

[campingboaters]

 slowpez
The chains should be long enough to not interfere with a turn, but short enough to hold the tongue from scraping on the ground should it ever come off the hitch.   Make sure you cross your chains when hooking them up to the TV so that it creates a " cradle"  for the tongue to fall into.  Ours are approximately 2-3 inches off the ground, but we have lots of clearance with our truck, camper and WDH.

[AustinBoston]

 slowpez

ORIGINAL:  slowpez
 Reading the thread re: coupler adjustments brings up a question.  How long are the chains connecting the TV to the trailer supposed to be?  I was told that the purpose of the chains was to keep the trailer tongue from hitting the ground if it somehow separated from the TV but now I m wondering if that s true.  We shortened ours last weekend and now I m questioning that decision.  Thanks for any help.
 

 Different bodies have different reasons for chains:
 
 Federal Gov t, Insurance, (and Me) - chains are to keep your trailer from going wild on the road (and perhaps gliding for miles at 70+ MPH) and hurting/killing someone.  This is the most important reason for having chains.
 
 Some State Gov ts - chains should be crossed so that they form a cradle of sorts that will catch the tongue and so the tongue will not gouge the road.
 
 Notice that neither of these have to do with protecting me or my equipment.
 
 Me - chains should be as short as possible so that there is less " play"  between TV and trailer.  If a disconnect occurs, the trailer will bang around wildly and do a number on the coupler and the back of the trailer.  The shorter the chains, the less banging around it can do.
 
 Of course, the chains have to be long enough to allow the tightest turn your trailer & TV can make.  I m going to speculate that the poster you quoted didn t have enough slack & it applied sieways pressure to the coupler & ball, causing the gouging, but there is not enough info in their post to conclude this.
 
 Austin

[tlhdoc]

 slowpez
You can figure out how long/short your chains need to by by hooking the TV to the trailer and making a sharp turn.  Stop and attach the chains to the trailer and TV.  One chain will need to be longer to reach the trailer.  Use that length for both chains.  Your chains are now long enough to allow you to turn, but as short as possible in case the trailer unhooks for the TV.