Expert Answers about Trailer Safety Chains

• Installing Safety Chains On Curt Trailer Hitch #11130 For 2007 Mini Cooper S
• There are 2 metal rings welded to the Curt Trailer Hitch, part # 11130, on each side of the receiver to attach safety chains. You will have to reach up behind the bumper fascia to connect the safety chains. For safety chains, we have 48 Inch Long Safety Chain, part # 2114-553-04. For quick links to attach the chains, we have the Safety Chain Quick Link, part # C82932. Instructions and a video installation of the Curt Trailer Hitch # 11130 are linked.
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• Should Trailer Safety Chains be Crossed Under the Trailer Tongue
• Safety chains on trailers should be crossed under the trailer tongue. The idea is that if the coupler pops off of the ball the safety chains will catch it so it doesn't drag on the ground. We have numerous safety chain parts available and I have included a link to them for you. You would not use straps such as # BDW20230 since straps are not rated for this application. The safety chains you use should have a capacity that at least meets if not exceeds the gross trailer weight.
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• Safety Chain Attachment Points on EcoHitch for 2016 Subaru WRX
• The EcoHitch Invisi trailer hitch part # 306-X7257 does have safety chain attachment points. Since the hitch has a concealed cross tube the attachment points are difficult to see once the hitch is actually installed. The safety chain attachments are the two brackets at the bottom of the hitch with the holes in them. I have attached a photo for your reference. I am not familiar with the laws in your state but the use of two safety chains is the safest practice. You will want to cross the...
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• Are Safety Chains Required for Clevis Style Ball Mounts
• You have a clevis style ball mount and it will require the use of safety chains by law. The only type of connection point that will not require safety chains is a king pin like the ones used on 5th wheel trailers. If you need a set of safety chains I recommend using the Tow Ready Safety Chain Kit part # 49150. This kit has mounting hardware to mount the chains to the trailer. The chains themselves are 44" long and have a 16,000 lb weight capacity. I have attached a review video of the...
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• How to Install Safety Chains on a Trailer that Never Had Them Before
• You would want to weld the Brophy Safety Chain Mounting Bracket part # MB38 to your trailer, then you would use the quick link part # C82932 to attach the safety chains part # C80176 to your trailer.
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• How Long Should My Safety Chains Be?
• This is a great question, and it really depends on your setup. If the safety chain loops on your tow vehicle are spaced far apart then you will need more slack to make a tight turn than if they were closer together. I recommend that you connect your trailer to your tow vehicle and back your trailer up into a near jack-knife position. You'll then want to use a rope to go from the safety chain attachment points of your trailer to your tow vehicle and then measure the length of rope that...
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• How to Attach a Safety Chain to the Safety Chain S-Hook # 6495-716-33
• With the Safety Chain S-Hook, # 6495-716-33, the chain will attach to the smaller end of the hook, then you will close the small end around the chain. The hook will attach to the safety hook loops on your trailer hitch and opposite end of the chain is typically welded or bolted to the trailer frame or coupler. Check out the photo that I have attached showing which end to clamp around the chain.
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• Are Safety Chains Still Necessary for Gen-Y Hitch Gooseneck Trailer Hitch on 2019 Silverado Pucks
• Yes, you still need to use safety chains and loops even though the Gen-Y Hitch Gooseneck Trailer Hitch for GM OEM Puck Systems # GY23XR will be anchored down at 3 different locations on your 2019 Chevy Silverado 3500 short bed, and for that I recommend the Curt Safety Chain Loops # C60691. The reason why you still need the safety chains boils down to the connection from the trailer to the truck. Since that is still the gooseneck hitch ball you need the safety chains by law.
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• Where to Attach the Safety Chains After Installing the Fulton Fold-Away Coupler Hinge Kit
• You will need to locate the safety chains before the cut that is made to install the Fold-Away Coupler Hinge, # FHDPB330301, to be in compliance with DOT regulations. Normally the chains are welded to the bottom or side of the trailer framing, and ran forward. I would have a qualified weldor, weld a Safety Chain Loop, # E950, to the bottom of the trailer frame, before the fold way cut, and then attach safety chains, like part # 2118-348-04, with Safety Chain Quick Links, # 2114-553-04....
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• Are The Chain Loops On a Hitch Rated As Tow Points?
• No. You are not able to use the safety chain loops on your Curt # 13147 hitch as tow points because the loops that are found on the receiver tube of trailer hitches are not rated for towing. These loops are designed to have safety chains looped to them and connected to the trailer in order to provide a layer of safety in the event that the hitch ball or ball mount fail.
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• Are Safety Chains Required when Using B and W Fifth Wheel Hitch for Ram Towing Package
• Safety chain laws are interesting. Gooseneck trailer towing setups do call for using safety chains but since there isn't a hitch ball involved with fifth wheel towing they are not required. So with the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch # BWRVK3600 that you referenced you would not need to use safety chains.
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• How to Connect Gooseneck Safety Chains to Coupler With D-Rings
• Usually the safety chains are attached to the coupler with bolts and then the clevises connect to the U bolts or Rings on the bed of the truck. In this case, since you're not bolting on to anything, the previous owner has just wrapped them through the D-rings to secure them to the coupler. Doing it this way will provide a secure connection, so there's nothing really to worry about in regards to the security of your current connection. If you're looking to create a new set of chains for...
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• Best Spot to Mount Fulton # FCHA0050324 Trailer Safety Chains
• The Fulton # FCHA0050324 safety chains are sold individually. For two chains, you'd need to order two of that part number. The best place to mount the chains is to the underside of the trailer tongue behind the coupler.
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• Are Safety Chains Needed for B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch on 2000 Ford F-250
• I wasn't quite sure which hitch you were asking about specifically, so I'll answer for both - you will need to use safety chains when towing with the B&W Turnoverball Underbed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch # BWGNRK1108 on your 2000 Ford F-250 Super Duty and this hitch even comes with built-in safety chain loops, as you can see by the linked installation video of this hitch. The B&W Companion # BWRVK3500 fifth wheel hitch does not specifically require the use of safety chains. It is possible...
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• Are the Safety Chain Loops on the EcoHitch Invisi Easy to Acces on a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• Since the safety chain loops on the EcoHitch Invisi Trailer Hitch Receiver # 306-X7203 are directly behind the 2" receiver you will have to reach up and under the rear fascia on your 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek both to attach your safety chains and to access the hitch pin hole. This trailer hitch does give you an extremely clean look but if you plan on utilizing the receiver off and on it is not the most user-friendly design. If you would like a trailer hitch that has safety chains loops...
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• Should The Trailer Breakaway Switch Be Shorter Or Longer Than The Safety Chains?
• In looking for any laws regarding the trailer breakaway switch the only laws I can find only specify when a breakaway switch must be used and the duration of time it is required to hold the brakes. The exact wording for the breakaway switch is it must activate immediately after breakaway from tow vehicle. This is I believe where confusion comes in as while the trailer may be disconnected from the hitch it is still technically connected by the chains. Personally I would want the trailer...
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• How to Use the Curt Safety Chains # C80176 on a Trailer
• There's really no secret to it. You would just run the cable that is installed on the right side of your trailer to the safety chain loop on the left side of your tow vehicle and vice versa for the other side. The # C80176 would install on your trailer in the same way as the safety chains that were previously on the trailer.
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• Can Safety Chain Loop Be Welded to Ball Mount for Towing Trailer
• That would be a problem, yes. Your Safety Chain Loop # E950 needs to be welded to something that is welded or bolted on to the frame of your tow vehicle. Since a ball mount is secured to the hitch receiver via a hitch pin it isn't safe enough. Safety chains are supposed to be there as a last resort in a worst-case scenario where your trailer becomes uncoupled from your tow vehicle - this is why the safety chain loop needs to be installed directly to the tow vehicle itself. If for some...
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• Where Does Breakaway Kit Attach to on Trailer
• The breakaway cable should be longer than the safety chains according to RVIA Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. This will activate the brakes in the event you lose the trailer connection and the safety chains fail which will bring the trailer to a stop.
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• Are Safety Chains Required with B&W Patriot Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch?
• 5th Wheel Trailer hitches like the B&W Patriot Sliding Hitch # BWRVK3270 do not require safety chains in any state like a Gooseneck or other style trailer would require. If you want to add chains you can use the Reese Safety Chain Kit with Clevis Hooks - 44" Long - 20,000 lbs - Qty 2 # RP49151 designed to be used with the Goose Box pin box. You will simply need to add a mount to your hitch itself or loop the chains around the base rails where the hitch connects because you need to keep...
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