Expert Answers about Trailer Safety Chains

• Are Safety Chains Needed When 7,000 lb Towing Trailer
• Safety chains are required by law in many different places, and in order to find out about the specific regulations you will need to contact your local DMV. I will say that no matter what the law may be, safety chains are a very good idea, no matter what speed you are travelling because they ensure your trailer isn't going to become disconnected and cause a potentially serious accident. When considering the cost and ease of use for safety chains relative to what could happen without using...
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• How Long Should Break Away Cables Be
• The RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) recommends that the trailer break away cable be slightly longer than the safety chains. The logic behind that is that the brakes will apply should the safety chains fail.
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• Are Safety Chains Required for 5th Wheel Trailers
• 5th wheel trailers do not require safety chains the way ball hitches like goosenecks do. Chains are only needed on ball-type couplers like standard receiver hitches and goosenecks. Since a 5th wheel connects at a king pin rather than a ball no chains are needed. Gooseneck hitches like # BWGNRK1111-5W include safety chain loops but 5th wheel hitches do not.
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• How to Determine Correctly Rated Safety Chain Links
• For quick links the working load limit (WLL) is the maximum working load a link can handle, so if your ATV weighs less than 1,200 lbs you will be fine to use the links you have. As an example, the 1/4" Quick Link for Safety Chains # 750-3204 has a 880 lbs working load limit so it will be sufficient for a trailer with a load of 880 lbs.
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• Safety Chains Required When Using An Adapter to Tow Gooseneck Trailer w/ A 5th Wheel Hitch
• I've spoken with a few of my towing industry contacts, who tell me that even if you use an adapter like the # KPG5-R30IP, safety chains should still be used. If the fifth wheel hitch you are using is compatible with industry standard bed rails, then you can use part # RP50223 to provide an attachment point for the safety chains. To prevent the chains from snagging on anything, you'll need to ensure that the safety chains are long enough to allow the trailer to make turns, but no longer...
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• Basis for Weight Rating of Trailer Safety Chain
• I'm not quite sure what you mean by "do you have a question" although I can tell you the information about the 10,000 lb max trailer weight rating of the Buyers Products 3/8" x 22" Class 4 Trailer Safety Chain w/ 1" Slip Hook - 30 Proof # 337B03822SC comes directly from the manufacturer. They are the ones who test their products and create the weight ratings.
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• How Much Do the Curt Safety Chain Loops for Factory Ram Underbed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch Weigh
• The Curt Safety Chain Loops for Factory Ram Underbed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch part # C60617 weighs around 10 lbs total.
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• Do Safety Chain Extension Links Have to Exceed Weight of Tow Vehicle
• Safety chain extension links simply need to match the size and capacities of your current safety chains. For example, if your chains were 1/2" diameter with a 16,500 lbs break strength and 3,300 lb working load limit you would want the Threaded Quick Link - 1/2" Diameter # C82932. In regards to just the capacity for chains, the combined ratings of two safety chains should simply exceed the capacity of what you are towing. So for example two of the Curt Safety Chain with S-Hooks - 47" Long...
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• Does The Safety Chain Have To Be Installed On The Final End Link In The Chain Retainer # 3375471000?
• You can shorten your chain by moving the links in the Buyers Products Weld-On Safety Chain Retainer # 3375471000. I have linked our product review video that shows the chain installed on a non-end link of its safety chain.
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• Are Safety Chains Needed With B&W 5th Wheel Rails for 2004 Dodge Ram 2500
• Fifth wheel hitch connections differ from others in that they generally don't require safety chain connections. You can verify that with your local laws, but the connection is considered secure enough that safety chains aren't needed. That doesn't mean you can't use them, of course, but you would have to fashion your own mounts as there is no specific spot to connect safety chains on trucks like your 2004 Dodge Ram when adding 5th wheelbase rails like the B&W Custom Installation Kit with...
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• Safety Chain Placement on Trailer Using Fulton Fold-Away Coupler Hinge Kit Part #FHDPW230300
• Fulton has offered this size for a while now. I checked their site, and it is listed. I did notice that the weld-on hinge kit is listed further down toward the bottom of the page, perhaps you did not scroll down far enough? The safety chains need to mounted rearward (aft) of the hinged portion of the trailer tongue. In the very unlikely event that the hinge should fail, the trailer will still be secured to the tow vehicle. The fold-away hinge is indeed rated for 5000 lbs, and should be...
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• Should Longer Safety Chains be Used With B&W Extend-A-Goose Gooseneck Coupler
• Thanks for the purchase! And the answer to your question is yes, since it has a 10 inch offset, you will need longer safety chains with the B&W Extend-A-Goose Gooseneck Coupler # BWTEXA4200. I can't give you an exact length, but an additional 10 inches from what you have now in order to accommodate the offset is what you will want to look for. The longest we have which may work depending on your current chain length is the 42 inch Fulton Safety Chain with 1/2" Clevis Hook # FCHA0070324. I...
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• Safety Chain Extension Kit For Pro Pride 3P Weight Distribution For 2-1/2" Hitch PR47QR
• There is indeed a safety chain kit that is designed to be used with the ProPride 3P Weight Distribution Hitch w/ Sway Control for 2-1/2" Receivers # PR47QR. The correct part for this hitch is the Wiring and Safety Chain Extension Kit for ProPride 3P # PR34QR.
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• Is Additional Drilling Required When Replacing Gooseneck Hitch On 2016 Chevrolet Silveado 2500
• There are three Curt gooseneck hitches available for your 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 truck with the 6-1/2 ft-bed. The safety chain locations are different depending on the hitch you have on your truck. You will want to measure the distance from the end of the bed by the tailgate to the center of the hitch ball to see if it matches the same location for the B&W Gooseneck Hitch, part # BWGNRK1016. Per the attached installation instructions, the center of the hole needed for the hitch...
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• How to Disconnect Breakaway Cable from Tow Vehicle
• It's going to depend on how the break away cable is connected to the vehicle. If the cable is looped through a safety chain loop on the hitch, you can unplug the cable from the breakaway switch, detach it from the safety chain loop and plug the breakaway pin back in. If a split ring or quick link like part # 750-3204 is used, disconnect the cable from the split ring or quick link. Pulling the breakaway pin to get the cable off won't hurt anything, just plug it right back in so the battery...
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• Is B&W BWGNRK1394 Permanently Attached to Truck Bed of 1996 Dodge Ram
• If you compare the provided side by side photo of the B&W # BWGNRK1394 Turnover Ball gooseneck hitch, which is a fit for the 1996 Dodge Ram to the photo you kindly provided, I'd call that a match. The square ball, the positioning of the safety chain loops and even the finger hook bar in the recess of the gooseneck ball all match. The round housing surrounding the ball isn't attached to the bed, but the safety chain loops are bolted to the hitch center assembly with the bed sandwiched in...
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• Can a Trailer Become Unhitched While Driving
• When towing a trailer there are several mechanical connection points: where the ball mount such as # C45010 meets the hitch receiver and locks with a padlock like # C23519; and where the trailer coupler joins the hitch ball. Some trailers may require safety chains as a safety measure or if the trailer has brakes there will be a breakaway kit on the trailer to engage the trailer brakes automatically in the event of the trailer becoming uncoupled from the hitch ball. An example of a breakaway...
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• Legality of Tire Chains TC2326 in Virginia
• I found the information you were looking for about Virginia's tire chain laws. Yes the Titan Diamond Alloy Tire Chains # TC2326 are legal in Virginia. Tire chains are permissible when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid. Vehicles blocking traffic due to lack of tire chains may be fined. I've attached the Help Article that outlines this for your convenience.
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• Where is the Tow Hook Attachment Point on the Passenger's Side of My 2017 RAV4?
• I have a solution for you. Even though there is not a tow hook attachment location on the passenger's side, one solution is to weld the Safety Chain U-Loop for Trailer Hitch - Weld-On # 362ChainLoopU onto the same frame location on the passenger's side of the vehicle as the hook your driver's side. Also, for a solution that doesn't require welding, the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # C13149 has an eye to hook up straps/hooks as well.
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• Safe Driving Speed When Using Tire Chains Like Konig Self-Tensioning Snow Tire Chains TH04115095
• All tire chains require reduced driving speeds. If road conditions are bad enough to justify the use of tire chains then they are also bad enough to merit a slower driving speed. Individual chain makers and chain types may vary slightly but generally speaking a maximum speed rating for tire chains is typically 30-35 mph. Reduced driving speed is required both for your safety and for the vehicle's too since some chains could contact the inside of the wheel wells or possibly the brake assemblies...
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