Can Safety Chain Loop Be Welded to Ball Mount for Towing Trailer

Question:

Any problem with welding the E950 loop to the bottom of a ball mount tube - rather than the coupler?

asked by: Bob G

Expert Reply:

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 reason the ball mount or hitch pin were to fail then the safety chains would be rendered useless.

expert reply by: Jon G