safety chains on trailers

[gregk]

Anybody know when it became a law to have your safety chains on the trailer crisscrossed ?  I got pulled over by a Trooper  in Wi. And got a warning for not having them crossed. Yup said right on the ticket, warning.  Hell I'm 63 years old and never heard of that.     Merry Christmas to all of you.

[Jess Tolbirt]

never heard of that law myself,,on the bike i dont run safety chains

[old2soon]

Well digging into the ole memory banks   I seem to remember Dad making sure the chains were crossed. AND I'm closer to 70 now.   I pulled a trailer from here in the Sho Me up to my brothers place N W of Chicago with my M/C and I BELIEVE I had the chains crossed. The fun part of THAT trip-no/none/zero/nada tag on the trailer and I WAS NOT stopped once in 500 miles!   When pulling a trailer with a M/C I would HATE for the trailer to become unhooked and have the chains ONLY holding it to the M/C. One of our board members has invented a THING that prevents the trailer tongue from dropping should the trailer become unhitched. I've misplaced his card and it was at Eureka Springs or Lacrosse that I talked with him. Dig into your laws concerning trailer towing as pertains to your situation. Bulb just went on-crossing the chains is SPOSED to catch the tongue if trailer becomes unhitched!   DUH!!   RIDE SAFE.

[Jess Tolbirt]

here in TN we dont register trailers..of any kind,,except for semi's..

[cookiedough]

here in TN we dont register trailers..of any kind,,except for semi's..

We don't register trailers here in WI that I know of having a smaller boat and ATV trailer also.  I have been trailering (smaller trailers) in WI for over 25+ years now and not once have had a cop stop me for not hooking up my trailer chains nor crossing them.  I never knew it was a law, but I always used them and always cross them if not once, but twice, depending on length. 

I do know though that if you are trailering items on an open trailer readily visible by the cops and you do NOT strap down securely with straps and not use any, that is a ticket for sure.   Our local landscape company guy who owns his own mowing business who goes from house to house in our very small town a few years back got a ticket from our cop in town for not strapping down his riding mower/push mowers on his open trailer and he only had to go at most 1 mile from house to house still in town.   

[Grumpy]

It is a good safety procedure, if the chains are the correct length and crossed, it will prevent the trailer tongue from hitting the ground if it comes off the ball, also keeps the trailer centered, if the chains are not crossed the trailer can fish tail with a bad outcome.  The idea of keeping the tongue from hitting the ground make sense, if it does it can snag on a road seam or pot hole and can bring the vehicle to an abrupt halt. I have seen that happen, was not pretty. 

[Sorcerer]

Many years a go on I94 in Wisconsin I got pulled over for no safety chains. Pulling a Cycle mate trailer behind my GL1200. He made me go into Town and put safety chains on. He warned me if he seen me with out I was getting a ticket. Told me the chains would have take his weight standing on the chains. He was not a little fella. We are responsible for our trailers. Your liability insurance will be denied if your chains are found too lite or set up as break aways.

[BobB]

Didn't know that it was a law that was enforced, but that was the way I was taught by my Father, living in Wisconsin.  Haven't read a drivers instruction booklet in well over 50 years.  The instruction may have been printed there but that part of my brain was lost, probably due to alcohol.

[MP]

I am pretty sure safety chains are required in most, if not all states.  Crossing is the best, but not sure if law or not.  Probably.  The chains are to prevent a trailer that disconnects from crossing over to the oncoming traffic, and causing an accident.  It does happen.

By crossing, they work better too, not just to catch the hitch.  If not crossed, one side will tighten, and one loosen, in a turn.  When crossed, they do not vary near as much, allowing one to have the chains shorter, catching the tow bar sooner, without causing a bind in a short corner.

MP

[Chrisj CMA]

Im gonna hafta see if mine are long enough to cross.  I never cross them and no one has ever said anything.  I even have been through a roadside 100% vehicle inspection one year coming home from Cheaha.  They never said anything about the chains not being crossed, but they did look at my rigging fairly close and just said "ok, move along"

[Hook#3287]

Don't know if it's law here, but I was told it was decades ago and have been doing it since.

[Jack B]

here in TN we dont register trailers..of any kind,,except for semi's..

We don't register trailers here in WI that I know of having a smaller boat and ATV trailer also.  I have been trailering (smaller trailers) in WI for over 25+ years now and not once have had a cop stop me for not hooking up my trailer chains nor crossing them.  I never knew it was a law, but I always used them and always cross them if not once, but twice, depending on length. 


If your trailer is over 3000 GVW then you need to register it in Wis.

[sandy]

I've towed boats most of my adult life. Have always crossed chains. Don't drive in CA without crossing. You'll get a ticket. It's been a law there for decades.

[John Schmidt]

Crossing them is for the purpose of catching the tongue should it break loose from the hitch. I was following a friend some years ago, we're both on Wings, at night, and I noticed he was starting to wander back & forth a bit so we pulled off on the shoulder. His crossed chains did in fact catch the tongue, the pin had sheared in the hitch and allowed the tongue to drop out after a few miles. We had crossed some bad RR tracks about five miles back so figured that's where it happened. I had a spare pin so we were on our way in just a few minutes. As for the pin shearing, that was a first for me, had never seen it happen but I guess it does......just not very often.

My advice; cross your chains and Jess, you need to get them installed. Having a tongue dig in with a car or truck towing it is bad enough, but as Grumpy stated....on a bike, it ain't pretty. You don't have a chance. Period!

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Don't know if it's law here, but I was told it was decades ago and have been doing it since.

Ditto here on all counts. 

[Rams]

Don't know if it's law here, but I was told it was decades ago and have been doing it since.

Ditto here on all counts. 

While I whole heartedly agree with trailer towed behind cages, I'm not so sure I want that when I'm towing my pull behind bike trailer.    I trailer all the time with my truck and fully agree but, when I'm towing my pull behind with the Valkyrie I'm not sure I want it to follow me if it comes loose for some reason.    I'm not saying I don't use safety chains but, I'm not sure I want to use them with the pull behind and Valkyrie.

[fudgie]

Don't know if it's law here, but I was told it was decades ago and have been doing it since.

Ditto here on all counts. 

While I whole heartedly agree with trailer towed behind cages, I'm not so sure I want that when I'm towing my pull behind bike trailer.    I trailer all the time with my truck and fully agree but, when I'm towing my pull behind with the Valkyrie I'm not sure I want it to follow me if it comes loose for some reason.    I'm not saying I don't use safety chains but, I'm not sure I want to use them with the pull behind and Valkyrie.

Untill it comes off and wipes out the bikes behind you. 

[Rams]

Don't know if it's law here, but I was told it was decades ago and have been doing it since.

Ditto here on all counts.  

While I whole heartedly agree with trailer towed behind cages, I'm not so sure I want that when I'm towing my pull behind bike trailer.    I trailer all the time with my truck and fully agree but, when I'm towing my pull behind with the Valkyrie I'm not sure I want it to follow me if it comes loose for some reason.    I'm not saying I don't use safety chains but, I'm not sure I want to use them with the pull behind and Valkyrie.

Untill it comes off and wipes out the bikes behind you.  

You have a point but, I have to question why you'd be following me that close?

Ever been in a vehicle that was towing a trailer when the ball snapped?    I have, twice.   Controlling the tow vehicle while attempting to not crash was all the driver could do.     That's the reason I question the use of safety chains between a bike and a pull behind.    If, that tow connection was broken and the pull behind was free with the exception of the safety chains, there's little doubt in my mind, that pull behind is going to take the bike with it when the bike slows and the pull behind impacts the back of the bike.   Especially if the pull behind is heavily loaded.   The end result is most likely to be the bike, pull behind and rider on the asphalt.    Your choice if you're that close, pick one.  So, I guess you'll be impacting one of the three if you're following that close anyway.    Yep, just gives you more obstacles to avoid in my mind.    But, that's just my train of thought.    I've got safety chains on my pull behind, I'm just not that comfortable using them.

[Bugslayer]

I've got two safety chains.... Not real sure how effective they'll be in the event of a hitch malfunction.   ???  

[Gavin_Sons]

I've got two safety chains.... Not real sure how effective they'll be in the event of a hitch malfunction.   ???  

Id say you would be dragging that thing on its side for a ways. Cool trailer though. Im with Ron on this, dont have chains on mine for this very reason. Cheaper to replace the trailer and contents than my bike and my wife and I. Just the way my brain works. I have lost a trailer off a ball before, let me tell ya, that 16' trailer with 2 fourwherlers on it at 65 mph owned my Tundra and about put me into the wall. Can only imagine what a 300 pound trailer would do to a bike. Probably slam you down like Hulk Hogan

[R J]

I've got two safety chains.... Not real sure how effective they'll be in the event of a hitch malfunction.   ???  

Id say you would be dragging that thing on its side for a ways. Cool trailer though. Im with Ron on this, dont have chains on mine for this very reason. Cheaper to replace the trailer and contents than my bike and my wife and I. Just the way my brain works. I have lost a trailer off a ball before, let me tell ya, that 16' trailer with 2 fourwherlers on it at 65 mph owned my Tundra and about put me into the wall. Can only imagine what a 300 pound trailer would do to a bike. Probably slam you down like Hulk Hogan

The reason for the chain on a towed trailer is to protect you from being sued and losing everything you own or will ever own.

NO Chain, and your Insurance Company can al will tell you tough tittie, you are not covered.

I've seen a trailer come  loose and cross the Median and blast a cage right in the nose.

Was not a pretty site.

I'd much rather have the chain connected to the bike or cage or truck if the ball breaks or comes undone.

Every time I got fuel, I'd check that connection.      Found it loose a couple of times on the way to and from Daytona one year.  Was getting fuel in Southern Georgia at a garage.   I heard the air ratchet going.    Walked over and asked it he'd take a swipe at the nut on the ball for me.     Ended up he did a lot of trailer hitches.    He pulled the nut off, replaced it with an Aviation nut, one with plastic in the threads.      I never took that ball off of that hitch.   Don't think I could of if I wanted to.      That would have taken a super large pipe wrench to hold the ball while ya worked that nut off.

[John Schmidt]

A 300 lb. loaded trailer???  Behind a bike?? A camper maybe, but I've towed many a trailer many thousands of miles in my 60 plus years of riding and have never had a regular tow behind be that heavy.

[cookiedough]

I would have asked the state trooper to get in squad car on the internet and show me that rule of crossing the chains and if not in WI,  is illegal.

I see the point as should be done, but not so sure on the written law on it.

yah, I thought there was a trailer weight limit on licensing trailers in WI, but never had one that big all mine have been under 1500 lbs. easily. 

[R J]

This came from Mississippi.

I figured if i dug one state I might as well dig them all.

http://www.pwcsafetyschool.com/mississippi/hb_15.html


This is an all states requirements.    

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/trailer-hitch-signals/

[Hook#3287]

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/393.70

I thought maybe it was DOT, but didn't see it listed.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I'm with RJ on this one.When you hook that trailer to the back of your bike, you assume and accept the risk of a malfunction and what it could do. To decide you don't want the risk when there is a malfunction and let it torpedo towards someone else, I see as irresponsible. JMO 

[Gavin_Sons]

A 300 lb. loaded trailer???  Behind a bike?? A camper maybe, but I've towed many a trailer many thousands of miles in my 60 plus years of riding and have never had a regular tow behind be that heavy.

My trailer weighs 155 lbs empty. A camper weighs 360 lbs empty.

[Skinhead]

It says right in the valk owners manual trailer towing is not recommended\vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.

[Chrisj CMA]

It says right in the valk owners manual trailer towing is not recommended\vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.

That is true, well, not until you add a hitch, then its perfectly designed for trailer towing.  I also added IS shocks to my std that made a big difference.  

I have pulled my trailer to Daytona maybe 5 times, Cheaha 2 or 3 times, and Johnson City twice.  No ill effects

[Rams]

He pulled the nut off, replaced it with an Aviation nut, one with plastic in the threads.      I never took that ball off of that hitch.   Don't think I could of if I wanted to.      That would have taken a super large pipe wrench to hold the ball while ya worked that nut off.

RJ,
Not trying to argue with you but, please inspect that ball.    One of the biggest mistakes towers make is to not inspect what they are towing and the equipment involved.    I mentioned previously that I had been in two different cages when the balls snapped.    In both cases, the ball snapped off the shank of the ball.    I know this because once we were safely stopped, I saw the ball section still in the trailer socket/hitch.     It's called metal fatigue, it happens and most of the time won't show until it snaps.    

As far as risk goes, it's a risk to get on a motorcycle, it's a risk to get on the road, we could all lose everything we own or ever will own when we venture out.    The likely hood of such an occurrence must be weighed against all other factors.     As I said, I have safety chains on my pull behind, I'm just not comfortable using them.    Either way, if that hitch breaks, it won't be pretty.      I do advocate the use of safety chains behind a cage but, there's a lot more vehicle weight and points touching the ground there to control that trailer.  

Oh yeah, 300 lbs on a pull behind is not all that unusual.  

[R J]

He pulled the nut off, replaced it with an Aviation nut, one with plastic in the threads.      I never took that ball off of that hitch.   Don't think I could of if I wanted to.      That would have taken a super large pipe wrench to hold the ball while ya worked that nut off.

RJ,
Not trying to argue with you but, please inspect that ball.    One of the biggest mistakes towers make is to not inspect what they are towing and the equipment involved.    I mentioned previously that I had been in two different cages when the balls snapped.    In both cases, the ball snapped off the shank of the ball.    I know this because once we were safely stopped, I saw the ball section still in the trailer socket/hitch.     It's called metal fatigue, it happens and most of the time won't show until it snaps.    

As far as risk goes, it's a risk to get on a motorcycle, it's a risk to get on the road, we could all lose everything we own or ever own when we venture out.    The likely hood of such an occurrence must be weighed against all other factors.     As I said, I have safety chains on my pull behind, I'm just not comfortable using them.    Either way, if that hitch breaks, it won't be pretty.      I do advocate the use of safety chains behind a cage but, there's a lot more vehicle weight and points touching the ground there to control that trailer.  

Oh yeah, 300 lbs on a pull behind is not all that much.  

That is the reason for the 2 different sizes of stem on the ball.   I also get the one where the bolt screws up inside of the ball, instead of the washer nut one, unless I can get a nylon nut, aka Aviation nut.

Ya use the little stem and yup, they will break.

I use the 7/8 stem.

In 32 years of LEO work, I have never seen one of the 7/8 break.   Not saying it won't happen, but I have never saw it actually happen.    I've seen the 7/8 where it worked loose and flip flopped around till it screwed up the threads and you never get it tight.



Now the little stem, yes, I've seen a few of them break, and the results are usually not very pretty.

[Rams]

RJ,
I was raised on a farm/ranch in Kansas.   I've been pulling trailers since before I had a driver's license.    I've seen 1" shank balls break.    Any ball stem can break.    Trailer balls get a lot of abuse and shock load.    After time and enough abuse, anything will break.    I won't say you've been lucky because it doesn't happen often but, trailer balls/shanks of all sizes do break.

[JimC]

Another new one on the trailer chains.

My son got a pulled over for not having safety spring clasps on his safety chains. He took black electrical tape and wrapped it around the open part of the S hook so he could continue on.

Seems that the older style plain old S hook will no longer do. It has to be mounted so it can not bounce off the tow vehicle. I guess it just makes sense, if you are going to use them, make sure they stay on.

Jim

[Rams]

Another new one on the trailer chains.

My son got a pulled over for not having safety spring clasps on his safety chains. He took black electrical tape and wrapped it around the open part of the S hook so he could continue on.

Seems that the older style plain old S hook will no longer do. It has to be mounted so it can not bounce off the tow vehicle. I guess it just makes sense, if you are going to use them, make sure they stay on.

Jim

Hadn't heard that one before.   Makes sense though.  If, one was using safety chains.    I've only got S hooks on my trailers.    Doubt I'll be changing them though.    In both instances I described before, the safety chains with S hooks did the job.    But, if I get stopped and ticketed for such and infraction, I won't bitch about it.

[Varmintmist]

That has been law in PA for a while. The safety spring hooks. It is also law that they be crossed.

As for not using chains, you will get written or arrested in this area. A couple of years ago a tree trimmer was pulling w/o chains, trailer came off, killed a kid and mom by going through the front windshield. Cops here take extra special care of people who dont take responsibility for their trailers, and not just commercial ones either.

Here, from WI dot. Gotta be crossed.

(3)ATTACHMENT OF SAFETY CHAINS.
The means of attachment of safety chains shall be located equally distant from and on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the towing vehicle and the trailer

http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/trans/308.pdf

[Jeff K]

I guess I'd have to debate the term "hitch" I've pulled my trailer(s) all around most of the country several times. I don't have a "hitch" really. I have a heavy duty 5/8" Heim joint bolted solid to the (hitch) and the (hitch) is bolted to the receiver with double lock nuts. The rear wheel is more likely to fall off than the trailer.  
I've never had chains on the trailer and never had a problem. Maybe I should put safety chains on all the parts bolted to the bike???

Do 5th wheel trailers have safety chains? They are more likely to lose a trailer than I am. I've never seen any on Semi trailers...  ???

[Mr Whiskey]

A 300 lb. loaded trailer???  Behind a bike?? A camper maybe, but I've towed many a trailer many thousands of miles in my 60 plus years of riding and have never had a regular tow behind be that heavy.

My trailer weighs 155 lbs empty. A camper weighs 360 lbs empty.

Our new one weighs 180 empty & is rated for a 400 lb load. Most of the Wingers with campers are draggin' 600 lbs + with loaded campers.
I hate chains & for years wouldn't run 'em. Still don't want that trailer gettin' into the back tire if it comes loose, but have started using them because it is my responsibility to make sure no one else gets hurt due to my negligence. I always run them cut to the proper length, crossed to catch the trailer, & rated at 1000 lbs shock load or more.
That trailer comes loose chained to the bike, you're goin' down, count on it, so.............
visually inspect at every stop & do a through inspection regularly for metal fatigue!
Tow safely.

[Willow]

I don't pull a trailer behind my motorcycle so there are obviously some things about that which I simply do not understand.

This discussion brings a question to my mind.  The odds of someone being injured should a motorcycle trailer come loose going down the road have to be relatively small.   On the other hand, an accident resulting from a trailer coming loose and jerking about on a safety chain behind a motorcycle is a veritable guarantee.

So how is it that someone thinks the responsible or right thing to do is hang safety chains on a trailer behind a motorcycle?   

[old2soon]

I don't pull a trailer behind my motorcycle so there are obviously some things about that which I simply do not understand.

This discussion brings a question to my mind.  The odds of someone being injured should a motorcycle trailer come loose going down the road have to be relatively small.   On the other hand, an accident resulting from a trailer coming loose and jerking about on a safety chain behind a motorcycle is a veritable guarantee.

So how is it that someone thinks the responsible or right thing to do is hang safety chains on a trailer behind a motorcycle?   

         Simple really-It's the law. And someone else mentioned if it does come loose and you have no chains insurance may not/will not reimburse. RIDE SAFE.

[Willow]

I don't pull a trailer behind my motorcycle so there are obviously some things about that which I simply do not understand.

This discussion brings a question to my mind.  The odds of someone being injured should a motorcycle trailer come loose going down the road have to be relatively small.   On the other hand, an accident resulting from a trailer coming loose and jerking about on a safety chain behind a motorcycle is a veritable guarantee.

So how is it that someone thinks the responsible or right thing to do is hang safety chains on a trailer behind a motorcycle?   

         Simple really-It's the law. And someone else mentioned if it does come loose and you have no chains insurance may not/will not reimburse. RIDE SAFE.

Dennis, if it's the law then someone obviously thought it was the responsible or right thing to do.  The mental capacity of that person or persons is what is in question.  The person choosing to do it simply because it's the law doesn't really have to believe it's a wise thing to do, does he?

As to an insurance company not paying off, that sounds like a myth.  If that were the case, wouldn't an insurance company simply refuse to pay when their client was obviously breaking the speed limit?  I'm pretty sure none of my insurance policies have in them a clause that says, "unless he does something illegal or poorly advised."