YIKES - Trailer popped off the ball............

[RobertB]

Pretty much agree with most said - but am I the only one that does not have safety "chains" but cables instead? I know it may sound like a minor point, but with chains one can adjust the length of the chains, cables you cannot.

[Russ]

I started driving away once.....went back and saw it wasn't all the way down. I will always check, especially after reading this thread.

[Highlander]

That happens quite frequently usually caused by putting too much Kangaroo gas in the boat fuel tanks therefor making the boat wanting to leap over the said tow vehicle
Sh_t now where I did put my glass of Scotch

J

[Tomfoolery]

I knew a wiseguy many years ago who thought it was funny to pull the release on the fifth wheels of semi-trailer rigs at the company where I worked. Almost got me once, but I stopped before the trailer was off the plate. OK, technically you're supposed to lock the trailer brakes and pull a little to make sure it's holding, so my bad, too.

Point being, it's also important to take a look before driving off if it's been sitting unattended for a while. I don't use a lock, just a tractor pin, and that's easy enough to mess with if someone felt so-inclined.

[cptron]

Pretty much agree with most said - but am I the only one that does not have safety "chains" but cables instead? I know it may sound like a minor point, but with chains one can adjust the length of the chains, cables you cannot.

I have cables also however they are rusted and need to be replaced. Thanks to this thread I will be replacing with chains and attaching at separate points on the trailer.

[seahouse]

Yeah I have cables, not chains too (which I cross)... it's one of the many variables I had in mind when I mentioned them above.

I prefer the cables. They are neater, rust-free (mine are embedded in a thick, tough plastic coating, sounds like everybody's isn't, though) easier on the hands, quiet, and tuck neatly into the draw bar cover I use to keep the sun and rain off the front part of the tongue. They are mounted separately on opposite sides of the tongue.

The trailer surge brakes will automatically engage to immediately slow the trailer if it comes off the ball. There is a safety “ripcord” cable that engages them when it gets pulled when the trailer separates from the ball.

Note that reducing the length of the chains by twisting them also reduces the strength of the chain, so it's best to keep that practice to a minimum.

Some trailers (that I've had in the past) have had a “V” shaped skid plate on the bottom of the draw bar that will slide along the road, acting as a brake to slow the trailer down, hopefully at a rate higher than that of the brakes of the tow vehicle that are applied. As I recall, it's the bottom of the jack, with the caster removed, that would provide that braking if the circumstances came about that way with the present trailer.

I did have one trailer where the spare tire, mounted vertically, was the lowest part, and would have been in contact with the road. I think that would be an effective brake. At first.

I haven't studied it, and I suspect that newer vehicles are likely not as susceptible to it, but a danger in the past was the tongue piercing the gas tank and multiplying the seriousness (by many times!) of the situation.

Interestingly, last year I abandoned at the very last minute (luckily , but sadly ) the purchase of a tow vehicle when it was discovered that it would not take a trailer hitch because of the presence of Lithium batteries that were positioned in this area, which would make them susceptible to exactly this mishap.

[Catigale]

Im a newbie to whats road legal in the USA, you mean all trailer dont have to have chains by law???

The length of the chains should be long enough to give you full turning travel BUT short enough so if the trailer comes off the ball the hitch trailer cant hit the road and dig in causing untold chaos on the roads.

There are 57 states, each with its own set of laws here. I think every state says a trailer the size of a Mac has to have chains though.

[dlandersson]

What about Puerto Rico?

Im a newbie to whats road legal in the USA, you mean all trailer dont have to have chains by law???

The length of the chains should be long enough to give you full turning travel BUT short enough so if the trailer comes off the ball the hitch trailer cant hit the road and dig in causing untold chaos on the roads.

There are 57 states, each with its own set of laws here. I think every state says a trailer the size of a Mac has to have chains though.

[RobertB]

How did we get up to 57 states? I must be working too hard, I missed something.

[Tomfoolery]

Not into politics?

(Catigale strikes again)

[Russ]

Im a newbie to whats road legal in the USA, you mean all trailer dont have to have chains by law???

The length of the chains should be long enough to give you full turning travel BUT short enough so if the trailer comes off the ball the hitch trailer cant hit the road and dig in causing untold chaos on the roads.

There are 57 states, each with its own set of laws here. I think every state says a trailer the size of a Mac has to have chains though.

I'm not familiar with DOT laws. However, do the regs specifically say "chains"? Why would Macgregor sell trailers with cables if they weren't legal?

I constantly see trailers without crossed chains and wonder what else are they doing wrong. I've even seen no chains (or cables). Once saw a truck stopped in the road with trailer decoupled...came off the hitch and truck left it behind at the stop sign.

[Catigale]

I don't think most states specify chains as much as a backup,method if attaching the trailer to the tow vehicle in case of hitch failure.

Quote from the NY DMV

Every trailer, except semi-trailers, must be attached to the towing vehicle by a device, including safety chains, of a type approved by the Commissioner.

You don't have to have the Commissioner actually look over your stuff of course, your inspecting station will basically hassle you if you have something funky

[Russ]

I don't think most states specify chains as much as a backup,method if attaching the trailer to the tow vehicle in case of hitch failure.

Quote from the NY DMV

Every trailer, except semi-trailers, must be attached to the towing vehicle by a device, including safety chains, of a type approved by the Commissioner.

You don't have to have the Commissioner actually look over your stuff of course, your inspecting station will basically hassle you if you have something funky

So I would interpret "device" to be chains or cable approved by the state DOT. I would hope this is a universal requirement globally.
We don't have inspection stations here. If you get caught, I would hope they throw the book at you because a rouge trailer going down the road is a dangerous thing.

This thread, like others about inspecting for tongue rust is a fantastic reminder for us to check and double check. I often stop a block away from my journey to inspect that everything is correct and intact.

[dlandersson]

Not to be a wet blanket, but I can see an inspector looking for a (1) hitch connection and (2) chains. It clearly specifies chains. Some won't care, some will.

[sailboatmike]

Agreed, I always stop a couple of Km's down the road and jump out to check that everything has settled into place and all connections are still tight and in place.

I normally stop again after about an hour and check the tyre / hub temps while checking all the connections.

Would hate to be stuck on the side of the road with a VERY large boat on a trailer