DODGETRUCK
Butler County, PA
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Joined: 09/13/2004
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Check the state you are towing through. PA is talking no more S hooks and break aways to the truck frame. Someone made a stupid towing decision that resulted in multiple fatalities. So the PA law is going to change. Which is not a bad thing if it can protect the other travelers.
2005 3500 Ram,Quad cab 4X4, short bed, Cummins Power
2002 Jayco Eagle, 325 BHS 5er, Long Pin Box
Reese Slide hitch
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Ron Gratz
full time RVer
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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adg016 wrote:--- Also, how do you deal with all the slack? Do you run some of it through the chain to take that slack up?
According to several credible sources, you need to remove enough slack so that the breakaway switch activates before the safety chains become taut.
This is always a point of disagreement. Here are the credible sources:
See Link1, Link2, Link3, Link4, Link5, and Link6. I think Link6, which is from a manufacturer of breakaway switches, sums it up pretty well:
QUOTE
The lanyard should be long enough for turning corners, yet short enough to disengage the pin from the switch before the safety chains on the hitch become taut in a trailer disconnect situation.
UNQUOTE
You, of course, can decide for yourself at which point you want the breakaway switch to activate.
Ron
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Ray,IN
IN, USA
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Joined: 03/22/2001
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Ron posted the correct procedure. The safety chains must be of sufficient strength to hold the trailer to the tow vehicle per DOT regulations; otherwise why even have them?
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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Intheloonybin wrote:I use a carabiner to hook mine onto the TV.
I hated pulling the pin out of the unit on the trailer: I always whacked my hand on something when it let loose.
I do check it once in a while to make sure it is not frozen in though.
Please don't use carabiners unless they are rated for mountain climbing. Those cheepies at Wallyworld will not be able to keep the lanyard connected to TV.
The lanyard can be longer than the chains as you do not want the break away to activate the brakes while the chains are connected to TV.
Why?? You ask... The brakes will have FULL POWER when activated, this force WILL excede the breaking limits of the chains.
The chains when properly connected will prevent trailer from dropping to the ground. As long as trailer is connected by the chains you will be able to make a controlled stop.
I use a heavy duty version quick clip like a dog leash end, you put the loop through the open end and HAMMER shut.
The lanyard should be attached to the TV, not the hitch period.
Ford provides 2 places for this connection you will find these just under the bumper.
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whoadamit
Clearfield UT USA
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Joined: 01/26/2004
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I was pulling one of my car trailers the other day and I got distracted while hooking up the trailer, I ended up forgeting to latch the pin(luckily it was empty). Any way it stayed attached until pulled into the field I was working in. The breakaway cable was run through the chains, which were attached to the bottom of the toung. When the trailer came loose the brakes did not activate because the cable pulled the pin down instead of out. I found this because the cable actually broke the breakaway pin off.
Long storry short I will never run the breakaway cable through the chains again.
2001 Silverado Fully loaded towing package. Now I just need something to tow.
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Ron Gratz
full time RVer
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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Quote:---Why?? You ask... The brakes will have FULL POWER when activated, this force WILL excede the breaking limits of the chains.
1. Please tell us how much load is imposed on the safety chains when the breakaway switch is activated on a typical trailer traveling at 70 mph?
2. Please tell us what is the breaking limit required for safety chains on a typical trailer?
Quote:---The chains when properly connected will prevent trailer from dropping to the ground. As long as trailer is connected by the chains you will be able to make a controlled stop.
I am a fulltime RVer. I have the opportunity to observe many TV/TT combinations. The vast majority of rigs I see have safety chains which are too long to keep the TT tongue from hitting the pavement. If the tongue hits the pavement, the result will most likely be a violent "kicking" of the tongue to the left or right. This can happen before the driver has a chance to apply the manual TT brake control (and you certainly don't want to be applying the TV's brakes under these conditions).
It is possible to be out of control before you can apply the TT brakes manually. If the breakaway cable is the correct length, it can apply the TT brakes before control of the TT is lost.
Ron
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JBarca
Dublin, Ohio, USA
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Joined: 12/16/2004
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After much research this is what I came up with on my Chevy K2500 Suburban.
Don't mind the road slime. It was raining that towing day in early spring.
Hope this helps
John & Cindy
2005 Ford F350 Super Duty, 4x4; 6.8L V10 with 4.10
CC, SB, Lariat & FX4 package
21,000 GCWR, 11,000 GVWR
Ford Tow Command
1,700# Reese HP hitch & HP Dual Cam
2 1/2" Towbeast Receiver
2004 Sunline Solaris T310SR
(I wish we were camping!)
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JBarca
Dublin, Ohio, USA
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Joined: 12/16/2004
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DODGETRUCK wrote:Check the state you are towing through. PA is talking no more S hooks and break always to the truck frame. Someone made a stupid towing decision that resulted in multiple fatalities. So the PA law is going to change. Which is not a bad thing if it can protect the other travelers.
DODEGETRUCK
I agree with the S hook elimination as a tow hook, the lack of safety clasp on them can allow them to jiggle out of the reciever chain loop.
However you mentioned no more break aways to the truck frame. Do you have any more info on this and why?
The truck frame or bumper is independent of the receiver in most cases. And we have seem some receivers and pin boxes totally separate from the TV.
Which made the better choice, to the TV bumper or frame independent of the reciever all together.
Why would they not want you to attach to the bumper or frame?
Just trying to learn maybe I missed something.
Thanks
John
* This post was
edited 04/13/07 08:10pm by JBarca *
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swebber
Brunswick , MD
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Joined: 02/14/2005
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JBarca wrote:
That is how I have mine hooked up but with a quick link attached to the slot in the hitch for the safety chains.
Steve Webber
'07 F250 6.0PSD LariatFX4 LB,AirLift,Edge,IFW BedSlide
'09 Jayco Eagle 324BHDS "CramalotInn III",Reese DCHP, Atwood 3500, BAL Deluxe Chocks, Weber Baby Q & Q200, Champion 4000 gennie
My Camping Pic's
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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Joined: 03/23/2004
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JBarca, that wasn`t me that said that? my cable goes to the truck frame or in the case of the X. it goes to the bumper which is seperate from the hitch.
Wife Kim 
Son Brandon 10yrs
Daughter Marissa 9yrs
Dog Shadow 
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear Hellwig sway bar
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller.
A bad day of camping is
better than a good day at work!
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