trailer question...or two
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: The boonies by Dallas OR
The concensess there seems to be you want to have the breakaway cable long enough so the trailer brakes will not be actuated as long as it is still held to the tow vehicle by the chains. The theory is that in the event of a hitch failure you have better chance of keeping the rig under control without the trailer brakes locked up. Makes sense to me as long as the trailer wiring harness is long enough and arranged so it will remain connected in the event of a hitch failure calamity.
I'd prefer that if there is something behind me attached only by a pair of chains, I want the brakes on hard. That will keep the trailer at the back and the truck in the front - my preferred method of stopping.
Full power on the trailer brakes isn't going to break the truck, hitch or trailer. There's only a few inches of slack there, and the brakes won't engage until most of that slack is gone.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
To tell you the truth, I would rather have the trailer completely break away
from my truck and head for the ditch all by itself than have my truck go up-side down.
Damn near happened to me when the tow ball snapped @ 60+ MPH hauling
about 12K.
It shoved the back of the truck sideways...By the time I regained
control It had Beat the snot out of the both the trailer and truck and soiled a pair of skivvies too.
The DOT might have a field day with my tow chains if they could find the weak spot.
There...I said it...flame on!
from my truck and head for the ditch all by itself than have my truck go up-side down.
Damn near happened to me when the tow ball snapped @ 60+ MPH hauling
about 12K.
It shoved the back of the truck sideways...By the time I regained control It had Beat the snot out of the both the trailer and truck and soiled a pair of skivvies too.
The DOT might have a field day with my tow chains if they could find the weak spot.
There...I said it...flame on!
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 1
From: Billerica, MA
I would much rather have the trailer break away than stay attached to. In theory that is exactly what a break-away emergency brake is for so that when it is no longer attached it locks the brakes up and stops the trailer. Correct?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
Actually, I think they designed the break away so the trailer stays attached with the chains and apply the brakes...if you don't panic the trailer shouldn't ram the back of your truck when you whoa it up. Yah, Right!
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 1
From: Billerica, MA
Ya when has that ever happened. First thing that happens when you look in the rear view and see that trailer going every where is you panic an hit them brakes..... and then smash there goes your bed. Or even worse it drags you off the road and you end up dead in a ditch.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Don't remember, last summer or two summers ago about 60 miles north of me a tree crew towing a chipper with less that desireable safety chains lost the chipper.
Crossed the road, slammed head on into a mini van and killed three people.
Now consider if your trailer breaks loose, something is wrong with your equipment.
So if it hits anything, you are at fault.
I personally want the trailer to stay with my truck if it breaks loose.
As long as it is attached, I do have a way to have input into where it winds up.
If I have to wreck my truck to save a family, they make new trucks every day.
If I die in the wreck, it was my own fault, I missed something when I inspected the hitch before I left.
If I kill the family with my trailer and I live, I am going to wish I was dead every day for the rest of my life and their lawyer is going to take everything I ever will have anyway.
Crossed the road, slammed head on into a mini van and killed three people.
Now consider if your trailer breaks loose, something is wrong with your equipment.
So if it hits anything, you are at fault.
I personally want the trailer to stay with my truck if it breaks loose.
As long as it is attached, I do have a way to have input into where it winds up.
If I have to wreck my truck to save a family, they make new trucks every day.
If I die in the wreck, it was my own fault, I missed something when I inspected the hitch before I left.
If I kill the family with my trailer and I live, I am going to wish I was dead every day for the rest of my life and their lawyer is going to take everything I ever will have anyway.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 0
From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!
my horse trailer has 3/8" curled cables on it makes them hang up out of the way and dont bounce all over the bed. and our trailer is 10,200lbs empty
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Roseville MN
This is a case where the therory won't hold up. Short of a truck and a trailer with 37" tires, there's simply no way you can make the chains keep the tongue off the ground. If the chains let you turn, they'll let the tongue hit the ground.
That's a challenge I offer to anyone: show me a picture! Unhook the trailer and show me the chains holding the tongue off the ground.
This is just an urban legend. The reason you cross chains is to cut whipping if the trailer comes off. With two parallel chains, the tongue is a pendulum. With crossed chains, the tongue won't swing because the chains resist side to side motion. It's the same reason you cross chains on a trailer securing a load.
That's a challenge I offer to anyone: show me a picture! Unhook the trailer and show me the chains holding the tongue off the ground.
This is just an urban legend. The reason you cross chains is to cut whipping if the trailer comes off. With two parallel chains, the tongue is a pendulum. With crossed chains, the tongue won't swing because the chains resist side to side motion. It's the same reason you cross chains on a trailer securing a load.
FWIW the rule is that the breaking load limit of the chain or cable needs to exceed the gross trailer wieght (rated or actual which ever is greater) breaking limit is three times the working load limit This applies to all trailers even goose neck hitches the only exception is 5th wheel plates like found on semis and some campers
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 0
From: Blackwater, VA
FWIW the rule is that the breaking load limit of the chain or cable needs to exceed the gross trailer wieght (rated or actual which ever is greater) breaking limit is three times the working load limit This applies to all trailers even goose neck hitches the only exception is 5th wheel plates like found on semis and some campers
i think i want a featherlite aluminum tagalong for my next one...i swear my bee drinks more diesel than the truck!
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,608
Likes: 13
From: Belair md
Don't remember, last summer or two summers ago about 60 miles north of me a tree crew towing a chipper with less that desireable safety chains lost the chipper.
Crossed the road, slammed head on into a mini van and killed three people.
Now consider if your trailer breaks loose, something is wrong with your equipment.
So if it hits anything, you are at fault.
I personally want the trailer to stay with my truck if it breaks loose.
As long as it is attached, I do have a way to have input into where it winds up.
If I have to wreck my truck to save a family, they make new trucks every day.
If I die in the wreck, it was my own fault, I missed something when I inspected the hitch before I left.
If I kill the family with my trailer and I live, I am going to wish I was dead every day for the rest of my life and their lawyer is going to take everything I ever will have anyway.
Crossed the road, slammed head on into a mini van and killed three people.
Now consider if your trailer breaks loose, something is wrong with your equipment.
So if it hits anything, you are at fault.
I personally want the trailer to stay with my truck if it breaks loose.
As long as it is attached, I do have a way to have input into where it winds up.
If I have to wreck my truck to save a family, they make new trucks every day.
If I die in the wreck, it was my own fault, I missed something when I inspected the hitch before I left.
If I kill the family with my trailer and I live, I am going to wish I was dead every day for the rest of my life and their lawyer is going to take everything I ever will have anyway.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: The boonies by Dallas OR
Congrats Ryan, you're the first I've seen to come up with that!
You've got the chains way up forward on the tongue. Most trailers mount them back. Combine that with a pretty high hitch and you're doing what most can't.
You've got the chains way up forward on the tongue. Most trailers mount them back. Combine that with a pretty high hitch and you're doing what most can't.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Roseville MN
Thats the benefit of building your own stuff. I built the trailer and the flat bed. The hitch isn't that high but compared to most hitches the chain hooks are high and that is what makes the biggest change.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Roseville MN
theoretically, at most actual is the same as rated...i'm sure the trailer can probably handle a few hundred over what it's rated, but personally...i'm not interested in testing that theory. my trailer is actually my "weakest link"...truck and hitch are rated at something like 12k i think, but the trailer is 8100. so 8100 it is. but i figure a 36-ish ft/12k-ish lb rig is plenty for me anyways! :O one of these days i should run over to the truck stop in chesapeake and put the whole thing on the scale...
i think i want a featherlite aluminum tagalong for my next one...i swear my bee drinks more diesel than the truck!
i think i want a featherlite aluminum tagalong for my next one...i swear my bee drinks more diesel than the truck!