I'm not laughing. I just wanted to move this nonsensical conversation out of the towing thread, and into one that sane people can come to, drop a reason to use chains, then leave and let the children REEEEEE!It's really not a joking matter Chance. Lot's of folks killed and maimed by dumb asses pulling trailers that don't know what they are doing. Check out this site Dangerous Trailers.
This story reminds me of one, I was involved with. We mowed ski trails via towed mower which used a ball and a trailer hitch system to attach it to the atv. This poor fellow just couldn't figure out how to keep the mower connected and lost it every summer which tore up the mower controls. He eventually bought a wrench for the ball nut. But we lost tools and broke other varuis parts on the atv and mower every year. Why was this such a hard thing to figure out for a fellow who spent his life working at a technical engineering university?I knew a guy that hooked up his utility trailer, so he thought, started loading it when it popped off the ball because he did not check it as it was on the ball not over it when he hooked up. Even then the chains helped.
What is the reasoning behind making them illegal? That makes no sense to me at all. Not having them, sure, but illegal?The use of chains won't change from this thread, we can argue about what is best. But in the end of the day, in the US the safety chains are mandatory. While in the EU they're illegal.
So while I do agree that safety chains would be the best option from a safety stand point, I can't use them over here. Cause illegal, lol.
Just how laws are different, I guess.
I'm genuinely curious if you can provide a source for the legality claim. I'm looking everywhere, and all I can see is that they are highly recommended in the UK (I know, brexit and whatnot). I'm reading that in the UK, you are required to use a secondary connection, OR a breakaway cable. Which means safety chains would be required on trailers without brakes.The use of chains won't change from this thread, we can argue about what is best. But in the end of the day, in the US the safety chains are mandatory. While in the EU they're illegal.
So while I do agree that safety chains would be the best option from a safety stand point, I can't use them over here. Cause illegal, lol.
Just how laws are different, I guess.
If it means they are illegal IF they interfere with the brake wire, then I get it. If it's literally "they are always illegal when a brake wire is used" then that's ridiculous as they could just make the brake wire a bit shorter than the safety chains like they are in the us....I’ve heard back already. It's apparently illegal under the term that the chains would disturb how the wire works.
Agree on everything here, but I have one point of clarity.not sure what your brake wire is comprised of.
i had a trailer, with trailer brakes and a dead mans switch kind of brake applicator.
if i was a total dumbass and didn't hook my ball hitch properly, with the safety pin, and that failed...and then my safety chains, either hooked incorrectly, or fail, then the third and final part of the puzzle is the trailer moving away from the truck, pulling the wire connecting the two, which pulled out a switch and the brakes would apply.
(basically i believe this part of the system was powered open, much like air brakes, and when you lose the power thru the switch disconnect, the brakes applied...I assume thats pretty standard)
So I have numerous safety features available to me.
for the one regarding the vehicle unable to control a disconnected trailer with chains keeping it together, that's why we have towing limits....that's why you don't load your vehicle to the max unless you have the towing skills to back it up.
so many people bin it into the weeds when they have trailer issues is because they're totally unskilled and lack the experience to be towing a vehicle at its limits.
I'm a huge supporter of graduated licensing systems when becoming a new driver, I 100% think that trailering should be the same. This way, some clown doesn't go buy a Honda Ridgeline and try and tow a 32' dual axle camping trailer through the mountains.