Crossing Chains

[mustang]

I wanted to say that Andy is the same as Airstream a timeless treasure. What I meen is, I noticed Andy that your picture hasnt changed any in 2003 posts and 2008 posts. Andy has found the fountain of youth, Maybe we all have???????

[Minnie's Mate]

That is why the cop puts the hand cuffs on you so it digs into your wrists) you wont be able to twist the chains to break them.

Well, I have never had any experience with hand cuffs. At least not with real cops.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

... At least not with real cops.

TMI !



Tom

[richinny]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

What move?

Andy

"DOT has informed us at work that crossing chains is not safe practice" ...their reasoning may be that if the chains are not equal lengths, and IF the trailer becomes separated the one longer chain may "throw" the trailer around to the other side of the tow vehicle causing further unstability in a very tense moment. DUH!Still doesn't make sense...the trailer isn't supposed to become separated while traveling anyway (IF we are doing things RIGHT!).

we'll have you tow a trailer at 65 mph, use exploding bolts on the tow ball and test the results with:
1) uncrossed chains
2) crossed chains
3) crossed and twisted chains

an andy, i'm not offering MY trailer for the tests, lol.

i suspect you already know the answers.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by richinny

"DOT has informed us at work that crossing chains is not safe practice" ...their reasoning may be that if the chains are not equal lengths, and IF the trailer becomes separated the one longer chain may "throw" the trailer around to the other side of the tow vehicle causing further unstability in a very tense moment. DUH!Still doesn't make sense...the trailer isn't supposed to become separated while traveling anyway (IF we are doing things RIGHT!).

we'll have you tow a trailer at 65 mph, use exploding bolts on the tow ball and test the results with:
1) uncrossed chains
2) crossed chains
3) crossed and twisted chains

an andy, i'm not offering MY trailer for the tests, lol.

i suspect you already know the answers.

I don't, as well as many other people, always agree with DOT.

During my many thousands of towing miles, I always crossed the chains.

There are two reasons for doing so.

1. The chains won't drag the pavement.

2. When a turn is made, the chains do not tighten, as they would if they were straight.

Straight chains can inhibit a tight turn.

Crossed chians, never interfer, with the tightest of turns.

DOT, in their statement, I think assumes those that tow trailers, are all nuts.

Who in the world would have 2 different chain lengths? No one that I know of.

Crossed chains, are for me.

Andy

[richinny]

thanks andy.
i think if twisted a certain way, one chain becomes shorter. it's like when you twist two wires together and one does more wrapping than the other.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by mustang

I wanted to say that Andy is the same as Airstream a timeless treasure. What I meen is, I noticed Andy that your picture hasnt changed any in 2003 posts and 2008 posts. Andy has found the fountain of youth, Maybe we all have???????

Fountain of youth?

Perhaps.

Looking at hula girls, doing their thing, while I am sitting on Waikiki beach, slowly sipping a Mai Tai, spiked with "real" pineapple, breathing truly fresh air, does indeed make a person feel younger, and perhaps evens reverses the aging process.

It works for me.

Everyone there is family, like cousins.

Aloha and Mahalo too.

Andy

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by richinny

thanks andy.
i think if twisted a certain way, one chain becomes shorter. it's like when you twist two wires together and one does more wrapping than the other.

Well, what can I say.

We both know some guys, that can't tie the shoe laces on both shoes, the same way.

Andy

[richinny]

that's why i use velcro to close my sneakers and just cross my chains once.

hawaii, it's on my list, save me some pineapple juice!

[AirsDream]

I have always crossed safety chains - for the "cradle" effect. If they appear a little too long, that's o.k. in my book, because it allows a bit of extra length for a tighter turn. I suspect that the Airstream factory designers have actually given this a thought over the past several decades of trailer designing. But to deal with the "hanging too low" possibility and to prevent dragging on the pavement, I bungie them up in the middle - the bungie definitely will give way if the chains start to draw tight. (And I do it in such a way that they can't snag on the hitch in a turn. Hard to explain but easy to do!).

[mustang]

I never thought about the chains dragging??? I have always adjusted them, But the bungi might give a little more if In tight corders. The picot point is different so I dont think even a jack nife could break um.

[SteveH]

Don't remember which ones they are, but there are some Northern states where crossing the chains is required by law. The Southern states, however, are more realistic and just require chains.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by SteveH

... is required by law. ...

Can ANYONE share a tale of a law enforcement representative actually reviewing ANYONE's use of proper towing equipment?

Since I seldom see an Airstream in tow while going down the road, my OTR diversion is to rant about improperly rigged SOBs encountered to my wife. She is really hoping the situation improves so that I will quit interrupting her reading material.

While I can't see how the SOB's chains (if present) are arranged, at night I can spot a lot of coons in the trees due to the SOB's lack of weight distribution.

Anyone?

Anyone?

Tom

[jcanavera]

I just read this thread and for one thing I've talked to a friend who is a mechanical engineer and into tools and he said for one, twisting chains to "shorten" them is a no no and can effect the strength limits of the chain.

With at least my trailer, it was very easy to move the hooks to a different link. That took care of excessive length. Finally I've been taught to cross my chains and I think the practice is safe since those chains are the same length and personally it definitely would help keep the trailer tongue from contacting the road.....especially if you are encountering some pitching of the trailer.

Jack

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by TomW

Since I seldom see an Airstream in tow while going down the road, my OTR diversion is to rant about improperly rigged SOBs encountered to my wife. She is really hoping the situation improves so that I will quit interrupting her reading material.

While I can't see how the SOB's chains (if present) are arranged, at night I can spot a lot of coons in the trees due to the SOB's lack of weight distribution.

Anyone?

Anyone?

Tom

Agreed.

All to many SOB haulers, tow with just a ball. When they are asked about it, the typical answer is, "Hey man, can't you see I tow with a truck?" Why do I need a load equalizing hitch? It's a waste of money!!!

Oh well, maybe he has a good attorney.

On the other hand, so I have been told, "trucks have that magic ability."

"They don't need all that towing garbage."

Ho hum, back to work.

Andy

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

I don't, as well as many other people, always agree with DOT.

During my many thousands of towing miles, I always crossed the chains.

There are two reasons for doing so.

1. The chains won't drag the pavement.

2. When a turn is made, the chains do not tighten, as they would if they were straight.

Straight chains can inhibit a tight turn.

Crossed chians, never interfer, with the tightest of turns.



Andy

Actually, Andy, the factory installed chains won't inhibit a tight turn--they will break. I know this from experience from the time I inadvertently hooked the chains up by passing them around the outside of the WD bars. (lesson learned here) When I arrived at my destination some 409 miles and one stop for fuel later I discovered my chains had snapped in the middle from the tight turns getting into and out of the fuel station at the mid-point of the trip and were dragging the ground. I also discovered what happens on a 409 mile trip when the chain drags the ground for approximately 1/2 the trip--the friction on the asphalt grinds the steel away and "eats" through the links. The links that had dragged on the pavement were worn roughly half through.

The chains I had installed are a little too long so I twist them. My 30' Safari had 12,000 lbs chains, IIRC, but the trailer shop where I took it to have new chains welded on didn't have 12,000 lbs chains, but did have 15,000 lbs chains. So that is what I now have. I can pretty much say to any other Airstream owner with confidence, "mine're bigger than yours."