To cross or not to cross

[SouthForkAS]

what happens if the brakes fail?
Cross 'em (for reasons stated above)
Complain to the manager about the bad advice.

[ATaber]

Cross!! In Washington State it is the law or at least was many years ago when I got ticket for not having crossed chains. It was a trailer with a forklift on it, not an RV, but that would not make a difference. And as others say it will cradle the tongue. My friend's large boat was saved when he forgot to secure the tongue to the ball and it bounced off on the freeway. The crossed chains caught it and he was able to pull over.

[AgBullet]

Cross them, of course.

[Wazbro]

The only possibility of even the slightest effect on the operation of the breakaway switch is if he also incorrectly has the breakaway switch cable going through the chains and/or incorrectly hooking that cable to the same place as the chains. Even then would probably not make a noticeable difference.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

We cross our chains,

You should however, avoid twisting the chains in order to shorten them.

I'm guilty. Here's why.
First, you are correct in that twisting weakens the chain.
In my situation I'm currently using an Equalizer hitch and the chains are too long. I could remove the hooks and reposition them a few links farther back, or better yet, cut the link at the A-Frame and add a "Quick Link" threaded Link.
BUT I'm reconditioning a Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch and I'd like to finish that before cutting any links in the safety chain. It has a different shank.

Airstream did not scrimp on their safety chains, so I feel I'm okay with the 360 twist for a while.

[GCinSC2]

MD

Take a look at a 5/16 double clevis grade 43 or 70 instead of the quick link.

Gary

[JJTX]

Originally Posted by Jeff Bittner

My AS dealer said despite what everyone says, he recommends to NOT cross tow chains as the emergency brake works better.
Thoughts?

It is illegal in many states, to not cross the chains. They are not emergency brakes.

[LilPeanut]

My dealer said he could dunk a basketball. Also false.

[baytowvin]

With so many topics that people seem divided on; safe towing capacity, traveling with propane on or off, weight distribution, tire lifespans, etc…., it’s refreshing to see one were we seem to all be on the same page.

As we all know, there’s been a surge in RV sales. Many of us have enjoyed appreciated values on our Airstreams as a result. One downside is you’re far more likely to come across AS sales people that don’t actually have RV/towing experience. Clearly, this sales person falls in that category. They’re trying to sound like the expert, but with bad information.

Plenty have covered the why, so I won’t repeat it. But: ALWAYS CROSS!!!!

[AS24247]

That's probably the same dealer who emphatically told me my two 6v 220ah batteries in series gave me 440ah of power.

Cross the chains. Some of the dealer folk are not the sharpest tools but think so since they are the "Dealer".

[jondrew55]

I don't cross the chains on my ProPride. It would be meaningless. I wonder what Texas would do to me?

[sheriff1]

Originally Posted by jondrew55

I don't cross the chains on my ProPride. It would be meaningless. I wonder what Texas would do to me?

99 years in the electric chair…

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Backing up a bit .....

The break away cable is for just that, a situation where the trailer fully disconnects from the tow vehicle ( = breaks away ). That means the coupler has failed, the 7 pin has come loose *and* the chains are both broken. The trailer is trying to drive off on its own with no "supervision" from the tow vehicle. The brakes are then applied and the wheels do their best to lock up. This (hopefully) minimizes the distance the trailer spends roaming free on its own. You are already into major damage to the trailer at this point, the braking is as much to minimize damage to others as anything else.

You do not want the wheels to lock up if only the coupler has failed. That puts a pretty big load on the chains and might ( or might not) get them to come loose. It might (or might not) blow a tire. If the 7 pin cable is the proper length ( it might not be ) and the chains are crossed, you still would have brakes to *slowly* get things to the curb. Violent this or that is *not* what you want.

What's the "most likely" case here? Somebody didn't put the coupler latch down. The road gets rough and the trailer pitches up enough to come off the ball. Hopefully this is at low speed in the campground and no major damage is done.

Bob

[docron702]

It's the law in Utah. Time to get a new dealer as your current guy is looking to either get you a big ticket or get you killed.

[JJTX]

Originally Posted by jondrew55

I don't cross the chains on my ProPride. It would be meaningless. I wonder what Texas would do to me?

It gets noticed by TX LE. Depending on where you are, you may well get a ticky or lecture from a state trooper who works the grass fires from loose chains touching the pavement and wrecks from not crossing chains.

The crossing is meant for, and succeeds in preventing, the hitch from hitting the ground and sparking fires.

[JJTX]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Backing up a bit .....

The break away cable is for just that, a situation where the trailer fully disconnects from the tow vehicle ( = breaks away ). That means the coupler has failed, the 7 pin has come loose *and* the chains are both broken.

You do not want the wheels to lock up if only the coupler has failed. That puts a pretty big load on the chains and might ( or might not) get them to come loose. It might (or might not) blow a tire. If the 7 pin cable is the proper length ( it might not be ) and the chains are crossed, you still would have brakes to *slowly* get things to the curb. Violent this or that is *not* what you want.


Bob

I'm startled so many don't understand this on here........... And argue.

[Atwebs]

If “everyone” says to do it, there is usually a reason.

Long ago a distracted husband forgot to put set the ball lock on the trailer hitch. One good bump and the trailer popped off the ball and started wandering about on it’s own. On a three lane major highway crowded with cars. Crossed chains kept the trailer from digging into the roadway and an alert truck driver blocked our trailer from doing anything damaging to anyone else before the trailer was pulled off the roadway and the brakes employed. Aside from the initial panic and the retroflective self flagulation, nothing horrible happened.

[s1000pre]

Cross chains. Try to connect the brake cable to the frame of the truck, not the hitch.

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Backing up a bit .....

The break away cable is for just that, a situation where the trailer fully disconnects from the tow vehicle ( = breaks away ). That means the coupler has failed, the 7 pin has come loose *and* the chains are both broken. The trailer is trying to drive off on its own with no "supervision" from the tow vehicle. The brakes are then applied and the wheels do their best to lock up. This (hopefully) minimizes the distance the trailer spends roaming free on its own. You are already into major damage to the trailer at this point, the braking is as much to minimize damage to others as anything else.

You do not want the wheels to lock up if only the coupler has failed. That puts a pretty big load on the chains and might ( or might not) get them to come loose. It might (or might not) blow a tire. If the 7 pin cable is the proper length ( it might not be ) and the chains are crossed, you still would have brakes to *slowly* get things to the curb. Violent this or that is *not* what you want.

What's the "most likely" case here? Somebody didn't put the coupler latch down. The road gets rough and the trailer pitches up enough to come off the ball. Hopefully this is at low speed in the campground and no major damage is done.

Bob

Originally Posted by JJTX

I'm startled so many don't understand this on here........... And argue.

No! You’re BOTH wrong. I’ve already explained why and perhaps you didn’t read it.

If the hitch becomes UN-done (either the latch fails, the ball fails, or the receiver-hitch-pin fails)…the trailer will become DEtached from the TV.
The trailer WILL now SWAY/FISH-TAIL because it’s attached LOOSELY to the TV via the chains.
With crossed-chains the trailer tongue will be held up/off the pavement.
If the brake-cable is sufficiently SHORT…the trailer-brakes WILL APPLY….thereby pulling the crossed-chains TAUT and preventing SWAY….and likely will prevent the Trailer and TV from becoming out-of-control and rolling-over and/or killing someone.

CROSS THE CHAINS! IT’S THE LAW!

and SHORTEN that brake cable (and throw away that coiled brake cable) so that IF the trailer disconnects the Trailer Brakes WILL APPLY!

[JJTX]

Originally Posted by Boxite

No! You’re BOTH wrong. I’ve already explained why and perhaps you didn’t read it.

If the hitch becomes UN-done (either the latch fails, the ball fails, or the receiver-hitch-pin fails)…the trailer will become DEtached from the TV.
The trailer WILL now SWAY/FISH-TAIL because it’s attached LOOSELY to the TV via the chains.
With crossed-chains the trailer tongue will be held up/off the pavement.
If the brake-cable is sufficiently SHORT…the trailer-brakes WILL APPLY….thereby pulling the crossed-chains TAUT and preventing SWAY….and likely will prevent the Trailer and TV from becoming out-of-control and rolling-over and/or killing someone.

CROSS THE CHAINS! IT’S THE LAW!

and SHORTEN that brake cable (and throw away that coiled brake cable) so that IF the trailer disconnects the Trailer Brakes WILL APPLY!

Yes, we cross chains.

And, no brake-away brakes are not for when its connected still, we simply don't agree. And thats just fine, too, I dont loose sleep over it.