Trailer safety chains question

[Sunshine2Me]

My DH and I are having a disagreement. I believe the safety chains on a horse trailer should be crossed. He believes they should be straight. My thought is that, God forbid they come in to use, the trailer will pull straighter with them crossed. How do you hook yours, and why?

[goldhorse]

I cross mine for exactly the reason you gave.

[Josette]

Cross mine too - it's how I was taught to hook up.

[Canyon]

Cross them. If the coupler comes off the ball, the trailer tongue will be supported by the chains instead of digging into the pavement.

[fergusnc]

Cross them. Taught that way and it was reiterated by trailer dealer when I just bought my own in the Fall. Never knew why though, until Canyon's reply. Thanks Canyon!

[Literiding]

Crossed, some states actually require the chains to be crossed under the hitch and you can get a ticket if they aren't.

The logic behind the crossing the chains under the hitch is should one of the following circumstances occur:

a) the transverse pin that holds the carrier in the receiver fail or failed to be pinned in place and falls out

b) the ball neck fails through brittle fracture

c) the hitch comes off the the ball because the collar/latch wasn't hooked to prevent it (I actually did this when I was about 17 with an empty horse trailer going through a gutter)

The trailer hitch will be supported in the "cradle" of the chains rather than falling down to pavement and digging into the pavement and causing the trailer to stop short.

Usually, the break away lanyard for the trailer's emergency brakes is longer than the safety chains so the emergency trailer brakes only apply should the trailer become completely loose from the towing vehicle.

[Chancellor]

Having gone through when a trailer comes apart from the trailer....ALWAYS cross them. The hitch falls into the cradle of the chains and stays with the truck..

[texsuze]

DH perhaps owes you a nice dinner Crossed chains.

And....always hitch up your own trailer, check turn signals and break lights before you load and always check/secure all doors yourself before you get into your tow vehicle.

[Sunshine2Me]

DH perhaps owes you a nice dinner Crossed chains.

It appears so!

[Quelah]

Yes chains/cables should be crossed under hitch and also set appropriate length so the will cradle trailer should it come uncoupled.

Also electrical cord (not the breakaway) that plugs into truck should have enough length and be arranged so that should the trailer come uncoupled, the plug can stay plugged so your trailer brakes will still work. Another also, verify that it is wired correctly so that your trailer brakes WILL still work if trailer comes uncoupled from the truck.

[Tarlo Farm]

(how could he ever think they shouldn't be crossed?!?!)

[Quelah]

Tarlo he's not alone sadly. I've thought of doing a photo blog of all the improperly hooked up trailers I see in horsepital parking lots

[heddylamar]

Crossed. Make sure the breakaway and electric are not tangled with the chains.

[Tarlo Farm]

Tarlo he's not alone sadly. I've thought of doing a photo blog of all the improperly hooked up trailers I see in horsepital parking lots

Q, I think this would be a public service. Just make sure not to get any license plates in the photos.