Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Safety chains on trailers

I've read several times that some states require chains to not be directly welded to a trailer. They can be attached to something else that is welded. Here's a couple.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Buyers-Products/337SC38B.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Buyers-Products/3375471000.html

Bruce

Chain welds usually will break over time if subjected to much force

From P.23 on this document:

https://www.linklock.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Trailer-Safety-Chain-White-Paper.pdf

Lastly, the chains are not to be welded to the trailer chassis. Our testing shows almost a 50% decrease in strength of some chains when they are welded.


Bruce

My first wife was killed in an accident where a large, double axle trailer separated from the truck and struck her vehicle. No safety chains and miss match ball and hitch. He was found guilty in criminal court and he and his 2 insurance companies lost in the later civil suits. I'd give anything to have her here. If you're pulling a trailer, please use safety chains.

Some friends were helping deliver a new subcompact tractor to a buyer.
One ran the Jack, one the truck, #3 loaded the tractor.
At the customer, they swapped the tractor for a big mower tgat had been traded. Back at the dealer, they were going to load a John Deere, around 40-50hp. Jim pulled it up on the trailer, and the trailer stood up. He hit the clutch
and break, and it hovered with the deck touching the top of the bumper of a month old King Ranch dually. The gooseneck inches from the cab.
His brother chocked the wheels, and ran the Jack down quick. Only the rubber on top the bumper was scratched. Not bad.

They had driven 60+ miles unhooked. Only the weight of the equipment had kept it together.