Forum Discussion

Leichardti's avatar
Leichardti
Explorer III
Apr 16, 2015

Best way to mount safety chains?

Order my parents a pair of safety chains and mounts for there new fifth wheel.

Chains rated 20,000 lbs +, mounts 18,000 lbs

What would be the best way to mount the chains to the trailer hitch?

I haven't found quick links rated over 3,000-4,000 lbs.
I was thinking about using high grade bolts and washers.

Any ideas?

Thank you for your time

16 Replies

  • California is tough but they don't require safety chains on 5th wheels .....yet

    YOUR bumper pull requires them
    Your FOLKS 5vr doesn't

    Return chains/mounts for refund
  • Another vote saying that a standard fifth wheel hitch has no provision for adding chains.

    My son uses a Reese goose neck adapter on his standard Reese rails when pulling a nine ton (construction) dump trailer. That setup came with chains from the factory since it is a ball/socket connection.
  • 5th wheels do not need safety chains. I am getting my "fifth" 5th wheel Tomorrow and in over 70,000 miles of towing have never had a problem.
    Also to connect of disconnect the chains you probably would have to crawl into the truck box and that would be a pain. Then there would be toe problem of chains catching on something.
    If you are worried about trailer coming unhooked because it was not hooked up correct. I just raise my landing jacks about an inch and put truck in drive, so if it is not hitched up right it will do no damage to box.
    Also if you are worried about it coming out of the hitch because it is not connected up right, safety chains would not prevent damage to truck.
  • Safety chains are required for FIFTH WHEELS in your state? That's a new one on me - normally, they are only required for ball hitches (gooseneck and conventional bumper-pull type hitches) in the RVing world.

    Can't help you - I've never used safety chains on a 5th wheel hitch (there's a reason that the 5th wheel hitch manufacturers don't make a provision for them.)

    Rusty
  • Leichardti wrote:
    Order my parents a pair of safety chains and mounts for there new fifth wheel.

    Chains rated 20,000 lbs +, mounts 18,000 lbs

    What would be the best way to mount the chains to the trailer hitch?

    I haven't found quick links rated over 3,000-4,000 lbs.
    I was thinking about using high grade bolts and washers.

    Any ideas?

    Thank you for your time


    If you're using a standard fifth wheel hitch, safety chains aren't needed. Only if you're using a gooseneck adapter are they needed. I've seen people replace the pin box bolts with longer ones, then put a steel strap under the bolt and attach the chain to that. I believe that the Anderson hitches come with chains and, if so, =should= have instructions or a kit, to attach them to the pin box.

    Lyle
  • I thought when they broke loose you guys just caught them with your tail-gate? ;)