Safety Chains

rhagfo wrote:

Jhurk wrote:
Yes I have the Anderson Ultimate 2 aluminum hitch gooseneck attachment. That's what I thought no safety chains required.. I don't know the reasoning for no,requirement but that's fine by me. Thanks

Your Anderson is a BALL type hitch so fall under the same rules as a Goose-neck and typically require safety chains. 37 states require safety chains, not sure about our friends to the North.

http://www.rvtripwizard.com/rv-info/state-road-laws.php

http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/towing-laws.htm

http://rvsafely.com/rvroadlaws.htm

Just because Andersen calls their hitch "Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection" doesn't change it from being a ball type hitch.
5th wheel refers to a pin type hitch.

And in Tennessee safety chains are not required for fifth wheel OR Gooseneck applications. I like the Andersen design but since I would be towing out of state I would use safety chains.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I just bolted chains on my Anderson yesterday. When I bought the hitch setup, nothing was mentioned by the dealer about chains, but later on the topic came up. My real reason for the chains is IF something happens that involves another vehicle----I don't want their attorney raking me over the coals.
I've racked up 1 1/2 million miles, and have never seen a travel trailer or 5th wheel loose, but it might have happened. I might have seen a Kardashian once, or maybe it was a pumpkin.
The Anderson is a nice setup.

I also use an Andersen Ultimate and purchased the safety chains from them. When you buy their chains it comes with eyelet bolts that replace the 2 long bolts in the pin adapter that are used to hook the chains to. I think the ball hook up is just as strong as a 5th wheel pin, so I'm not sure why chains are required.

rhagfo wrote:


http://www.rvtripwizard.com/rv-info/state-road-laws.php

http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/towing-laws.htm

http://rvsafely.com/rvroadlaws.htm

Just because Andersen calls their hitch "Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection" doesn't change it from being a ball type hitch.
5th wheel refers to a pin type hitch.

Every link you posted says absolutely nothing that 5th wheels are excluded from safety chains. Under requirements one of the first things mentioned is safety chains with no exclusions. Not so with some of the other items listed.

From the Texas Administrative Code:

(a) A person may not operate a passenger car or light truck while towing a trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or another motor vehicle on a public highway unless safety chains of a type approved by the department are attached in a manner approved by the department from the trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or drawn motor vehicle to the towing vehicle.
(b) Exceptions.

(snip)

(4) Does not apply to fifth wheel or gooseneck semitrailers.

SOURCE

I will be attaching safety chains to my Anderson gooseneck hitch. Not a big deal!

Jhurk wrote:
I will be attaching safety chains to my Anderson gooseneck hitch. Not a big deal!

Me too! For $80 it's just extra peace of mind. Besides, I am used to using them on my gooseneck and bumper pull trailers.

minnow wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

Jhurk wrote:
Yes I have the Anderson Ultimate 2 aluminum hitch gooseneck attachment. That's what I thought no safety chains required.. I don't know the reasoning for no,requirement but that's fine by me. Thanks

Your Anderson is a BALL type hitch so fall under the same rules as a Goose-neck and typically require safety chains. 37 states require safety chains, not sure about our friends to the North.

Please provide documentation or links supporting your opinion that the Andersen requires chains in 37 states. Thanks.

I'm in CA and chains with a 'ball coupler' is just accepted. It is not a big deal and only takes about 3-5 seconds per chain to hook up. I did a quick search and came across the DMV booklet in CT. It specifically states chains are required with a 'ball coupler'. http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=804&q=244914
It is so easy, why fight it?