Forum Discussion

Jhurk's avatar
Jhurk
Explorer
Mar 01, 2017

Safety Chains

New to 5er towing. Purchased 5er and TV. I have a question on safety chains, are they required? I have hooks on my bed that came with B&B gooseneck ball but I can't see anywhere on the 5er hitch where I would attach the safety chains?

19 Replies

  • I have an Anderson hitch and use the safety chains, some states require them for goose neck set ups. I live in CA. and just thought I'd cover myself where ever we go.
  • BB_TX wrote:
    Don't know how many states require the chains. But Andersen does sell a safety chain set for the Ultimate.


    Only because we challenged them on their statement that they were not required early on. Chris
  • 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.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    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.
  • 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
  • On mine, and I assume this is standard on all others although I haven't checked, there is a Breakaway Switch on the 5th wheel with a thin wire with a loop on the end which you attach with a pin to your hitch.
    The theory is, when you are hooked up as long as this switch is in place the brakes on the trailer are not activated, unless of course you brake while driving. If the trailer somehow comes detached from the truck the wire pulls the switch out and the trailer breaks go on and stop the trailer. This of course assumes you are traveling with charged batteries.
    If you google 5th wheel breakaway switch the is lots of good information.
    I hope this makes sense and helps.:)
  • Safety chains are required for a ball type hitch, as goosenecks are. But not for a conventional 5th wheel hitch.
  • Safety chains are not required for a fifth wheel hitch.

    If you convert to a Gooseneck hitch then safety chains may be required.

    Do you have a fifth wheel hitch?

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah