Do you cross your safety cables?

ezgoin wrote:
My reason for asking is this photo off etrailers website showing the Roadmaster safety cables being used like this with a Roadmaster tow bar. I wondered if this is Roadmasters suggests procedure.

That is not a Roadmaster suggested procedure. Here is a diagram form the Falcon 2 owner's manual.



Tom

rockhillmanor wrote:


Blue Ox the most commonly used tow bar for towing a 4 down toad. Under those black rubber boots the arm extends and retracts.

Perhaps I misunderstood this comment: Those arms move in and out, seems to me wrapping the safety chains and/or coiled safety cables around the tow bar could certainly cause some serious issues inhibiting or stopping the correct movement of the tow bar arms.

I read that to mean that the arms moved in and out while towing. The Roadmaster tow bar arms do go in and out, but they are locked into place while towing. I believe you will find that the blue ox arms also lock in place while towing. Neither move in and out while towing.

Tom

on edit: correct some spelling errors

rockhillmanor wrote:
original OP

I know for towing a trailer it is recommended to cross your safety cables under the tongue,
but

do you cross them when hooking up your toad?

I don't really see the need, but what do most of you do?Thanks,Bill

pulsar wrote:
I've never seen a tow bar that has arms that move in and out. What tow bar do you use?Tom

Blue Ox the most commonly used tow bar for towing a 4 down toad. Under those black rubber boots the arm extends and retracts.

http://blueox.com/tow-bars/bx7420-avail/

Yeah, but when underway they are extended and locked.

Johno02 wrote:
If the arms on your tow bar move in and out while driving, the placement of your safety chains is the least of your problem.

X2! The tow bars should lock when pulling the toad. I use safety cables on my Falcon 2 tow bar and wrap them around the arms, then cross them under the hitch. The cables should NOT interfere with the operation of the arms, since they are/should be locked.

My reason for asking is this photo off etrailers website showing the Roadmaster safety cables being used like this with a Roadmaster tow bar. I wondered if this is Roadmasters suggests procedure.

original OP

I know for towing a trailer it is recommended to cross your safety cables under the tongue,
but

do you cross them when hooking up your toad?

I don't really see the need, but what do most of you do?Thanks,Bill

pulsar wrote:
I've never seen a tow bar that has arms that move in and out. What tow bar do you use?Tom

Blue Ox the most commonly used tow bar for towing a 4 down toad. Under those black rubber boots the arm extends and retracts.

http://blueox.com/tow-bars/bx7420-avail/

Yes, I cross them.

Haven't studied it per se. I cross them just like I did with chains on trailers.
If I didn't the cables would drag the ground also, and on turns especially.
Crossing the chains is supposed to catch the hitch if it pulls free. If not it could dig into the ground and a whole lot more damage.

rockhillmanor wrote:

pulsar wrote:
When using a ball hitch, crossing the chains may be the most efficient way to meet that requirement. But, for tow bars that are attached to brackets, there are more efficient ways. Our cables are coiled around the arms of the tow bar.Tom

You cross the safety chains AROUND the tow bar like the tow bar for towing a toad??
Those arms move in and out, seems to me wrapping the safety chains and/or coiled safety cables around the tow bar could certainly cause some serious issues inhibiting or stopping the correct movement of the tow bar arms.

I have the coiled rubber coated safety cables and they are crossed 'underneath' the toads tow bar.

I've never seen a tow bar that has arms that move in and out. What tow bar do you use?

Back to the original question, I misspoke. I do cross the chains (actually cables in our case) under the hitch at the RV end. For some reason, I was thinking about the connection at the car.

Yes, I do coil the cable around the arms, as described by the owner's manual for our first tow bar, Roadmaster's Falcon 2 and our current tow bar, Roadmaster's All Terrain. We've been towing 4-down for about 20 years, without an issue.

Tom

If the arms on your tow bar move in and out while driving, the placement of your safety chains is the least of your problem.