I just purchased a 2015 Silverado 2500. It came with a Class 5 hitch that has holes for the safety chains on the sides and front. They way the holes are set up, I cannot get the safety chain hooks in. I have a TT that is approx. 9,500 lbs loaded. Does anyone have any ideas? This new design is really weird.

I added a couple of these with the hook facing under the car (back of the hitch). It works for my 16ft flatbed trailer.Hooks

Something like this D Shackle could solve your issue.Or this one

Yep, just use a properly load-rated shackle or quick-link. You can buy the, at places like Tractor Supply or order from McMaster-Carr.

If you have what I do, it can be done. Gotta come in from the side and hook it towards the center of the truck. At first it seems impossible. A little practice, and it's easy.

Huntindog wrote:If you have what I do, it can be done. Gotta come in from the side and hook it towards the center of the truck. At first it seems impossible. A little practice, and it's easy.I think I have tried that, the hook from the safety chains won't quite make it through to be able to close. I tried a quick coupler and shackle from Home Depot but they don't sell anything large enough to be able to make it through both holes. Maybe, I'll try looking at tractor supply.

2015 Silverado 2500 Hitch | Good Sam Community

ESDA
Explorer
Feb 18, 2015
beg4mercy wrote:
I also have a 2015 2500HD and had the same challenge at first. Hooking the chains from the front is an absolute no go for me. It seems like the holes were not large enough to allow a hook through and to securely close. Hooking it from the underside however actually works fine. Try pulling the hook through the bottom to the front hole and let me know if it works for you....

The holes on the underside of mine are only about 3/8" diameter, so that won't work on mine.
ESDA
Explorer
Feb 18, 2015
rrev wrote:
2011 and 2015 have different hitches. I don't know why they changed them, but i tell you that the 2015 ones make the bumpers harder to remove. They look stronger though. What do the ratings say on each one? I've been curious.

Mine is the GM Class 5, it says it is rated to 13,000 lbs.
beg4mercy
Explorer
Feb 18, 2015
I also have a 2015 2500HD and had the same challenge at first. Hooking the chains from the front is an absolute no go for me. It seems like the holes were not large enough to allow a hook through and to securely close. Hooking it from the underside however actually works fine. Try pulling the hook through the bottom to the front hole and let me know if it works for you....
rrev
Explorer
Feb 18, 2015
2011 and 2015 have different hitches. I don't know why they changed them, but i tell you that the 2015 ones make the bumpers harder to remove. They look stronger though. What do the ratings say on each one? I've been curious.
ESDA
Explorer
Feb 18, 2015
bhall wrote:
I have the same truck/hitch/problem as you do. Didn't have a problem with old TT but last week hooked up to the one 7x14 Carmate at work and none of us could get the chains through. Since I was only dragging the trailer 3/4 mile at under 8 mph we skipped the chain step

Hopefully I posted your pic for you.

That's the picture, thank you

I tried a 1/2" quick link and it doesn't come anywhere close to opening wide enough.

I also tried a 7/8" shackle. I can barely get it to fit between the side hole and the front hole, but it won't work with the hitch pin installed as they interfere due to the size. It is not big enough to span from the side hole to the hole in the back, the opening is about a 1/4" or so too small.

This hitch design is terrible. Still trying to figure out what to use, what a pain.
hbillsmith
Explorer
Feb 11, 2015
The 3/8 shackle has a minimum break of 6 tons according to the specs at the vendor site. I believe WLL is most relevant for full time tow and not safety chain where min break is a better spec.
bhall
Explorer
Feb 11, 2015
I have the same truck/hitch/problem as you do. Didn't have a problem with old TT but last week hooked up to the one 7x14 Carmate at work and none of us could get the chains through. Since I was only dragging the trailer 3/4 mile at under 8 mph we skipped the chain step

Hopefully I posted your pic for you.
ESDA
Explorer
Feb 10, 2015
Trying to figure how to post a picture, but if you click on my profile I have a picture of it there
ESDA
Explorer
Feb 10, 2015
Trying to figure out how to post a picture of it, I'm new here.

It is hard to describe, the new hitch is basically enclosed. It has about a 1 inch hole in the front and back, there about a 1 1/2" oblong hole in the side and a 1/4" drain hole in the bottom. The front and back is about 2" apart. In order to get the safety hook in and to closed it looks like you have to come from the side and out through the front.
Huntindog
Explorer
Feb 10, 2015
ESDA wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
If you have what I do, it can be done. Gotta come in from the side and hook it towards the center of the truck. At first it seems impossible. A little practice, and it's easy.

I think I have tried that, the hook from the safety chains won't quite make it through to be able to close. I tried a quick coupler and shackle from Home Depot but they don't sell anything large enough to be able to make it through both holes. Maybe, I'll try looking at tractor supply.
Without seeing what you have.... All I can say is that my hooks are pretty much standard fare on most TTs... At first I thought it wouldn't work. But it does for me. Gotta do it just right. Hard to describe, but once you do it, it is easy.

You might want to give it another go, before buying stuff you may not need.

Good luck.

I just reread what you wrote. You don't need to go thru both holes! I use the ones on the bottom, though I think I could use the others ons as well.