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Safety Chains Andersen Hitch

billy1davis
Explorer
Explorer
I have ordered the Andersen Hitch after reading the responses to my earlier question posted here about the hitch. Now I am wondering how necessary are the safety chains that are now sold as an option.
44 REPLIES 44

JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Explorer III
Amazing how some rv folks don't think a law concerning requirements for safety chains concerns them because they have a 5th wheel trailer or other silly reasons.... they simple choose to ignore those laws concering ball type hitches.

OP...... I would stay in compliance with those states safety chain laws you will be traveling through.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

Wild_Card
Explorer
Explorer
Who decided a 5th wheel hitch with mechanical jaws is superior to a ball with a pin. Both can fail. If 5th fails trailer slips out fairly easy. The ball/pin fails the trailer has to bounce off the ball...not easy for a gooseneck or 5th conversion.

I don't use safety chains on my Andersen. I would rather the trailer come out/pull brake/trailer hit ground and stop then roll me over. And chances are it's going to ride on my bed rails till I get stopped vs comming off truck.
2015 Ram 3500 Dually
Sundowner 2286GM Pro-Grade Toyhauler

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
azdryheat wrote:
Never heard of chains on a 5th wheel, just the break-away switch.


Gooseneck/ball hitches require safety chains.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

GordonThree
Explorer
Explorer
N-Trouble wrote:
Show me why a ball/coupler NEED safety chains as opposed to a traditional 5er hitch and I will run them. But seeing how no other 5er is required to run them I'm not going to go run out and buy a set just because some paper says its the law...


Laws are often funny like that.
2013 KZ Sportsmen Classic 200, 20 ft TT
2020 RAM 1500, 5.7 4x4, 8 speed

N-Trouble
Explorer
Explorer
Show me why a ball/coupler NEED safety chains as opposed to a traditional 5er hitch and I will run them. But seeing how no other 5er is required to run them I'm not going to go run out and buy a set just because some paper says its the law...
2015 Attitude 28SAG w/slide
2012 GMC 2500HD SLT Duramax
B&W Turnover w/Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch

cummins2014
Explorer
Explorer
billy1davis wrote:
I have ordered the Andersen Hitch after reading the responses to my earlier question posted here about the hitch. Now I am wondering how necessary are the safety chains that are now sold as an option.


Good choice on the hitch , Iโ€™m glad you didnโ€™t let the bashers chase you away from it. They try their best every time an Andersen thread pops up.

As far as chains, I donโ€™t have them , it doesnโ€™t make sense with a fifth wheel. Nothing more is going to happen if it comes off the Andersen then if it comes off a conventional fifth wheel hitch.

Iโ€™m going to check my States regulations,and also with Andersen .

GordonThree
Explorer
Explorer
If you're in Michigan you need chains or another suitable safety device.


257.721 Passenger vehicle or pickup truck towing vehicle or trailer; drawbar or other connection; coupling devices and safety chains; pickup truck with fifth wheel assembly; conditions for towing additional trailer or semitrailer; speed limit requirements; violation as civil infraction.
Sec. 721.

(3) A vehicle or trailer towed or drawn by a vehicle shall be attached to the vehicle with forms of coupling devices in a manner so that when the combination is operated in a linear alignment on a level, smooth, paved surface, the movement of the towed or drawn vehicle or trailer does not deviate more than 3 inches to either side of the path of the towing vehicle that tows or draws it. The vehicle or trailer shall also be connected to the towing vehicle by suitable safety chains or devices, 1 on each side of the coupling and at the extreme outer edge of the vehicle or trailer. Each chain or device and connection used shall be of sufficient strength to haul the vehicle or trailer when loaded. In the case of an implement of husbandry with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, the safety chains or devices required under this subsection shall conform to the federal motor carrier safety regulations requirements contained in 49 CFR 393.70(d)(5).
2013 KZ Sportsmen Classic 200, 20 ft TT
2020 RAM 1500, 5.7 4x4, 8 speed

slapshot12
Explorer
Explorer
I added them just so I'd never have to worry about not having them if required, plus it's an extra safety measure. It take an extra 10-15 seconds when hooking up.
'18 Momentum 349M
'17 F-350 SRW Lariat CCSB 6.7 FX4

billy1davis
Explorer
Explorer
As far as the legality, here is the answer I found on "Everything About RVing:"

I would like know if safety chains are mandatory when entering the United States when towing a 5th Wheel Trailer?

ANSWER: Hi thanks for submitting your question on our Ask An RV Question Page.

The US does not require Towing Safety Chains when towing a 5th Wheel Trailer with a positive locking coupling system. A 5th wheel setup using a Gooseneck Coupling System does require the use of safety chains.

5th Wheel Trailers with a gross weight of 3000 lbs. or more are also required to have a Breakaway Switch that will activate the trailer's brakes if the trailer separates from the tow vehicle.

Poppy_s_5th_Whe
Explorer
Explorer
I've pulled my 5th with the Andersen over 40,000 miles, coast to coast, border to border and into Canada 3 times and I don't have safety chains and have never been stopped or questioned.
Paul "Poppy" Cervone
2016 GMC Summit White Denali 3500HD SRW CC/SB
2015 Grand Design Reflection 337 RLS

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
I got them for mine. Not sure if they're required or not in Oregon. Better safe than sorry. I see now that Andersen makes a neat safety chain attachment device.
Only takes about 20 secs to hookup the chains.

azdryheat
Explorer
Explorer
Never heard of chains on a 5th wheel, just the break-away switch.
2013 Chevy 3500HD CC dually
2014 Voltage 3600 toy hauler
2019 RZR 1000XP TRE

IBcarguy
Explorer
Explorer
I have an AUH and in Ca chains are required because it is a ball hitch.

gdweb
Explorer
Explorer
ball hitches require safety chains in most states
SEMPER FI

Gary & Diane
Ky
2020 F250 King Ranch 6.7l FX4
2013 Sundance 3270res

gkainz
Explorer
Explorer
check your state laws, I guess? I don't have them on mine in CO. Maybe Andersen can tell you if they're required in your state?

Andersen FAQ Safety Chains
'07 Ram 2500 CTD 4x4 Quad Cab
'10 Keystone Laredo 245 5er