Brake away chains

[MiPaJacks]

Do I need to install safety chains between the towed and the MH? My towed is a 3500 pound Honda CRV.
Thanks

[navegator]

Yes the DW is ok explain what you are doing so that both know what is going to happen, let her know that standing behind the vehicles "you can not see her" that she needs to see you in the mirror at all times.

Also establish simple hand signals for moving the vehicles, stop and any other movement needed.

navegator

[Bobbo]

navegator wrote:
When you have the motor home, toad and towbar all set up, go to an unused parking lot and have a fiend with you,

Will DW do for the fiend?

[bgum]

YES.

[Dadio24]

Yes please...protect the rest on the road.

[John_Wayne]

And after you get the chain lenght hook up the toad with just the chains or cables pull the toad back till the chains or cables are tight and make your break a way cable 4 to 5 inches shorter. So the break a way pin is pulled before the chains reach max lenght.
Then if the toad breaks away it's not running into the back of the MH as you pull to the side of the road.

[navegator]

When you have the motor home, toad and towbar all set up, go to an unused parking lot and have a fiend with you, make a sharp turn real slow, until you have the motor home and the towbar nearly touching, let the friend know what you are doing so nothing is bent or broken, then take a measurement from the attaching point of the chain anchor on the toad to the opposite attaching point of the chain anchor on the motor home.

Warning take several measurements while turning, some set ups have a wider arc in the middle of the turn and shorter distance at the full turn point.

This measurements will give you maximum length off the stretched chain, now you can attach the hooks and maybe one extra link, once you have the chains made re-hook toad an MH and check ground clearance of the chain in a towing position, you might have to adjust by removing a link or two so that the chain does not drag on the pavement.

Make sure that the chain is the correct strength for the task and that it is made in the USA, we tested some of the chains made in China, they advertise a given strength, all failed before reaching even regular weight, can't have that.

navegator

[DougE]

Most toad tow rigs come with "slinky like" cables where the excess wraps around the tow bars. Unless you have an aftermarket braking system I don't normally see a breakaway system.

[Bumpyroad]

yes
bumpy

[j-d]

^^^ Perfectly stated by GP above. It's a legal requirement that can be met with Chains or Cables. You don't want a LOT of slack, but enough to steer and handle dips/bumps in the road. I've been using coiled cables. Recently got a different tow bar with straight cables running through guides on its arms.

Which ever you use, chain or cable should be crossed under the hitch on the towing vehicle. That way if the towed unit comes loose, the front of the tow bar is less likely to dig into the road and send the towed vehicle into a pole vault.

And, yes, braking system, to include a break-away capability.

[dubdub07]

Of course.

[Grandpere]

yes, safety chains are required. You also need a break away system to stop the toad if it comes loose from the MH.