Safety chain placement
It seems like you are supposed to mount your safety chains (criss-cross - just learned that) on the hitch receiver mounted to the vehicle. Does it not make more sense to mount to the FRAME of the vehi...
Forum Discussion
gmw photos wrote:
The way I read the DOT requirements for the breakaway cable, it specs the switch must be activated to apply the trailers brakes after the trailer has separated from the tow vehicle. It does not specify "when" in this chain of events. Where the safety chains are presumably keeping the rig together ? Or after a total breakaway ?
Strictly speaking, it "sounds" to me like the reg is saying "after the hitch connection has failed, and also after the safety chain connection has failed".
Right, wrong or otherwise, I have my breakaway cable connected in a way that the pin would only be pulled in the event the safety chains failed, and the trailer is totally disconnected from the truck.
Personally, I would not want the trailer brakes locked and sliding, especially if it happened to be wet pavement, while the trailer is still hanging on by the chains.
YMMV....and your connections may vary as well....
I agree with you on this for two reasons: First, it's the only thing that makes sense. Locking the trailer brakes while the trailer is still attached to the tow vehicle by the safety chanins isn't a good idea.
Second, I have yet to see a configuration that would allow the breakaway cable to be pulled when the coupler separates from the ball but the chains are still attached. It would require some very specific-length cables and attachment points such that the cable is pulled if the ball drops more than a couple of inches, and that assembly would still need to be able to articulate as the rig makes turns and traverses hills and valleys. That setup only exist in theory as best I can tell...
