Safety Chain Connection

[rebars1]

The winch post on my trailer is connected to the trailer with a pair (forward and aft of the post) of 1/2" diameter inverted "U" bolts with a 1/4" flat bar connecting the ends of each "U" under the frame tube with nuts. I was thinking of attaching the end of the new safety chain to the forward "U" bolt under the trainer frame. Is this a good idea?

 

[viciousfishes]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Could you put a picture up? And is the steel that the u bolt is composed of a high grade?

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

I wouldn't think it would be a good idea, as that is a sliding mount - the u-bolts under enough stress, can slide along the trailer. You'd be better off hard mounting them to the trailer tounge such that they can't go anywhere. Just my opinion, I'm not an expert by any means so get more data before making your choice.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Safety Chain Connection

also you want your chains to be short enough to catch the trailer tongue before it hits the ground (and you cross them under the tongue). Mounting that far back could make this detail difficult. I can't say whether long chains impact turning but that's something to think about, too.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

also you want your chains to be short enough to catch the trailer tongue before it hits the ground (and you cross them under the tongue). Mounting that far back could make this detail difficult. I can't say whether long chains impact turning but that's something to think about, too.

crossing them doesn't help catch the tongue... Here is an experiment you can prove to yourself to see. Hook up your trailer like normal, then uncouple it. It will rest in the chains. Now comes the fun part, you need to simulate actual driving conditions. Block the trailer tires and idle the vehicle forward a foot or so. The crossed portion of the chains will slip above the trailer tongue in almost all setups. This is exactly what would happen in normal conditions just from the drag of the boat.

Crossing chains DOES let you run shorter chains than you normally could and not have it bind in turns. Turning no longer affects the required chain length, otherwise you need a chain long enough to support a full lock turn. (ie, in a sharp right turn, the left safety chain would have to be fairly long and the right side would drag. Cross them and the distance never changes.)

 

[rebars1]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Clarification: I am asking about the safety chain between the boat and the trailer.

 

[iSteelHead]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

I used a Grade 8 Bolt, 2 washers, locking nut and bolt. Drill a hole below the winch, I used a 1 1/4' 3/8" chain. And a 1/4" hook. This is how my 12' boat is set up w/o a grade 8 bolt, because it only weighs 400lbs. My 17' is the same, just with a bigger chain/s. I can get picture of my 17' if you want, but you get the idea. Just make sure your using Grade 8 hardware, and it doesn't rust!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

The weak link in the picture above is the bolt with the tiny washer on it. Probably won't mater for this boat since it is so light. Any side ways force on that will bend the link right around that bolt and washer. I would put a much bigger and thicker washer on that if this same setup was used on a heavier boat.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Clarification: I am asking about the safety chain between the boat and the trailer.

Im thinking this is too vertical for a safty chain ( you mean from your bow eye to the trailer right ? ).

You dont have a spot to connect to at your winch ?

I agree with some pics if you could muster them up..

YD.

PS. Steelhead..do you go fishing with a bazooka too ? .

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Have a HARD look before drilling a boat trailer! Never a good idea! Some type of graded U-bolt connection behind the coupler would be better. Drilliing in the wrong spot can only lead to failure.

 

[iSteelHead]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Well I am not sure how that would be possible. All your doing is drilling a hole? We drill holes in our boats and fill them with silicone, some might say that could lead to premature failure to your hulls integrity.

As for a Bazooka, Its just an RPG-7... I took pictures of my 17' trailer, if you would like to see how that bolt is located on the winch too.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

If you look at the frame of any semi tractor or in the owner's manual of most full size trucks, you'll see a very specific warning to NEVER drill into the frame. A hole in the wrong spot can lead to failure. While I'd agree an 1/8" hole would be no big deal, but a 1/2" hole is another matter, especially around the coupler.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

^^^^ +1

I would never drill any large holes in the coupler area either, at least not horizontally.

 

[saumon]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Why not simply use one of the bolts that already secure the coupler to the tongue. Use thick washers on each sides and voila!.

 

[rebars1]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Thanks guys. I will try to send some pictures tomorrow.

 

[iSteelHead]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

1/8"-1/2" is a big difference. I still say as long as your not making holes in your trailer like Swiss cheese, I can see that leading to catastrophic failure. . I am in no way suggesting to do so, just saying. I have personally seen trailers that I am surprised the boat doesn't flop into the water, let alone come off the rollers. I've seen guys with rusty winch mounts, that drill more holes and add more grade 8 hardware, to keep the winch from tearing off. The trailer is made out of metal and whether it is welded together or not it still can be drilled, just not 5 holes 1/2" apart.

 

[rebars1]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Here are some pics showing the chain going under the trailer frame to connect to a "U" bolt.

 

[rebars1]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

I routed the chain from the bottom of the U bolt to under the trailer frame then up to the boat. I am thinking, though, that the whole "U" bolt/winch post assembly could slide if it got pulled really hard. Probably a direct bolted connection to the trailer would be better.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

Just my .02 rebars but if something is pulling on your boat hard enough to move the entire winch post you have bigger problems than a safety chain. The u-bolts are a very secure connection. It is the same method used to hold springs and axles on a lot of vehicles. They don't move.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Safety Chain Connection

^^^ I 'm with wifisher. The OP's idea of bolting to the same ubolts as the winch seems sound to me. Yes, it would be better to run them through the bolts holding the coupler, but mine is welded on, so what then? Those ubolts may slide a hair with the initial impact but wlil be fine for that purpose.