Safety chain

[TMALEGA]

I have a problem i just noticed last night as i was getting ready to take my new trailer down the street to wash the boat. I have no saftey chain on either the trailer to the boat near the winch and the safety chains on the trailer going to the truck hitch are very very small and just lay over the ball to hold it on. Question is how to attach the chains.

The one on the eye of the boat that attaches the winch i was thinking about putting a grade 8 bolt through the hole in the stand and bolting this very heavy chain i have to the trailer there. However i am unsure how strong a bolt would be in this setup. Since it would be the point where all the tension would be hitting when and if the strap ever failed.

As for the ones holding the trailer to the truck. I am still not even remotely sure how to put those on. The guy that owned this trailer before me took what looks like dog chain and a very small bolt and looped it through the opening next to the jack and made it a circle. I want more solid connections for the fail safes. Or atleast that is how i see them to be.

If it was up to me i would have back ups for the back ups. My worse fear is seeing the boat go by me on the highway, with or without the trailer. I would almost think taking a section of the heavier chain i have and looping that thru the opening in the frame where it is suppose to go and then some sort of d link would be ok for the safety chains to the vehicle. But the one i am more confused over is how to safely hook it to the boat from the stand. Thanks guys. My old boat had a small eye bolt put through a opening and the chain to that. I just am not sure if that will work here or not. Any suggestions?

 

[lilpropst]

Re: Safety chain

Any chance you could post a picture or two? 1 picture of the boat hooked up to your tow vehicle (the hitch area) and 1 picture of your trailer where your wench and/or safety chain needs to go.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Safety chain

You should have safety chains to the hitch that are rated for the size of your boat & trailer combo. They should attach to a bolt that runs through the tongue of the trailer (one chain on either side of the tongue) with hooks or removable chain links to attach the chains to the hitch receiver.

As for the bow chain, it should ideally be relatively heavy duty (at least as strong as the strap, but probably stronger) and should be run to the trailer frame itself, not the bow post.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Safety chain

A lot depends on the size of the boat. On a small boat, just an extra line from the bow cleat to the winch stand is enough, and lightweight chains for the trailer to vehicle. Unless there are local regs that require more.

One important step, especially for larger boats: the chains (trailer to vehicle) should be crossed under the trailer, so if it comes off the ball, it will land on the chains and be held off the ground. Otherwise, your trailer tongue could dig into the road, for a much worse, but more spectacular, failure.

The chain from boat to winch area is just a back-up for the winch failing or strap breaking from defect. If you get in a collision strong enough to break the winch cable/strap, the chain isn't going to matter. it's second purpose is to keep the boat from sliding off backwards--on acceleration that force isn't enough to break a strap, but it might be with the rigth combination at the ramp of heavy boat, fast entry/sudden stop, steep ramp and rollers. Anyway, don't rely on the winch sprocket lock to secure your boat.

 

[TMALEGA]

Re: Safety chain

Yea it is a 16 foot bayliner capri from what i can gather, i understand the chains are suppose to support the weight of the boat and trailer in the event of a failure. I just wasnt sure if there was a better way to connect it to the trailer i.e. A bolt or special bracket, also i always cross them. It was how i was taught and figure no matter the size it couldnt hurt to have that extra step to keep the tongue off the ground if the hitch failed.

Home cookin do you think that putting the eye bolt to the trailer is good enough for what i need to do? Like i said i like back up for back ups. Thanks again.

As for pics i cannot do that until this evening when i get home still at work not at the lake lol which sucks.

 

[lilpropst]

Re: Safety chain

as far as being at work and not the lake... I understand, but have found that iboats is the next best thing.

 

[TMALEGA]

Re: Safety chain

Yes this is true. But still would rather be at the lake not here at work.

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Safety chain

Trailer Classification: Safety Chain Breaking Force - Minimum
Class 1: 2,000 lbs. (8.9 kN)
Class 2: 3,500 lbs. (15.6 kN)
Class 3: 5,000 lbs. (22.2 kN)
The strength rating of each length of safety chain or its equivalent and its attachments shall be equal to or exceed in minimum breaking force the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of the trailer.

Also make sure the hooks are rated. I don't like the bent steel hooks. They seem to straighten out under force.