Safety chains

[bvail]

Bushtec hitch on a 2005 Harley FLHTC

On the Bushtec hitch I have the chains attach to the ball mount. I have pulled with this hitch over 50,000 miles and never gave it a second thought. Last year while riding 2 up in the Adirondacks the pin holding the ball mount into the receiver came out. After stopping I noticed that the trailer was still attached to the ball and the chains were in place. Luckily the trailer did not flip.
Now I have changed our chain attachment...making sure they are attached to the bike and not the ball mount.

The pin should have a lock on it or a locking pin.

[hogasm]

The pin should have a lock on it or a locking pin.

Pin and lock GONE

could not believe it since you have to be a contortionist to install em. We can only think it broke in half

[bvail]

That's scary.

[ImRubicon]

Yes - always. The chains/cables are not to protect me they are to protect the other road users from me. My life is not more important than some innocent person that could be injured or killed if my trailer came loose. Towing a trailer is a choice I made and only I am responsible for my choice.

Most states (I believe 39) require safety chains by law. Even in a state that does not require them I would not want to be a defendant in a law suite if someone were injured or killed by my trailer.

Rigged correctly, the chains should keep the trailer tongue off the ground and from hitting the tire. Think as short as possible while allowing full turning angle of the trailer.

By the way, trailer caused accidents/injuries/deaths are not just theoretical. I was in the equipment rental business for 15 years and I don't think a year went by where we did not read in our trade journals about one or more serious accidents caused by a trailer/towable equipment breaking loose. Of course we got to read about the resulting law suites too.

Always chains rigged correctly and always a pin or lock through the hitch latch.

Pretty much says it .
If you dont use chains I hope the po po find you and ya get a Rodney king beating .
If you dont use chains please please ride in another state than mine

[bvail]

Yes - always. The chains/cables are not to protect me they are to protect the other road users from me. My life is not more important than some innocent person that could be injured or killed if my trailer came loose. Towing a trailer is a choice I made and only I am responsible for my choice.

Most states (I believe 39) require safety chains by law. Even in a state that does not require them I would not want to be a defendant in a law suite if someone were injured or killed by my trailer.

Rigged correctly, the chains should keep the trailer tongue off the ground and from hitting the tire. Think as short as possible while allowing full turning angle of the trailer.

By the way, trailer caused accidents/injuries/deaths are not just theoretical. I was in the equipment rental business for 15 years and I don't think a year went by where we did not read in our trade journals about one or more serious accidents caused by a trailer/towable equipment breaking loose. Of course we got to read about the resulting law suites too.

Always chains rigged correctly and always a pin or lock through the hitch latch.

I always thought that all states and provinces required safety chains, but according to the link Idaho does not. Hmmm....

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/trailer-hitch-signals/

[Zach]

We had a wreck last friday, rear ended on the highway and the hitch bent down popping the ball out of the coupler. We had a lock in the safey latch. One safety chain broke...

Bike and trailer stayed together and came to a stop jack knifed together.

Safety chains... Not so much for you, but to keep your trailer from going off and making an accident of its own.

[T_C]

Safety chains... Not so much for you, but to keep your trailer from going off and making an accident of its own.

Exactly! Thank you!

A person chooses to tug a trailer, if it breaks loose if should be attached to them, not a missile for some poor schmuck on the road that knows not what is coming to them.

[lqqk_out]

No safety chains on his tractor led to an "incident" and he only had to serve 21 days in jail!

https://www.startribune.com/minnesot...cle/600007927/

[wingpilot08]

Good reason to stay away from Minnesota.....guy had two "incidents" that caused motorcyclists to die...both times minor charges!

[Bromano]

Always, always, always use my trailer chains.