Crossing The Safety Chains

HoMiPa · 07-21-2018, 08:33 PM

It is law in New Hampshire as well. Although I am always surprised by the number of trailers I see without the chains crossed, or even NO chains!

As for the cradle, yes, that's what it is for, but the cradle is what limits the amount of sway in a trailer that has come detached - and the sway will be significant as the TV tries to stop. Digging into the pavement would be the least of your worries compared to the sway. Those videos you see of trailers flipping on the highway? Yeah, that sort of sway....

eddugo · 07-22-2018, 04:52 AM

HoMiPa; Thanks for that info. So are the springy cables allowed in NH and do you cross them?

HoMiPa · 07-22-2018, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddugo

HoMiPa; Thanks for that info. So are the springy cables allowed in NH and do you cross them?

Yes, the cables are allowed, and yes, I do cross them - chains or cables.

I rented a U-Haul not too long ago, to bring my daughter back from NYC, and the chains were crazy long. U-Haul requires that they hook up the trailer when you pick it up - they have hooks that they use to bring up some of the slack on the chains. They are also required to take a photo of the hook-up, prior to you driving away. The attendant said they specifically have to get a good angle to show the chains attached, crossed, and any extra length taken up by the hooks so the chains aren't too long. I guess it's a CYA sort of thing...