What about this chain hookup
 

Chains looked to be a little short at first and thought that they might bind up on the jack during a sharp turn, but they didn't. I added those 2200lb links to make it easier to get to those darn recessed Ford chain connection points. Are the S hooks ok or should I connect the Quick Link to a closed chain link? Maybe I need a new chain setup?

Looks good to me. I wouldn't worry about the S hooks, they're designed for the weight of the trailer.

My one and only critique would be to get another carabiner, doesn't need to be anything special, those cheap aluminum key rings will work, and connect the break away cable to that. If in the event that loop breaks during a separation, the break away cable goes with the chain and you lose the braking. You should never attach that cable to any point that another attachment is on with the exception of the RX chain loops. Don't loop it around the ball, seen people do that, ball breaks, no break away.

How many bumps will it take for one of those S-hooks to unhitch and then leave you dragging a chain and hook attached to your trailer?

Just double up on the "carabiner" links.

Safety chains are supposed to be crossed...

I would find some J hooks with clips..

If you look closer, both ends of the chain are in the middle, so no way to "cross" them. My trailer is the same way. My smaller enclosed though are attached on the sides of the frame so you can cross them.

@acdii

Got it.


Never had those S hooks come off , but they also weren't attached to an F150 before.

Crossed Chains
 

Check the state(s) law where you plan to pull your trailer as some states crossing the chains is law. The intent is in the event of it coming off the ball the crossed chains provide a cradle for the the trailer tongue so it doesn't go down on the pavement and catch. Also, if your pulling a trailer with a swing tongue (mostly boats), the chain attachments should be back behind the swing joint so if the swing joint would fail (pin break, etc...) the trailer is still attached by the chains.

Example of a state rule requiring chains being crossed. https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=204-70-070

Here is an cheap option for keeping the s hooks from coming loose.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...xoCINMQAvD_BwE

Looks pretty good but I'd...

1) get some quality snap hooks
2) use a dedicated attach point for the break-away

Based on the angle of the WD hitch head it’s only there for looks. Is there any tension on those bars?

Look closer

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...ae208ee442.jpg

Chains are center mounted, so crossing them wont matter as much as it does with side mounted chains. My trailer is the same. If he did cross them, then they could bind on the jack and cause other issues. If it were to drop off the ball, they will catch that tongue just fine.

@8100hd

If you look at Post 1 third photo down, you can see that the bars are not hanging down at the chain ends, they are pulled up with three links hanging. There are 6 or 7 links under load, I can't remember which.


Will find a separate place to connect the breakaway to truck and get it away from the chain.

I use one of these pins to lock my coupler onto the hitch and with the larger loop on the pin, I route my electrical cable through it, to keep it clear from the hitch/coupler area.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...6b6ada61d7.jpg

Those S hooks will most likely jump off during travel. The S hooks that came on my trailer came with a piece that has to be pushed in to hook and unhook the S hooks.

Except on my trailer, the chains are attached to the trailer A frame at the same spot. Therefore the can't be crossed.

I recommend putting some tilt on the head so when the bars are pulled up they are parallel to the trailer frame. Now they are angled upward. It’s hard to judge the angle by just a picture sometimes.

The chain on passenger side is attached correct, the driver's side is upside down; you want the hook to pull into the hitch should they ever have to be used. (At least I think that is the correct method)

And Frightning's suggestion of the hook keepers is an excellent suggestion, to I rep'd him. (Personally if you are going to take the time to pull the safety chain into the links, I would use a closed link but that is just me.)

I would also cross the chains. I know what acdii is saying, but trying to explain that to a jury versus a slick lawyer isn't worth the risk of not crossing them.

On mine, the attachment is in front of the jack. You can cross them all you want, but they would still look the same. On any other attachment where they are separated, then yes, 100% cross them, but on the center attachment, wont matter at all.

If the chains are a foot apart on the A frame, crossing them creates a a basket in which the tongue will drop into (and it does, as I experienced an uncoupling with my RC trailer and had to replace the jack, and still have a dent in the front diamond plate from the ball) and act as a cradle. Center point attachment does the same thing without crossing them.

Ruby, like that idea, I have a few in my tractors tool box.

I'm not disagreeing, but was told the reason is so shorter chains can be used, better holding the trailer up in the event of a separation. In a tight turn, crossed, the chain's distance between trailer mount and towing vehicle mount doesn't change as much so shorter chains don't get tight in the turn.

????

See how the chains are on either side of the jack? Cross them after that point. Mine is the same way.

I absentmindedly snatched the keeper out of the breakaway switch one dark night. Not only did the keeper come out, it broke the switch housing. That revealed that the guts of the switch were corroded. Close inspection also revealed that the cable was corroded. It was a good thing that it came apart in the driveway. I got a replacement switch with a nice carabiner attached to a covered cable.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...28afc97bab.jpg

I ended up with 7 washers in the hitch head to get 89% of the weight lifted from the front returned to the steer axle with the bars parallel to the tongue.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...670000540d.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...ca4c7b1f6b.jpg

@RubyRed Canadian,

I like that idea since my cable is wrapped around the jack. Have to look for that.

My guess is Harbor Freight would carry something like that.

In Canada, Princess Auto or Canadian Tire.