[Davy]

I was taught 56 years ago that when you hook your safety chains on, they should always go under the tow bar and criss cross making an X. We were actually towing a boat on the car but the principal still sticks with me. Left trailer to right car, right trailer to left car for the safety chains. This way, if the boat would come off the hitch, the safety chains make a nice pocket where the trailer would fall onto the chains still pulling the boat and not let the trailer drag along the ground.

Maybe the same principal holds true for a toad and the coach, maybe not. I still criss cross my safety chains under the tow bar. If nothing else, I think it looks better and my father won’t look down and scold me.

[AL]

Me too Jimmy, always cross cables or chained.

[Tim]

I was taught 56 years ago that when you hook your safety chains on, they should always go under the tow bar and criss cross making an X.

You’re absolutely correct. I have an interview I’ll be posting on Thursday with a Manager from Blue Ox and he confirmed exactly what you’re saying about the safety cables being under the tow bar.

Interestingly enough, while there’s some videos online that state otherwise, he stated not to wrap the other cables (lighting and brake) and to lay them on top of the tow bar.

[Ed]

Jimmy, in California, by state law, you must cross the safety chains as you described, or you will receive a piece of paper with the officer’s signature and that will cost you $.

From an engineering standpoint, as you turn, both of the chains will actually slack whereas if they are connected straight, the outside chain in a turn will tighten and possibly result in damage to something if connected too tight initially.