Heads up: Check your trailer hitches and couplers!!

[mechmagcn]

Spring is in the air, folks are getting the trailers ready to go camping. Tires are checked, lights are working, did you check the condition of your hitch and trailer coupler? If you don't know what to look for, please have a qualified tech look at the coupler and check the mounting bolts on the hitch.
I am such a qualified tech, sad to say Looks like I need a refresher on trailer hitching safety. This morning I hooked up to my welding trailer to do a job in the field. I made it about 2 miles, when in a rough section of road, the trailer came unhooked. It is not a pretty sight when a trailer containing a welder, torches and a box full of welding tools and supplies is doing somersaults down the road. The trailer is FUBAR!!!! and my things were scattered all over, but the welder came out with little damage. A few minor repairs and I still was able to do the welding job.
Note to self: Check the condition of hitch and coupler, install safety chains that do a little more than look good ( these snapped as soon as the trailer came loose).
I can only thank God that no traffic was in the area when this happened. I have seen what sort of damage a loose welder and trailer can do to a vehicle, head on.
OK, I have made my daily confession, get out there and check those hitches. Have a safe and happy camping trip

[wannabefree]

A few years ago while driving a mountain pass I noticed the truck in front of me was being passed by his trailer. Scary stuff.

I double-triple-quadruple check everything now. Sorry about your rig.

[Ageless]

Make it a habit to check it every time you stop!! I've towed thousands of miles . . .no problem. However, on one rest stop last year; nut on ball had backed off.

You might get away with it forever, but (1) awshit cancels out all attaboys.

[eamarquardt]

I always inspect the ball and connections when hooking up my trailers. I also turn on the lights and the emergency flashers and walk back and ensure that the running lights and turn signal/brake lights are working. This week I went back and found no lights at all! After verifiying that the connections were good and voltage was present at the trailer end of my connection cable (I have a connector on the trailer and tow vehicle and a cable with connectors at each end as this way the trailer wiring is not out exposed to the weather all of the time) I checked the bulbs. I assumed the trailer wiring was good as it is all enclosed in liquid tight conduit and bullet proof so the next step was to check the bulbs. Both filaments in both bulbs were burned out! Go figure.

Pays to check each time!

Cheers,

Gus

[flip18436572]

I know that the connector is supposed to clip in, but I also run a padlock in the hole, rather than just a pin.

I was driving down the highway pulling an empty car trailer that I had borrowed and one of the 4 trailer tires broke at the axle and I was lucky enough to save the trailer and my small pickup. It was a scarry 30 seconds, but also just to let you know that even though everything looks great, Stuff CAN happen. I picked up the tire/axel assembly from a farmers field about 50 yards east of the highway and over a fence and returned back home 50 miles at a LOT slower pace.

[bobhenry]

Here is one that is so stupid it should never happen to anyone.......

I lost the same trailer twice. The 1st time it mower down about 30 yards of standing corn. The second time ( now with safety chains recently installed) It disconnected with my 18 horse lawn tractor in it. Luckily the chains did their job.

Well we are down to the stupid part. It seem for well over a year I had towed a trailer with a 2" coupler on an inch and 7/8 ball. If the rig is new to ya or your are borrowing a tow make real sure the coupler size matches the ball.

[Dale M.]

How NOT to test your hitch and safety chains....



Dale

[synaps3]

He's lucky those tow chains are holding!


I always use a LOCKING pin on both the hitch itself and on the coupler. The only point of failure on my hitch is if the ball falls off -- and if it does, it will have to rip two 1500lbs chains to do anything from there.


Everyone should check the tightness of their coupler at least yearly. The coupler is snug around the hitch ball. There is a little nut on the bottom side of the coupler, that should be tightened if the coupler is movable at all once locked in place. In all towing situations, the ball should fit very snugly inside the coupler -- so much so that you lube the ball before towing.

[Shadow Catcher]

What exactly failed?
I have been thinking about the safety chains and seeing what is on most of them suspect that the S hook at the ends are the weak link. I plan on getting a couple of chain quick links e.g. http://www.bosunsupplies.com/products2. ... duct=S0160

This is a good lesson to us all.

[synaps3]

I have been thinking about the safety chains and seeing what is on most of them suspect that the S hook at the ends are the weak link. I plan on getting a couple of chain quick links e.g. http://www.bosunsupplies.com/products2. ... duct=S0160

This is a good lesson to us all.

I have always used the chain quick links.


I can't imagine using s-hooks! They'd fly off if you hit a bump!

[mechmagcn]

What exactly failed?
I

Not exactly sure what failed, I hitched the trailer back to the truck and pulled it home. The coupler was still latched and with the amount of tongue weight, I really don't know how it came off anyway. I know the coupler is well worn as it is designed for a 1 7/8" ball, but it has been pulled on a 2" a few times This is a trailer made from a pop up frame from the 60s and it has seen many miles of use, I probably have pulled it 20K with the welder on it and more than that as a utility box trailer. The safety chains were probably original to the trailer, the S hooks held, the chains broke.
All of this will be remedied in the coming weeks, I am setting up a heavier work truck again and the welding rig will be permanently mounted on the truck.

[ARKPAT]

Thanks Jeff for the heads up on the trailer check out before each travel you make.



Pat

[penquissciguy]

Borrowed my father-in-law's brand new trailer a few months ago. Towed fine to where I was going, but popped off the ball with a rabbit and his substantial cage on board. Luckily the safety chains held and the only damage was a kiss on the tailgate. Turns out no one had adjusted the striker in the hitch - it was way too loose.

[DMcCam]

Indeed, thank you Jeff for keeping us all on our guard with trailer safety. I have only towed a trailer a few times. When my TD is ready, I'll remember and heed your words of caution.

Dave

[Cliffmeister2000]

Make it a habit to check it every time you stop!! I've towed thousands of miles . . .no problem. However, on one rest stop last year; nut on ball had backed off.

You might get away with it forever, but (1) awshit cancels out all attaboys.

I borrowed my sister's TTT in 1980, and towed it behind a Dodge Ram 50 with a bumper ball. About 500 miles from home, I gave everything a once over. The nut on the ball had backed off, though not completely. I had nothing with me to do anything about that. I had to unhook and drive into the nearest town, buy a big wrench to tighten the ball nut, and go back and get the trailer. Now, I carry a big cresent wrench. Have never needed it but that one time I didn't have it.