Trailer safety chains

[Frogger]

I'm confused. I was always told to cross the safety chains on my trailer. Buddy was stopped by an OPP the other day and was told that the chains should not be crossed. The OPP said that the law had been changed, and that the chains must be straight, and not crossed.
I have looked around, and can find nothing that supports this. I thought that crossed chains were to stop the tongue from dragging on the ground if the trailer came off the ball. Now, what happens if the chains are straight ?

[dutchhunter]

I have not heard of any change and will cross my chains as it is the best way to keep your cargo under control should your trailer come unhooked from your truck. .Dutch

[B Wilson]

right from here http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dan...ion5.4.6.shtml


Attaching your trailer
Your trailer must have two separate ways of attaching to your vehicle so that if one fails or comes loose, the trailer will stay attached.
If safety chains are used, they must be crossed under the tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the road if the primary hitch accidentally disconnects. The chain hooks must have latches or devices that will not accidentally become detached.

The cop was wrong about not crossing the chains.

[last5oh_302]

There never was a law stating the chains needed to be one way or the other, as long as they're short enough to keep the tongue from touching the ground should it become detached. In most cases it's easiest to cross them but you can use any method you like. See (d).

5. (1) A full trailer shall be coupled to the frame or an extension of the frame of a truck tractor or trailer with a safety connecting device that will prevent the full trailer from breaking loose in the event the tow bar fails or becomes disconnected. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s.5 (1).
(2) The safety connecting device referred to in subsection (1) shall,
(a) not be attached to any part of a trailer hitch that would render the safety connecting device ineffective should the trailer hitch or its attachment to the towing structure fail;
(b) have the minimum slack necessary for adequate articulation;
(c) have an ultimate strength not less than the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed and where the safety connecting device consists of two chains, two cables or two other links, each chain, cable or other link and its attachments shall have an ultimate strength equal to the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed;
(d) be connected in such a manner so as to prevent the tow bar from dropping to the ground, and to keep the swing of the full trailer within safe limits in the event the tow bar fails or becomes disconnected;
(e) be equipped with a hook or hooks or other means of attachment that will not become disconnected accidentally;
(f) where it is used in conjunction with a hinged tow bar and where the safety connecting device consists of two chains, two cables or two other links, be attached to the forward axle or chassis frame of the forward axle of the full trailer at two points as far apart as the configuration of the axle or frame permits and equidistant from the centreline of the full trailer;

http://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900618

[Brampton Mike]

be safe and cross them....according to Cam Wooley they should be crossed...I spoke to him personally many years back when they had a safety blitz on trailers at the petro on the 400 north and he commented that out of 30 trailers inspected I was the only one who did it legally by crossing my chains...up to you but personally i think crossed chains is the safest way!

[Fisherman]

There never was a law stating the chains needed to be one way or the other, as long as they're short enough to keep the tongue from touching the ground should it become detached. In most cases it's easiest to cross them but you can use any method you like. See (d).

5. (1) A full trailer shall be coupled to the frame or an extension of the frame of a truck tractor or trailer with a safety connecting device that will prevent the full trailer from breaking loose in the event the tow bar fails or becomes disconnected. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s.5 (1).
(2) The safety connecting device referred to in subsection (1) shall,
(a) not be attached to any part of a trailer hitch that would render the safety connecting device ineffective should the trailer hitch or its attachment to the towing structure fail;
(b) have the minimum slack necessary for adequate articulation;
(c) have an ultimate strength not less than the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed and where the safety connecting device consists of two chains, two cables or two other links, each chain, cable or other link and its attachments shall have an ultimate strength equal to the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed;
(d) be connected in such a manner so as to prevent the tow bar from dropping to the ground, and to keep the swing of the full trailer within safe limits in the event the tow bar fails or becomes disconnected;
(e) be equipped with a hook or hooks or other means of attachment that will not become disconnected accidentally;
(f) where it is used in conjunction with a hinged tow bar and where the safety connecting device consists of two chains, two cables or two other links, be attached to the forward axle or chassis frame of the forward axle of the full trailer at two points as far apart as the configuration of the axle or frame permits and equidistant from the centreline of the full trailer;

http://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900618

I think we're talking about your average cargo/boat trailer not commercial stuff like dump trucks with a piggy back and tow bar.

[last5oh_302]

I think we're talking about your average cargo/boat trailer not commercial stuff like dump trucks with a piggy back and tow bar.

Yes, that's why I quoted the "full trailer" section. Basically anything that isn't a fifth wheel is a full trailer.

[dutchhunter]

The part that got me was the hooks dad to have a snap or some wsy of latching so thy can not come off.ni more open hooks.Dutch

[Fisherman]

The part that got me was the hooks dad to have a snap or some wsy of latching so thy can not come off.ni more open hooks.Dutch

Until recent, it wasn't required. Somewhere I read they want you to have to the chain capacity too, I know my chargo trailer has tags on the chain. Same for ratchet straps, some way to identify capacity.

[last5oh_302]

Somewhere I read they want you to have to the chain capacity too,

Maybe you saw (c) of the section posted above which has always been the case. As for hooks, see (e). Up until a couple of years ago light duty trailers that came with S hooks (your typical 14"-16 aluminum boat package) from the manufacturer were accepted without the secondary means of keeping the hook secure.