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Old 05-16-2016, 07:49 AM   #1
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Breakaway chains/cables

I always thought that the breakaway chains on any type of trailer should be crossed so as to form a cradle to catch the hitch in the event of a ball disconnect. That would mean that while they'd have to be long enough to allow tight turns, they should be short enough to hold the hitch from dropping to the ground. Our 2007 T-2499 has cables, not chains and they are much longer than the chains we had on our 92 T-2470. If they were ever needed to catch the hitch, they would not keep it off the ground because they are quite long.
Anyone know about this?
JohnB?
Thanks,
Rich
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Old 05-16-2016, 02:24 PM   #2
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My 2001 T2553 is setup the same way. I've often wondered that to. On the other hand I don't know if I'd want that thing hanging on back there on just cables or chains. What affect would that have on tow vehicle going 60 mph?

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Old 05-16-2016, 02:36 PM   #3
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I think they need to be long enough to allow the breakaway switch to activate. Not sure though.
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Old 05-16-2016, 02:48 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jim44646 View Post
My 2001 T2553 is setup the same way. I've often wondered that to. On the other hand I don't know if I'd want that thing hanging on back there on just cables or chains. What affect would that have on tow vehicle going 60 mph?

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That reminds me of an old joke about a guy who saw a wayward trailer pass him by on the highway and thought it was funny, until he realized it was his!
Rich
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Old 05-16-2016, 04:28 PM   #5
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That reminds me of an old joke about a guy who saw a wayward trailer pass him by on the highway and thought it was funny, until he realized it was his!
Rich
It's not a joke. Don't ask me how I know[emoji15] [emoji15] [emoji15]

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Old 05-16-2016, 07:21 PM   #6
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I had the cables on my 2363 and I hated them. I replaced them with chains. I got the idea from JohnB.

I know that some years ago JohnB posted some excellent pictures of how to set the length of the chains to keep the tongue from digging into the road while allowing turns.
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Old 05-16-2016, 07:28 PM   #7
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I found the thread I was thinking about, posted 2-26-2008.

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...pics-8910.html
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Old 05-16-2016, 09:22 PM   #8
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Hi Rich,

I see Gene found my thread. Good. Sunline was still in business when I asked them about the cables on my 2004 T2499.

Yes the cables or the chains should be crossed. It will help pull more centered. On a WD hitch, odds are high you will not catch the tongue before it hits the ground, but cross helps pull straight. On a weight carrying drawer bar, odds are higher you can get the tongue to catch, "if" the tow ball is high up enough to start with.

Think about the guys or gals towing with a van and a rise shank. That low rider setup has a hard time even on weight carrying setup, a pop up etc. to catch the tongue

Thanks

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Old 05-17-2016, 05:39 AM   #9
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Thanks for finding John's post-very informative.
John, I'm not sure I'd be setting it up as well as you did, but I may be able to improve the whole setup over what's there now.
The question I asked was answered, but as far as crossing the chains/cables, since the mounting area on the tongue is in the center, doesn't that nullify the attempt to cross them? I remember a pop-up we had that had the chain mounts on either side of the tongue. You could easily see how the chains would cross each other somewhere between the tongue and the hitch, forming that "catch" area. On our Sunline, I don't see any way of calling them crossed since they both start out in the middle.

Anyway, I'm going to look things over to try to get as safe a setup as I can.
Thanks,
Rich
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Old 05-18-2016, 06:13 AM   #10
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Some, if not all, states have laws that require chains to be crossed.
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