LovinTheSouthernLife
Mississippi
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Joined: 06/08/2008
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Hi all. We recently upgraded our TV. Went out today to hook up for the first time and realized that my safety chains were now TOO SHORT! I see that what I thought was two chains is actually one chain, with hooks on each end, that is bolted to the underside of the TT's tongue.
Everything else hooked up fine, but my question is:
Can the chain be replaced (by me), and if so, I have read that each length of chain needs to be able to hold the weight of the TT (ours is 4250# dry). Where can you buy these chains? I measured the existing chain, and it looks like around 56" total.
ALSO:
How do i lengthen (or replace, if needed) the breakaway switch cable once I've installed longer safety chains?
This stuff seems pretty overwhelming sometimes! Thanks in advance for any help!
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Vet Man
Ct. & Florida
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Joined: 09/28/2003
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If you canot replace the whole chain, I would go to Lowes or HD and buy the repair links to add on to the existing chain.
2008 Itasca Sunrise 35A
2006 44ft Breckenridge
2008 Honda CRV Toad
2007 ZR1 Colorado Toad
2008 Pontiac Solistice GXP "Brazen Orange"
2008 26ft Car Mate-Car
"We Traveled To Alot Of Different Places While On Vacation, Until The wife Asked Directions"
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LovinTheSouthernLife
Mississippi
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Well, i thought of that, but the chain appears to have been made to that length. It has hooks (with safety pins) attached to each end. By attached I mean it's a S-hook, but the end that is attached to the chain is almost completely closed. I would have to try and bend the hook open to add more links to that chain, and I'm afraid that if I was able to do this, then I may comrpomise the strength of the hook.
Is this a common occurrence when changing TV's???
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lampooner
South Carolina
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Joined: 06/03/2005
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I solved the problem by using 2 short lengths of chain with a hook on one end. In other words I just created extensions for the existing chains. Went to local hardware store, had them cut two lengths of good heavy duty chain about 8-12inches long. Then bought 2 hooks one for each length of chain. I just hook the two new extensions to place on hitch I would normally hook the existing safety chains. Then hook existing safety chain hooks into one of the chain links on the new extensions. This give you adjustability.
I keep extensions with TV, that way I can use with any trailer I may want to tow, ie. TT, Boat trailer, PWC traikler, etc..
Lampooner
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but you can be immature forever!
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Terryallan
NC
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Look under the rear of the TV. At the reciever. Are there 2 holes? Reason I ask. this happened when we got our new TV. Found out. I was putting the pin is most far back hole. It made the chain too short to reach the safty chain hook ups under the reciever. Onece I started useing the front hole. My problem was sovled.
Another thing. If the chains are now too short. That means the TT is that much farther set back from the TV. Could change the way it towes.
Terry & Shay
Pioneer 23T6
04 F150, 5.4, Lariat SuperCab
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2001tundra
Surry , NH
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Joined: 10/14/2007
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Buy a lenght of chain and use heavy duty d-rings it will work fine.Mine has an eight inch diameter cable with a loop at each end and a s- hook to fasten to the hitch. I would assume that the chain will be plenty strong enough. If your trailer leaves the hitch you are screwed any way you cut it, so is on coming traffic
2001 Tundra TV , 18 ft Cikira Classic Cruiser
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LovinTheSouthernLife
Mississippi
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I will check for two holes in the receiver tomorrow first thing. That would be a wonderful oversight to have made! I also like the idea of just extending the chains... and following that logic, i suppose I could just extend the breakaway switch cable in the same manner... would this be an incorrect assumption to make?
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Gunpilot77
Killeen, Tx
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Joined: 10/06/2000
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In 5 years and hundreds of TTs, horse trailers, cargo trailers and boat trailers I have never hooked to one that the chain was too short, or the safety cable for that matter. A lot of times the chains are too long and I have to twist them to keep them from dragging. What are you hooking them to?
Fifth wheel pulled with a pick-up
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chadsalt
sc
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Joined: 04/04/2005
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LovinTheSouthernLife wrote:Hi all. We recently upgraded our TV. Went out today to hook up for the first time and realized that my safety chains were now TOO SHORT! I see that what I thought was two chains is actually one chain, with hooks on each end, that is bolted to the underside of the TT's tongue.
Everything else hooked up fine, but my question is:
Can the chain be replaced (by me), and if so, I have read that each length of chain needs to be able to hold the weight of the TT (ours is 4250# dry). Where can you buy these chains? I measured the existing chain, and it looks like around 56" total.
ALSO:
How do i lengthen (or replace, if needed) the breakaway switch cable once I've installed longer safety chains?
This stuff seems pretty overwhelming sometimes! Thanks in advance for any help!
Unbolt the chain go to the hardware store and buy the right length. Grade 43, 1/4" chain should fulfill the law up to a trailer GVWR of 7000#.
While youre at it replace the S hooks with some slip hooks.
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wayne_tw
South Dakota/Georgia
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Joined: 07/21/2007
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Gunpilot77 wrote: A lot of times the chains are too long and I have to twist them to keep them from dragging.
Never twist chains to shorten them. In a break-away situation, those twisted links have "travel" space until they make contact with the next twisted link, thus weakening the entire chain.
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