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Post Info TOPIC: Safety Chains


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Safety Chains


Does anyone know what laws the different states have dealing with safety chains between a tow dolly and the vehicle towed on the dolly ? I know the vehicle has to be fastened down with tie down straps but are safety chains required as an additional safety measure ? Thanks....Alan



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Personally without having a law having to tell me to do it, I would put safety cables between the dolly and the tow unit just out of fear of the picture in my mind of the person in the vehicle it would strike if it broke loose.

not to mention when they got out of the hospital they would come by and pick up the keys to my coach....the keys to the house and a check to finance there new life!

they could be nice tho and allow me to keep the car that hit them so I would at least have something to drive!!!!


They make a cable that coils Alen that works nice and are pretty cheap insurance against having this happen to you

Good luck and happy travels!!!


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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I'll agree with Mike.  There is no way that I would tow a trailer or tow dolly without a set of safety chains.  I've seen too many trailers unhook and go in an errant direction.

I remember as a teenager, my dad would tie the safety chains on our 16' camper to the truck with baling wire.  When I asked about it, he said that he wanted that trailer to separate and go into the ditch instead of risking "flipping" the tow vehicle.  Then one day the trailer did unhook.  The baling wire held and the trailer was not a problem with slowing down and stopping by doing it easily.  After that, he always hooked up the safety chains in the proper way.

If one is towing behind a motorhome, be sure and have a rear camera so one can monitor the toad, just in case.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Dunno about other states, but Texas requires safety chains between tow vehicle and ALL trailers. The OP asked about chain between tow dolly and the vehicle on the trailer. I have never seen any requirement about that, seems the tie-down to the wheel and tow dolly is about all. Even U-Haul (being the over the top they are) do not require secondary tie-down to their tow dolly.

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Ken and Fran 2006 Sunnybrook F250 SD CC PSD


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Guess I was not very clear ,I know there has to be safety chains between the dolly and the vehicle towing it . What I am asking is about safety chains between the dolly and the vehicle being towed on the dolly.....Alan

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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I would put some kind of cable or chain to it........

__________________

 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Posts: 5398
Date:

Ooops....Sorry.

I believe that I would fasten the car down with something other than just the "straps" that normally come provided with the dolly.  I believe I like metal chains more so than metal cables or nylon straps.

Now, having said that, I've only used a tow dolly once in my life and that was when my youngest son broke down about 200 miles from home.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug

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