Thread: Why Safety Chains are important

Reckon the F350 was testing the design tolerances of those chains just a tad.

When did a camper trailer get to 30ft - over 9m!

Originally Posted by Slunnie

When did a camper trailer get to 30ft - over 9m!

Have you seen Americans?

A better photo here. The semi driver needs a medal as it appears that he quickly chained the Ford to his rig:

Couple in pickup saved by their trailer's safety chain | Car News | Auto123


An Idaho State Trooper arrived, followed quickly by other rescue workers; together they anchored more chains between the pickup and Rod Drury's heavy truck.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

When did a camper trailer get to 30ft - over 9m!

to be picky, its a camping trailer, not a camper trailer.

Originally Posted by Eevo

to be picky, its a camping trailer, not a camper trailer.

At 30ft it's not camping.

Here every trailer must have safety chains. By the sound of this following extract, in Canada you only need chains if the trailer doesn't have breakaway brakes. Correct me if I'm wrong, that doesn't sound right to me.

The safety chain is mandatory in most U.S. states. Here, the safety chain is required by Transport Canada. In Quebec, for example, here's what the SAAQ requires regarding the chain: “If you are driving a trailer that is not equipped with an independent braking system to stop it in case of separation, you must use a safety device (chain or cable) connecting the trailer to the towing vehicle. This device must be directly attached to the towing vehicle. It must be strong and secure enough to keep the trailer connected to the vehicle if the coupling system breaks.”

Originally Posted by bob10

Here every trailer must have safety chains. By the sound of this following extract, in Canada you only need chains if the trailer doesn't have breakaway brakes. Correct me if I'm wrong, that doesn't sound right to me.

The safety chain is mandatory in most U.S. states. Here, the safety chain is required by Transport Canada. In Quebec, for example, here's what the SAAQ requires regarding the chain: “If you are driving a trailer that is not equipped with an independent braking system to stop it in case of separation, you must use a safety device (chain or cable) connecting the trailer to the towing vehicle. This device must be directly attached to the towing vehicle. It must be strong and secure enough to keep the trailer connected to the vehicle if the coupling system breaks.”

I'm guessing that the trailers with "independent braking systems" might be dog or pig type, or semi trailer type. All of these, at least here, have spring brakes which will apply the second the service air supply is lost, which of course happens in a breakaway. The trailer is still bloody dangerous of course, but its brakes will be on.