BeeGee's MY15 Disco 4 XXV build thread

[Tombie]

Chains a wee bit low/long?

Nope. They would be fine.

[DiscoMick]

Chains a wee bit low/long?

Hasn't been a problem so far.

[DiscoJeffster]

Hasn't been a problem so far.

Have you tried sitting the trailer on the chains off the hitch to see if it hits the ground? That’s my idea of too low. Easy test.

[Tombie]

Have you tried sitting the trailer on the chains off the hitch to see if it hits the ground? That’s my idea of too low. Easy test.

For an offroad set up this isn’t quite correct.

To prevent it hitting the deck, in all circumstances it will be too short to articulate.

If it jumped the ball whilst moving it remains in the chains as they have tension. Once it starts surging forward short chains will still let it hit the ground as it goes under the towbar.

[DiscoJeffster]

For an offroad set up this isn’t quite correct.

To prevent it hitting the deck, in all circumstances it will be too short to articulate.

If it jumped the ball whilst moving it remains in the chains as they have tension. Once it starts surging forward short chains will still let it hit the ground as it goes under the towbar.

I would tend to disagree. For me at least I’ve tested dropped while parked, reversed under, articulated on track and there is a chain length that allows (at least on my rig) full articulation up down and left right without the camper hitting the deck.

That said, long chains aren’t the end of the world as long as they’re not dragging the ground - better than the idiot the other day who didn’t connect them and his trailer flying across three lanes of traffic. I’m sure other hitch types and connections vary.

[Tombie]

Personally I want them to start digging the nose in as I slow down. I’ve seen the damage a trailer shooting in under the towbar does.

I’d rather start slowing and have the front of the trailer start making contact before it plows under.

[DiscoJeffster]

Personally I want them to start digging the nose in as I slow down. I’ve seen the damage a trailer shooting in under the towbar does.

I’d rather start slowing and have the front of the trailer start making contact before it plows under.

I guess that’s another take

[gavinwibrow]

Nope. They would be fine.

Well Mike, much as I respect your knowledge, and unless there is some perspective/photoshop error, what looks to be like chains dragging or nearly dragging on the ground is not the best setup.
I know you are aware that one of the considerations is for the chains to act as a cradle should the towball area break (how do I know - I've been there albeit many years ago).
I've noticed a number of similar setups in my travels around this great country over almost the last 60 years. If the chains are too droopy, all they will do in that scenario is drop and act like a plough (particularly for single axles). Might be good for emergency braking, but I can think of any number of less than ideal alternative scenarios.

[Tombie]

That’s all good. No problems with people disagreeing with that.

In my experience and also observation from a few rollovers I’ve seen what tighter chains can do, have seen 2 instances where tighter chains have taken the vehicle over when the trailer (and a van) rolled. The chains tightened and the mass then flipped the vehicle over.

Had the chains has some more length the vehicle would have remained upright. Instead the chains quickly bound up and pulled the vehicle over.

I keep mine short enough to remain off the road surface, and long enough to reduce the risk of bind up.

[DiscoMick]

They are well off the ground, and they allow the trailer to turn sharply.