Any tricks to securing trailer safety chains to hitch?

[Laketime]

Just got my 19 Limited last week and was checking out my hitch after removing the cover.
How do you attach the safety chains without chewing up the lower lip of the bumper?

 

[stricnine]

My safety chains are stout enough that they do not hit the bumper. They are coated and wrapped.

 

[Laketime]

Attached a photo - the lower lip of the bumper goes right under the attachment ring of the hitch. The clevis snap hook
on my cargo trailer would chew that lip up. Just wondering if anyone else has this issue and what they have done.

 

[Fozzy]

Is that a weight safe hitch? Mine is loose in the expedition but not in the F-150. You should always cross your chains. That pulls them in a little. Mine rub a little bit but not to bad with the light duty chains and hooks. Big Superduty sized hooks and chains will hit.


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[Laketime]

Yes on the weight safe hitch - mine fits tighter in the Expedition than it did my F-150. I do always cross the chains - probably just need to get some smaller hooks
that will fit through the ring. I only have about 3/4" inch clearance between the ring and the lower lip of the bumper.

 

[Wayne Decker]

I just got back from towing our Airstream 2500 miles. No damage to the bumper at all.

 

[Deadman]

If you cut the chains shorter, they might pull the chain rearward a little, so they don't rub the bumper. Long chains hang way down and then they hang down and forward more than a shorter chain.

 

[Zig10]

You can also take a plastic zip tie and bunch the chains together back near the trailer to get additional tension on them while towing. If an event should occur the tie will snap anyway and the chains will do their job. Had to do that on my last boat trailer.

Alternatively, you could also go to set of self-coiling cables like this: https://www.easternmarine.com/roadking-vinyl-coated-trailer-safety-cables-scxhdr
Had those on a previous trailer as well and they work nicely. Do a good job of staying out of the way once you're unhooked, too.

 

[GeezingInVA]

Alternatively, you could also go to set of self-coiling cables like this: https://www.easternmarine.com/roadking-vinyl-coated-trailer-safety-cables-scxhdr

Our Double D horse trailer came with those cables factory-installed. They're really much better than other chains I've used for our other horse trailers to keep the safety chains off the ground, but,... On our 2016 Expe (I know, OP has a '19) it's almost impossible to get those thick hooks on/off the receiver end attachment rings because the lower edge of the bumper almost touches the rings. Do-able, but not any fun. YMMV. Cheers!

 

[Wayne Decker]

An advantage to chains over the cables is that you can twist them to just the length. The theory is that you cross the chains and adjust the length. Then if the trailer detaches, the crossed chains hold the trailer tongue off the ground.

 

[GeezingInVA]

An advantage to chains over the cables is that you can twist them to just the length. The theory is that you cross the chains and adjust the length. Then if the trailer detaches, the crossed chains hold the trailer tongue off the ground.

Agreed. That's my preference, too, but I've been too lazy to remove the cables and replace them with standard chains I can cross under the receiver and attach to the receiver attachment rings with smaller hooks.

 

[Deadman]

I HATE those twisted things on my moms horse trailer, OMG they are tangled on everything and just a pain. Once the plastic coating wears off on them, then the fraud cables try to rip your pants and rip your hands open.

 

[Retiredusps]

You could use Quick Links. Son uses them on his F-350 As the holes on the hitch are to small for the Travel Trailer chain hooks.You could wrap the in tape or maybe some rubber hose to prevent scratches. Lowes, HD, most hardware stores have them.

 

[Wayne Decker]

Then there is this.

 

[1GR8DA]

I use a pair of 4 inch D-links.
It's basically a screw on chain link. I found it a bit of a challenge to clip my chains in that tiny area. Clipping my chains to the links are a piece of cake.

 

[Traditional]

I tow a few different trailers on a regular basis. It is a pain to hook up trailers on the epxy. From the chains to the plugin. It looks nice with the cover on but way to tight when connecting.