Safety Cables versus Chains

[riptide09]

I did a bonehead thing and let my son in law use the boat. He towed it with a questionable tow vehicle and dragged the safety chains. A bunch of the links are ground down half way through due to dragging. Needless to say I have to fix it now.

'03 FourWinns Freedom 170 with Johnson 115 OB. Gross Weight of boat and trailer according to manual is 3500 lbs. According to trailer registration gross weight is 4000 lbs.

Here on iBoats they have 2 ratings of safety cables in the correct length. One rated at 3500 lbs. and the other at 5000 lbs. I like the idea of using the coiled cables better than chains. Any issues with using the 5000 lb. cables instead of a set of chains. Seems to me they should be OK and within weight specifications for my application.

 

[JB]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

Those cables work well, riptide. Just be sure to cross them under the tongue like you (not your SIL) do chains. They can't be too strong.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

I'm a Capt'n overkill on safety stuff and would go with the heaviest rated cables. Issue I see with cables is that if the trailer unhooks, it's going to the ground, it won't drop into the cradle created by crossing chains. Though............ my trailer came from the factory with a single, one (1) safety cable, it was going to the ground no matter what. (Swapped over to chains)

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

The Cables/Chains are not there to lift the whole Trailer into the air.
They just keep the trailer following the truck.
The Beak-Away should apply the brakes before the Cables/Chains reach full extension.
That should keep the hitch off the ground until you can stop.

I think HE owes you a new set of Cables!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

firm believer in chains, and NOT using cables. So even if you have the beefiest cables possible, there are two possible problem areas. Most are covered in vinyl, and you can have moisture (even humidity) rust the cable under the vinyl. I've seen cables completely rust through when the exterior covering looked like new. Also, cables can often let go on the connectors. The crimped ends might not be crimped enough, or again, corrosion, and that will let loose long before the cable reaches its rated load.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

firm believer in chains, and NOT using cables. So even if you have the beefiest cables possible, there are two possible problem areas. Most are covered in vinyl, and you can have moisture (even humidity) rust the cable under the vinyl. I've seen cables completely rust through when the exterior covering looked like new. Also, cables can often let go on the connectors. The crimped ends might not be crimped enough, or again, corrosion, and that will let loose long before the cable reaches its rated load.

If you had a 10,000lb winch - would you use chain on that too? Considering that every vehicle recover winch I've ever owned has had cable and crimps, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Also the cable is generally stainless, so rust isn't really an issue.

 

[JB]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

CROSS THE CABLES UNDER THE TONGUE! If the hitch fails they will catch the tongue.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

My trailer came with the coily cables, they looked like a mess when hooked up. After I welded on my swing away tongue, I unbolted the cables and welded on chains. Looks much nicer IMHO. Chains all the way!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

How are they going to catch the tongue if they have a couple feet of extra cable coiled up, waiting to extend? The trailers I've seen have a bunch of extra cable, including my old safety cable. (My old safety cable works great to lock the boat's spare tire though, it's probably 4-5' long stretched out. :joyous

For the brakes keeping tension, thus keeping the tongue off the ground, lots of boat trailers don't have brakes....

If the cables are short enough to actually catch the trailer I wouldn't have an issue with them, but they make them coiled and longer to fit different vehicles, different attachment points. With chains you can easily shorten/lengthen to suit different vehicles, they just have to be long enough to begin with.

 

[kjsAZ]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

If you have brakes and a break away cable you most likely have a problem with chains. These break away cables are rather long and if you don't want to drag the chains they usually are shorter. This means that the break-away won't be activated when you really need them. I had chains which were that way and when I made them long enough I needed new chains after the trip. Went to SS safety cables (5000# on a 3000# trailer) and will never go back. They roll up nicely when not used and will never drag on the ground.
As with chains you have to cross them under the coupler.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

Caught a cable sliver "once". Chains forever more.

 

[riptide09]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

The cables come in different lengths. My chains are 36" long plus hook length. The cables are the same length. I don't see cable length as an issue. Seems to me if you cross the cables, just like chains, that is not an issue. When I have towed with my truck and/or my mini van with air bags in the back I have never dragged the chains.

The trailer has brakes and a break away cable. I will check the length of the break away cable but I don't think it is too long. The break away cable is not coiled and I never had a problem with it dragging.

I am going to try the cables and see how they work out.

 

[kjsAZ]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

it all depends on the tow vehicle, height and length of the break away cable. In my setup the chains would have been that long that they touched the ground when driving. It is best to check what length of cable is needed by pulling out the cables (or chains) and check whether they are longer than the break-away cable.
What I like with the safety cables over chains is that they coil up and store themselves. If you can get stainless ones (pricey) they are the best. Galvanized works well too. Had galvanized on my last trailer.
DON'T buy these with the open hooks:

only these with the latches:

 

[BonairII]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

CROSS THE CABLES UNDER THE TONGUE! If the hitch fails they will catch the tongue.

I find it hard to believe that the tongue will actually rest on the cables if the trailer disconnects.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

I find it hard to believe that the tongue will actually rest on the cables if the trailer disconnects.

It will.......

 

[BonairII]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

It will.......

I always cross my chains(I think it's required), but it just seems highly unlikely that the tongue would pop off the hitch perfectly and rest on the chains.
I guess I'll have to check my chain setup....maybe they are a tad long.

 

[cribber]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

My EZ Loader trailer came with cables and my utility trailer has chains installed. Just make sure they are properly installed and crossed under the tongue when connected to you vehicle.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

As long as the chains or cables are crossed and attached far enough from the coupler, the tongue will be caught by them.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

If you have issues with the break away cable being to long simply relocate the box that the cable plugs into. Just don't move it so far that it unplugs if you turn sharp.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Safety Cables versus Chains

Personally, I like chains. I hang them up with a tiny little bungee to keep them from dragging down the road. If the hitch fails, the chains will easily overpower the light bungee and do what they're supposed to do.