Swing away tounge safety chain

[Sea Ray]

I finally got around to installing a hinge (from Fulton Products) onto my trailer. I can now swing the tongue away and my trailer is about 16" shorter.

I am really happy with how everything turned out but I am trying to figure out what I should do about the safety chain. They recommend a chain that goes behind the hinge and runs all the way to the front of the trailer like normal.

I have coiled saftey cables now instead of a chain and I really like they way they work and I would just assume leave them as they are.

Do you think it would be OK just to install a short (1 foot or so) chain that connects the trailer together where the hinge hinge is? (it would go just behind the hinge to just in front of the hinge). I am thinking about a single chain on the bottom side of the trailer. The load capacity of the single chain would be enough for the whole boat and trailer.

Any other ideas or past expierences from anyone??

Oh, and I also have surge brakes. So if the hinge were to fail I think I would lose the ability to use the trailer brakes regardless where the chain connects because there would not be any load pushing on the coupler to activate the brakes.

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Swing away tounge safety chain

first you safety harness on the hydrolic brakes should activate it the trailer came loose. should be shorter than the chains. second, the chains or cables 2 should be attached to the permanent part of the trailer , not the hinged coupler.

 

[wire2]

Re: Swing away tounge safety chain

The safe way.

 

[Sea Ray]

Re: Swing away tounge safety chain

Yes, that is what they recommend but the one pictured does not have surge brakes.

If the hinge fails on the one pictured (and if it has surge brakes) the brakes would still not activate. The coupler would still be attached and, the way I see it, it would be highly unlikely that any load would go back into the surge brake master cylinder activating the brakes. The coupler and everything in front of the hinge would just hang there.

Also the emergency cable that would activate the brakes in case of seperation would not get pulled out of the master cylinder. So the brakes would not get activated by that either.

I was thinking of connecting the rear of the chain just like they show it but the front side would be just on the other side of the hinge. I would continue to use the existing chain at the very front of the tongue as I do today. In essence the forward part of the trailer (in front of the hinge) would become a link in the chain and the trailer would be connected all the way behind the hinge.

I could run the emergency cable behind the hinge as well and see if I can't keep it tight enough to be pull out if the hinge were to fail. But the hydraulic brake line would still have to be in one piece to do any good.....

I am not trying to knock anyones idea and I appreciate the comments. But, I am trying to figure out a simple way to keep the trailer halves connected and get the surge brakes to continue to work in case of the hinge failing.

 

[wire2]

Re: Swing away tongue safety chain

Re: Swing away tongue safety chain

Ok, I see where you're going with this.

But you may be looking for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Are you aware of any instances of a hinge coupler failing? I had one in my hand last week, it was quite robust.

The other thought, IF the hinge did fail, and you slowed the tow vehicle, it would force the coupler section right or left and the main portion of the tongue would offset from the rear bumper by 18-24". It would probably leave some marks on the fascia, but you would get it stopped. Just with no trailer brakes.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Swing away tongue safety chain

Re: Swing away tongue safety chain

a piece of flexible brake line would solve the problem.

 

[Sea Ray]

Re: Swing away tounge safety chain

Wire2 I am starting to agree with your comment about looking for a solution that doesn't exist.

I am not aware of any of these hinges failing but figured the safety chain was going behind the hinge just in case (so the potential for failure was there).

If it does fail, all that I see happening is a get a visit from my boat through the back window of my Suburban . The chain will keep the boat with my vehicle but regardless it will be an ugly mess when I finally get it all stopped.

I was thinking that the shorter chains that just went between the hinge will help hold it together a little tighter than the longer ones??

Tashasdaddy - All the hinges have flexible brake lines, that have to or the tounge won't fold. The problem is there is nothing pushing forward on the surge brake master cylinder to activate the brakes if the hinge fails and seperates the trailer.

I have some extra flexible brake line tucked in the trailer tubing to keep the brake line connected, as long as the chain keeps the halves close together. Then if I can rig the emergency cable back behind the hinge the brakes may have a chance of getting activated??

I will keep playing with it and see what I can figure out...

Thanks again for the comments.

 

[Fish n Geer]

Re: Swing away tounge safety chain

I been seeing these swing tongues alot.Whats that all about? Is it a storage thing?Seen one at the trailer shop pretty pricey.

 

[Sea Ray]

Re: Swing away tounge safety chain

See the picture above.

The one I have is different but functions the same.

I ordered just the hinge (see below) but you can get an entire kit as well.

http://www.marineengine.com/products/accessory.php?in=1840340

Now I can fold the trailer tongue back and have the trailer fit in the garage with no problem. Slick deal, so far I really like it. But, I haven't towed the boat yet.

The Fulton product that I ordered seems to be excellent quality with great attention to detail in the design. The assembly method was also very well thought out (except for the saftey chain ).

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Swing away tounge safety chain

I been seeing these swing tongues alot.Whats that all about? Is it a storage thing?Seen one at the trailer shop pretty pricey.

Thats what they are designed for to shorten it enough to get it in the garage.

I think the short chain between the to parts is a good idea just for piece of mind,probably not needed but it would make me feel better.Just my opinion...

 

[dhowebuf2]

Re: Swing away tounge safety chain

Can anyone tell me what the law is in NY state and/or Ontario regarding saftey chains on swing-away tongue? I would like to just install the hinge (cheaper), but if it's the law that the safety chains must connect to the permanent part of the trailer, then I'll go for the whole kit.