Trailer Safety Chains Don't Fit Truck

[Sirovc2]

Got a new 2020 F150 and my trailer safety chain hooks don't fit on my hitch receiver hooks properly. What do you guys recommend to solve for this? I was think off using some shackles like in the pic attached... Any other suggestions? Safety is of course the priority here

 

[dingbat]

If my actual chain ends fit those hooks will fit.

Ford bent ears so you have finesse them into place. Make them hard to come undone. Once you figure out the motion they pop right on.

Having said that, my wife uses 1/2" quick links when towing the horse trailer.

 

[isaacs]

Do your hooks look similar to the ones in the picture? Because they should fit; you have to insert the hooks rounded end first into the slots on the truck, then give them a little twist and they'll fall into place. The problem with your Ford (and mine) is that the slots for the trailer chains are way up under the bumper making them hard to reach--what were they thinking!

 

[Sirovc2]

Pics below. I just don't see any other way to get them on? I played with them for half an hour. Such a PITA

 

[dingbat]

Pics below. I just don't see any other way to get them on? I played with them for half an hour. Such a PITA

I have the same hooks.

A pita... but they do fit

 

[JimS123]

They are not the same. Someone must have changed one of them. One should fit easy peasy, the other should fit with some finagling. Replace the screwed up one and go easy peasy on both sides.

 

[Sirovc2]

They are not the same. Someone must have changed one of them. One should fit easy peasy, the other should fit with some finagling. Replace the screwed up one and go easy peasy on both sides.

The pic is misleading. I have three all together, the two bigger main ones, and then the smaller one. The pic only shows one of the big ones. The smaller one goes on no problem

 

[JimS123]

The pic is misleading. I have three all together, the two bigger main ones, and then the smaller one. The pic only shows one of the big ones. The smaller one goes on no problem

Well, I don't know why you would have 3. The smaller one is right. So, take off the 2 big ones and replace it with a smaller one in like kind.

Obviously, the PO made a mistake.

 

[Alumarine]

Is the 3rd one for the surge brakes?

 

[Sirovc2]

Yes 3rd one (smaller) is surge brakes

 

[dwco5051]

Got a new 2020 F150 and my trailer safety chain hooks don't fit on my hitch receiver hooks properly. What do you guys recommend to solve for this? I was think off using some shackles like in the pic attached... Any other suggestions? Safety is of course the priority here

A problem I see using the shackles is too many moving parts. It might make it a two handed job which can be awkward when bent down that close to the ground. I have a similar hookup and it first they seemed like they would not fit until I learned exactly how to hook and unhook. Took some trial and error until I figured exactly where to place them now it is only a second or so with one hand. Since my eightieth birthday as long since passed less bending and crawling along is my ultimate goal in any manual operation.

 

[isaacs]

Those hooks are crimped to the end of your cables and it's pretty much impossible to change them. You would have to buy new safety chains with standard hooks on them to replace the cables or you are stuck with the shackles.