Who crosses their chains?

[Bait O' Eggs]

When towing a boat, who crosses the 2 safety chains on the trailer? (I suppose if you only got 1 chain this dont apply)

I use to work for a large contractor that required us to cross the chains when in Washington and in Oregon they didnt care. They told us Washington law requires it :whazzup: :whazzup: I have never heard that statement anywhere else but at my ex-employer.

Is their an advantage to crossing or not crossing, does the trailer stay straighter if it comes unhitched one way? Do the chains cradle the tongue from hitting the ground if they are crossed and you come unbuttoned? :whazzup: :whazzup:

[bellinghamangler]

I was told by a Washington State Patrol officer that you have to cross your safety chains. I don't know why, intuitively it doesen't seem stronger.

[Doubletake]

I have been told the reason for crossing the chains is to cradle the tongue if it comes off. I didn't know it was a law though.

Doubletake

[Oakie Drifter]

I took a boating course years ago and thats what they told us was best to do as well....cross the chains. Should of asked why now.... :rolleyes:
Good interesting subject, BOE!

[Bob Barthlow]

Double take is right ,you cross your safty chains so if the hitch comes off the ball, the hitch won't drag on the ground while you pull over to fix it.

[WaterDog]

Ditto on Doubletake. If you dont your coupler is going to suffer a bad case of road rash if it comes off.

Good luck on the crabs!

[Pete]

Yep, Doubletake got it right ... but make sure you've got the lengths right or you won't get the job done.

[smilesforu]

Hello
I am a non crosser :depressed: ...I haven't been crossing for years, until the day it happened. Now I cross and double chain.

60 mph and a wild boat flailing behind on one chain, is one very scary way to stop your truck.

Its kind of like the smoker ..never happen to me....double up and get the cross over thing happening. :rolleyes: Cheap insurance if the boat comes off the ball.

[Gizmo Man]

Coast guard course also shows crossing chains. Also the "s" hook on your chain goes in from the bottom side. You are not suppost to just hook it with the back of the s hook facing you. Has to do with the hooks not falling off.

A few months ago I found a coupling device that fits over the ball so the trailer coupler cannot come off.

First time I ever saw one. Went back to get more for freinds but gal at surplus store said it was a one of a kind for her.

giz...

[RW]

I cross also. When I bought my boat from an old duffer he told me to cross the chains, I never realized why until now. RW

[Thick-N-Thin]

I always cross my safety chains just in case the hitch (which in one case has come off) comes off, drops and land on the safety chains! Someting my dad drilled into my head!

[letsfish]

Very interesting subject,glad you brought it up.Do you realize what a road hazard this is-- you see I know I will be looking as I drive(not concentrating on the road, but on crossovers).

Oh that will sound good!"But officer, I was trying to drive,but I kept looking for crossovers."
"Why no officer, I don't normally look for crossovers but I was on this website this morning,its full of crossover fisherman,and well..."
Have a great day ...and watch out for me.. I may be distracted.

[Pilar]

Hmmmm, never heard of that one. Makes total sense though, a cradle to catch your trailer tongue. Do any of you have the break away wire on your trailer brakes? If you snap the wire it activates your trailer brakes and stops the boat.

I'm going to check my chains and become a chain crosser.

[HOGTIDE]

Always crossed mine just because an older wiser man told me to. Never really thought about 'why' til now...it makes sense!

One thing that I have never had much faith in are the 'S' safety hooks. Doesn't it just look like they'd pop out at the worst moment? One of the first things I do with a new boat is to replace both of those open 'S' hooks on trailer safety chains and the one that connects to the bow of the boat. I usually replace them with the large heavy duty snap-shut oval links that are made for the winch strap. Costs a few bucks...but that secure feeling is worth it for me!

[Vinny]

TR,
Can't you just run the chain through the chain loop on the hitch, pull the chain toward the trailer until you've got the desired "belly," then hook your hook back into the chain?

Anyone else do that?

[Trout,myster]

Not too certain about the Oregon law requirements, but the crossed chain is just good sense. Otherwise, as stated, the tongue becomes a "wedge" looking for a "crack".
TR, I hope you're not the gentleman who lost the boat on 26 a week or so ago out past North Plains. I was headed to the Wilson and saw what appeared to be a Starcraft or Smokercraft sitting in the right hand lane. No trailer or tow vehicle around, they were over the bank. Was icy and slick as h--- that morning.
Goes to add on the chains, make sure they are long enough to turn but short enough to work. Lose the "S" hooks and get the closed snap hooks like the climbers use. I use the threaded links to take up slack on mine if necessary. And if you're going to tow in Washington and your trailer requires brakes, the law states that you have to have the breakaway system as someone else described. It's a cable that will pull a pin activating your brakes if the trailer is lost. Reason I know is because of our horse trailer. Major pain but probably a worthwhile thing. Need a small battery on your trailer to activate the electric brakes which is additional expense. A 12VDC gel-cel does it.
I also use a locking hitch pin on my receiver and back up my safety chains with another chain with lock. Lastly, take the time to adjust the hitch to fit your ball and keep the ball greased. Few people ever check the hitch adjustment. I grab the tongue of the trailer and jerk on it up and down or sideways (depending on how my back is doing that day). If there is slop in it, you probably need to adjust it for a good fit. Not tight, but not sloppy.
All this seems like alot of work to tow your boat a few miles, but having it come off on, say, I205 on the Oregon City bridge would not be cool.

[TideRunner]

Vinny,

Yes, definantly if thats the set-up your hitch has.

No, not me on 26, thank god.

A few years ago I was towing a small boat that I had had for years. One day I decided to lube the latch with WD-40. It worked great now, except that in the first mile it popped off the ball.........I always check the latch adjustment now. Hard lesson learned.

[TideRunner]

The length of your chains is important too. I twist mine up until they have a shallow belly, yet, enough to turn as sharp as I want to. If that coupler comes off and you got 3 feet of chain hanging......it's extra ugly. It makes a difference, I know......unfortuanantly.

[invader]

wow! i know of cross dressing (not me) but never heard of cross chaining!!, it does make sense and i never had a problem in 17 years not crossing but i think maybe i will from now on!!... glad i found this website!!......john

[fishinfool]

Cross the chains everytime! That is the way I was taught and always thought it was a good Idea. Never knew if it was a law or not but I do it anyway. Tim :grin:

[DK]

gizmo man also brought up a consern about s hooks, beware in some states like califorina s hooks are illagle, dk

[DK]

gizmo man also brought up a consern about s hooks, beware in some states like califorina s hooks are illagle, dk

[blubeast]

Cross them! Was told many years ago to do this to avoid breaking the safety chains during tight turns.

[Dogfish]

I cross AND I use those links that have that little threaded deal where when tighten, you have a complete chain link, but when you loosen it, you can remove the chain from you vehicle. andy