Rating of Safety chain?

[roger2]

I converted my 5th wheel hitch to gooseneck as I have a B&W turnover ball on my truck. That being said I need a safety chain (2 lengths)The trailer weight 6500# dry. What is the rating of the chain I need? Shoud the 2 equal 6500# plus? I went shopping at big box stores and best I found 3500# per chain. RV dealers in Santa Fe do not have them in stock. Any advise on how to rate them would be appreciated!!

[roger2]

I converted my 5th wheel hitch to gooseneck as I have a B&W turnover ball on my truck. That being said I need a safety chain (2 lengths)The trailer weight 6500# dry. What is the rating of the chain I need? Shoud the 2 equal 6500# plus? I went shopping at big box stores and best I found 3500# per chain. RV dealers in Santa Fe do not have them in stock. Any advise on how to rate them would be appreciated!!

[RustyJC]

I have a B&W turnoverball hitch in my truck as well, but I (as have most of us with this hitch) chose to use the B&W Companion 5th wheel hitch. Rather than hijack the thread, I'd suggest using the Find function above to run a search on "gooseneck adapter" to get lots of good discussion on this subject.

Insofar as safety chains are concerned, these chains are subject to inertial shock loading, not just a steady pull. I'd suggest working with a qualified trailer shop or trailer hitch shop to determine your needs and get the appropriately rated chains.

On Edit - take a look at the gooseneck trailer safety chains (3rd item from the top) HERE. By the way, the empty weight of your trailer doesn't mean much unless you intend to pull it empty. I would suggest going by the trailers GVWR plus a safety factor of as much as 50% to 100% (but then again, I'm an engineer - I'm paid to be conservative ).

Rusty

[TXiceman]

From another engineer....what Rusty said again.

From an engineering view point the goose neck adapters are not the best way to do things by a long shot.

And on chains subjected to a shock load, I'd use a 2 time safety factor on the GVWR of the trailer...and that may not be high enough. I like to wear a belt with my suspenders.

Ken

[Ray,IN]

Read what Washington State Patrol regulations say about trailer requirements.
Peerless Chain makes most of the safety chain for trailers. They provide the same strength information.

[roger2]

Thanks, Rusty that was a rating I was looking for. I gave that load number for a place to start as I would have been chastised for not giving that! I know the "shock load" would make the other lighter duty ones like having a rope for safety.