Safety Chains Needed?

[mechanic2]

I have a 42 ft fiver using a Band W companion hitch. My new RV didn't come with chains. I live in Texas and am wondering if I need them or are they required by law? Any ideas?

[Old-Biscuit]

Standard 5th wheel hitch and pin box....NO


Gooseneck/ball 5th wheel hitch.....YES/NO
SECTION 21.5. Standards for Safety Chains, CHAPTER 21. EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, PART 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, TITLE 37. PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS, Texas Administrative Code

[mechanic2]

Ok thank you Old-Biscuit[emoji3]

[charliez]

As said above, not required. If you want to add them that's up to you. Very inconvenient to operate them. Have you ever seen one dropped? I have. A bad mess. It sat down on its feet very low in the road and was ok. Truck bed flattened. You can get a cup like device to add to your hitch as a safety. Never seen anyone ever use them.

[1960C182]

Originally Posted by mechanic2

I have a 42 ft fiver using a Band W companion hitch. My new RV didn't come with chains. I live in Texas and am wondering if I need them or are they required by law? Any ideas?

Here in the GREAT STATE of TEXAS, no chains needed with a conventional fifthwheel hitch like a B&W. Hitchs like Andersen, Goosebox, & gooseneck adapter do require chains.
Thread creep, you will need your Texas class A non-CDL license if your combined GVWR exceeds 26000 lbs.

[jimcumminsw]

Originally Posted by charliez

As said above, not required. If you want to add them that's up to you. Very inconvenient to operate them. Have you ever seen one dropped? I have. A bad mess. It sat down on its feet very low in the road and was ok. Truck bed flattened. You can get a cup like device to add to your hitch as a safety. Never seen anyone ever use them.

I had one on my old Reese sliding hitch. Purchased from Blue OX but they stop making them some time ago. Very limited in sales so, they stop selling them. I still have the three pieces in my garage. They will not fit my Demco Glide hitch.

[DKRITTER]

The way I read the Texas law is that 5th wheel trailers are an exception to the Safety Chain law. Please read the law for yourself and make your own conclusion.

See # 4 of the above referenced safety chain law.

I haven't used chains in 3 years and have a Reese GooseBox.
That said I do have a set of chains in the basement in case I run into Barney Fife.

[grindstone01]

I've never seen safety chains on a fifth wheel hitch for a pickup truck or a semi. A goose neck hitch does require safety chains.

[NevadaNick]

Ball = safety chains, plate = none

[DKRITTER]

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

Ball = safety chains, plate = none

Are giving an opinion or sighting a specific law?

If law would you please put a link up for us, I would sincerely appreciate it.

[NevadaNick]

You would have to check each and every state. Thats just a general rule.

[Yosemite77]

According to the the Texas Administrative Code, fifth wheels are excepted from safety chains. Here’s a link:
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tl oc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=37&pt=1&ch=21&rl=5

[grindstone01]

Originally Posted by Yosemite77

According to the the Texas Administrative Code, fifth wheels are excepted from safety chains. Here’s a link:
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tl oc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=37&pt=1&ch=21&rl=5

Safety chains are not required for any fifth wheel in the US. What kind of safety chains would you use on a 80k lb semi trailer which uses the same FW set up? If the hitch fails, the fifth wheel front end will drop to the ground and act as stopping mechanism, which is more effective than any safety chain.

[NevadaNick]

The same thing will happen with a gooseneck but chains are required on it. Thats why i say ball=chains, plate=none