Hitch configuration - how I did mine!!!

[Sepisllib]

I am a bit of a stickler for hitch safety and configuration and etc. Here is what I did for mine so that I may feel "safer" while towing my toad.

The receiver on my coach is the heavy duty model - capable of handling a 10,000 trailer without issue.

I chose the Blue Ox tow bar and I performed the following:::

1 - I purchased chains with strength to handle the dead weight of much more than my toad weighs -- individually.
2 - I bolted one chain to the frame of the coach ahead of the hitch, then ran that chain over to the eye of the receiver and through it making it part of the eye. This was done on each side of the receiver.
3 - The safety chains I chose each are individually strong enough to handle a dead drop of my toad and I have each hooked to the hitch eye and also the chain that runs to the eye. This chain then crosses under the Blue Ox to the opposite side of the eye on the base plate.
4 - This is repeated for the other side.
5 - The base plate was bolted onto the toad and in addition to the normal bolts I added a safety chain to each side that runs back further and is bolted to another part of the sub frame of the vehicle - so that even should the base plate come loose from its bolts the chain will stop it - result is a loose base plate but not a loss.

Should my hitch break off the chains will serve as my safety net - essentially my poor toad is slaved to the coach whether it likes it or not.

Not that a whole system failure cannot happen - you and I both know better than say never, but the hookup I have is far - far safer than probably 99 % of them out there.

Never know - I may see in my camera one day sparks flying from the front end of my toad dragging along the highway - the rest has been torn asunder ------

Just thought I would share.

God Bless

Bill

[SarahW]

Sounds like a good setup, Bill. Thanks for sharing.