Safety Cable Length

[georgeb]

I find a lot about safety cable required strength(5k or 10k lbs) and about the cables almost dragging on the ground, but nothing about minimum cable length. My question is: I added an inverted drop receiver to my tow bar, this extended the distance between the MH and the jeep by about eight inches.. My cables are long enough that I can turn at the maximum turning but don't have much extra length, they aren't banjo string tight but not much extra. How much, if any extra cable length do I need?
Thank you all in advance...
georgeb
'05 journey, 350Cat, '01 jeep cherokee

[FlyingDiver]

As long as neither cable is actually taut in a hard turn to either side, you should be OK.

You are crossing the cables under the tow bar, aren't you? That is, the cables form an X, and don't go straight back to the toad?

joe

[photoadjuster]

Question on crossing the cables. We did that in the old days when we used a towbar that hooked on a ball. This was to hold up the towbar if it came loose from the ball to prevent it from pole vaulting.

Now that we use the type towbar that remains on the motorhome, does it matter if the cables are crossed?

[FlyingDiver]

The weak point is still the universal joint in the tow bar, which is at the MH end. If it goes, the crossed cables will help. So the way I figure it, crossing the cables can't hurt, and it can help (in the right situation).

joe

[georgeb]

Yes, I am crossing the cables. In a hard turn they are not taut, but don't have 'sag down' excess. Thank you very much for your input, FlyingDiver and photoadjuster. Thank you, Thank you,(yes I know I repeated myself)
georgeb

[Meandering Retiree]

I had the same problem when I purchased a drop bar to tow our Mini. I purchased two feet of chain and looped it from one hole to the other and then hooked the cables into the chain. This was cheaper than buying longer cables and having the old ones just sit there.

[DandS]

I guess I question the need for crossed cables when some towbars can be purchased with channels built in to route cables and wiring. Definitely can't cross those.

Agree that cable length not too important though as long as they are not taut at extreme turns and allow ease of hook-up.

[David K]

The one thing to keep in mind about the length of the safety cables is that you want them shorter than the break away cable. You would not want the safety cables to be holding the car and the break away to pull the plug and apply your brakes while still connected. In my case, the safety cables are about 6" shorter than the brakeaway cable.