The reason the chains are to be "crossed" is simple geometry.
Straight chains - from right hitch hook to the right front of auto, and left hitch hook to the left front of auto - possibly can become stressed. If, and huge IF, the chains are marginally cut in length, the vehicle then enters a sharp turn, either left or right, it possibly can reach the end of it's (the chains) length and cause damage to hitch, auto or both.
Crossing the chains eliminates this possibility. Hard turns actually causes the chains to slack on the outside radius and really slacken on the inside radius.
One thing I don't do is run my chains (mine are cables actually) underneath the tow bar. I run them over the top along with the cable for lights and etc.
God Bless
Bill
Bill W. Trammell
Wife - Judy
2001 Monaco Dynasty Chancellor
2008 Malibu 2LT toad
wa8yxm wrote: Another thing many do not do, I learned (the easy way) to do, is inspect the bolts that hold the base plates to the car
We inspected mine by chance and found several in need of tightening. No damage, no loss, tightened them up and all OK
But you should check 'em from time to time.
Actually, we found that the best thing is to replace the cheap Grade 5 base plate fasteners with Grade 8 bolts and Grade 8 self-locking nuts & flat washers. Some toads, like our Jeep Grand Cherokee, require removing considerable body work to access the base plates. IMHO, the tow bar manufacturers find it's cheaper to put a disclaimer in the instructions than it is to provide decent hardware.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
A nice feature of the Roadmaster Sterling tow bar is that the safety cables run through the tow bar. In addition to making everything a bit neater, it also helps prevent pole vaulting.
As for the safety hooks on tow chains/cables. It's well established that the safety catches on chain hooks are easily defeated or opened when the chains are slack. The result can be a disconnected safety chain. Since we really don't like the possibility of the safety chain becoming disconnected, we replace the hooks with oversized S/S quick links.
An added advantage is that I can wrench the quick link tight and keep pranksters from easily disconnecting them.
Steve - your points are great and just "one more" reason why we should always (without exception) check our hitch assembly out each time we leave the sight of it and return.
I have never found an issue (knock on wood here) upon returning from lunch or shopping or whatever - but I know that there are some out there that enjoy such mischief.
Offline
