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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: robertglines1 on April 16, 2010, 06:20:15 PM

Title: Its on me again
Post by: robertglines1 on April 16, 2010, 06:20:15 PM
pulled another bonehead act almost disastrous...didn't leave enough slack in safety chain and they bound and broke welds on hitch over half Thur...fellow bus nut Dick E. saved the trip in his great shop and his welding skills...put me back on the road in better shape than when I arrived...THANKS! Bob& Judy.
Title: Re: Its on me again
Post by: John316 on April 16, 2010, 07:31:21 PM
What a Praise that everybody is safe, and that you are rolling again.

Be safe!

God bless,

John
Title: Re: Its on me again
Post by: kyle4501 on April 16, 2010, 08:08:17 PM
I cross the chains under the hitch so they can cradle the trailer tongue if it comes off the ball. Also, as the trailer moves in a turn, the distance between the ends of the chains doesn't change as much - which minimizes binding.

Glad no further damage was incurred.
Title: Re: Its on me again
Post by: plyonsMC9 on April 16, 2010, 09:05:35 PM
Thanks for the post Bob & Judy,

Gives us all a chance to learn & will probably save someone else from the same outcome.

Thanks for the helpful suggestion Kyle.

Kind Regards, Phil
Title: Re: Its on me again
Post by: Chopper Scott on April 16, 2010, 10:21:26 PM
Stuff happens. Glad that you got fixed up and nothing major happened.
Title: Re: Its on me again
Post by: robertglines1 on April 17, 2010, 05:43:53 AM
I was a heavy equipment operator and hauled trailers all my working life and made a common sense error and just about became a major snafu.I will share these screw ups In hopes to remind us all to think ....Would be nice to not make any more!!yell sure
Title: Re: Its on me again
Post by: belfert on April 17, 2010, 06:07:53 AM
Another good reason not to attach the safety chains to the hitch although possibly better to wreck the hitch than the frame or seomthing.

I will admit my safety chains still attach to the hitch on my bus, but it is on my list of things to change.
Title: Re: Its on me again
Post by: bobofthenorth on April 17, 2010, 07:38:50 PM
My chains are long enough to take 3 loops around each arm with the same concept Kyle outlined.  The one that attaches on the left side of the bus wraps around the right arm on the towbar and clips to the right side of the trucklet and vice versa.  The theory is that they will carry the hitch if things ever get messy.  I had a trailer loose on chains behind a vehicle once and I don't care to ever see that again but maybe this would help.