Drag Chains???

[HBarlow]

I read a thread recently discussing pulling trailers on snow-covered highways. One or more members commented about using "drag chains" on the trailer axles. I'm pretty sure the posters weren't talking about gold chains around the neck of males dressed as females in a San Francisco Gay Pride Parade.



I'm not familiar with the term drag chain or the practice. I'm guessing the poster was talking about attaching a length of chain to the rear axle of the trailer and allowing it to drag along the highway? Would someone please explain drag chains to this guy who doesn't live in serious snow country? I have livd in CT and WA in years past but have never seen or heard of the practice. It sounds like something that might be helpful for an RVer who gets caught in a serious snow storm and has to get home.



Please share this secret with me.



Harvey

 

[Bill Stockard]

I read a thread recently discussing pulling trailers on snow-covered highways. One or more members commented about using "drag chains" on the trailer axles. I'm pretty sure the posters weren't talking about gold chains around the neck of males dressed as females in a San Francisco Gay Pride Parade... .

Harvey

:-laf :-laf :-laf



Bill

 

[NIsaacs]

Drag chains??? and chains for dually's

Since RV'ers have their home with them, they can usually just park and wait out the storm or bad road conditions. However if they are on a time schedule or haul for a living they might need to keep going. In bad downhill or stoping situations, you might want/need to chain up the rear most trailer axle that has brakes, (drag chains). Some multi-axle trailers may not have brakes on all axles. For the most part, if you chain up your tow vehicle, rear and or front, in the case of 4x4's, and can control it, the trailer will follow. The front axle on 4x4's has a lot of weight and traction, so if need be, chain it also. Usually a set of singles on the outside tire of dually's is enough. Like in hard packed snow or ice, but in deep snow or if you get stuck, they don't help much. In this situation, you need a set of doubles, I like the three rail type. Be sure and tie the extra side links so they don't hit the fenders or brake lines. If you break a cross chain, tie it up also, pavement is hard on chains.



"NICK"

 

[HBarlow]

In this situation, you need a set of doubles, I like the three rail type. "NICK"

Nick,



Thanks for the explanation. I understand what you guys from the northland are talking about now when you speak of drag chains.



How about one more explanation... what is the "three rail type" of chain?



Harvey

 

[NIsaacs]

Harvey,



Three rails just means three side chains, one in the middle and one outside and one inside. Some dually chains come with only two side chains. This makes for a long cross chain, to reach across both tires. They are hard to keep tight and when they break they are long enough to do some major damage. With three side chains or (rails), the cross chain is much shorter, easier to keep tight and not so long as to do damage when they break. One down side to a set of singles or a set of three railers, is if you have wider than stock tires or narrow rims, the center clearance can sometimes be too narrow for the side chain to fit well.



"NICK"

 

[HBarlow]

Nick,



Thanks for the second explanation also. With your help I learned several things I didn't know about chains.



Harvey

 

[jelag]

I pull a trailer and use chains when I'm forced to... and when I chain the truck I'm forced to put drag chains on the rear axle of the trailer...



I don't care for this... . as this is an accident waiting to happen... . air brakes work great with chains and safe drivers... electric brakes are like an accident waiting to happen... . when forced to chain... I usually go really slow down the hills and let the trailer brakes set... . to get the trailer straight with the truck... and apply the truck brakes...



Remember that if there is a slight delay in the trailer brakes... . the truck chains bite in and the trailer wants to slide and come around... real spooky... .



On the other hand... on an air brake system each unit... truck, 1st trailer and 2nd trailer have whats called crack pressure... so when the driver sets the brakes... the trailer brakes are a fraction of a second before the tractor... . allowing the whole thing to fall in line... so to speak... .



So what i'm saying unless you've used chains on a truck... . and are used to them... don't try to use them with a trailer the first time..... If I'm going down hill and the curve is a 40 mph curve and I'm chained... . I'm not personally going to take that curve at more than 15 to 20 mph..... when possible I pull over and let the hot dogs go by... . BTW... if I was without trailer... I'd be in 4WD hot doggin it as well... .



Jim

 

[ttreibel]

So if I am understanding you if put Drag chains on a RV system you want them to come on first? So if you set your controller more sensitive this would be the setting needed? I usually wait out the snow but sometimes you just get caught with yer pants down... ... . and I am not refering to the first post refence to SF :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[NIsaacs]

I am not familiar with some of the more sophisticated brake controllers that are on the market today, so I can't say how to use them. I just use a good, simple electronic type, that will control up to 3-axles. They are actuated by your brake lights, so if you step on your brakes lightly, the trailer will come on first. Make sure you have the controller set very light, so the brakes don't lock up. On dry pavement, I use a light to medium setting loaded and on an empty trailer, just enough to feel a light drag. Trailer brakes, for the most part, are kinda cheap with thin brake lining, so I rely more on the brakes of the tow vehicle. With an exhaust brake and good defensive, planing ahead driving habits, you will only use the brakes for stopping. There is nothing worse than hot brakes, if you really need them, (unless it is used up runway before touch down on aircraft)!!



"NICK"

 

[Glen]

The Tekonsha Prodigy has a "boost" function that applies additional brake voltage when the brakes are first applied. This causes the trailer to lead the truck if it is adjusted properly. I too drive very slowly when I get into a situation where I need drag chains.