My Accidental experience with Safety Chains

[crackacoldie]

Following on from another thread in which a members camper came off the hitch, I though I would share my experiences with our caravan, which detached from the car whilst travelling at speed.  The tow vehicle was my 100 series Landcruiser and the caravan was a 25 foot full height near new van.  I will not name the manufacturer as they were more than helpful with the situation and the rectification, as well as recalling other vans that may encounter the same problem.

Whilst driving in slightly undulating country at approx 80kph, in a straight line, I heard a loud bang and realised that the van and car were no longer attached as one unit, I applied the trailer brakes fully and a little car brake to bring the unit to a stop.  When I got out to check what had happened, I was swearing and cursing at myself for forgetting to check that the hitch was locked.  When I rounded the rear of the car, I found that the coupling plate weld, on-top of the drawbar had failed, leaving the coupling attached to the ball and the drawbar on the ground.  I was using Haymen Reece weight distribution equipment.  One of the bars and snap up brackets had disappeared under the force.  The safety chains were shortened and crossed to try and cradle the drawbar if an event like this should ever occur.  The photos attaches will show that this does not happen and to be honest, I am glad it did not.

Looking back on the incident and from the investigations I made in preparation for an argument with insurers/manufacturers, that thankfully never happened, I learnt:

1.  Having the drawbar on the ground in this situation was exactly where it needed to be.  Whilst I assessed the situation and blocked out the wife and kids screams, I knew exactly where the drawbar was in relation to the car and knew it would not hot the car as I attempted to stop.

2.  Using the trailer brakes (thanks to the people who came up with electric brakes) to do the main stopping of the rig, ensured that the brakes were working and that the caravan would stop quicker than the car.  If I had used the car brakes as the main form of braking, there was a fair chance of the van visiting the back of the car.

3.  Investigations found that in NSW, it was outlawed to cross safety chains, due to the possibility of weakening by side loading the links.  While I do not understand this, I do know that it may impact on insurance claims in the event of an accident.  Thanks Silvo for finding the legislation, which shows that I was given the incorrect information.  My appologies for misleadiung anyone, this was not my intention

4.  I discovered camper trailers and all the extra that they offer

No one was hurt in this, however, I did lose my confidence in towing the large caravan, which following repair, replacement of all towing equipment involved and x-rays of all other welds on the caravan to ensure they were safe, has been sold.  I only have praise for the manufacturer in their assistance with this, including paying all bills for the repair (as the should have), the replacement of the WDH, the towbar on the cruiser and accommodation for our trip home.

Cracka

[Tuco]

Great report - many thanks.

[Jenko67]

wow, could've been so much worse....

[Bird]

maybe my inexperience with things metal, but that looks like very very thin steel to me for somethign this big...

[crackacoldie]

From wandering around at caravan shows, all the manufacturers use very similar sized steel, including the one pictured in you photo.

Cracka

[gibbo301]

I'm glad all worked out fine better of with a camp trailer anyhow lol 

[bobnrob]

Had our boat trailer - tinnie - overtake us yrs ago, the threaded shaft had snapped off where the ball starts. It also snapped the u-bolt.
It turned into a sailing boat...sailed over the embankment & detroyed the trailer, twisted the tinnie, & demolished the outboard 

[Silvo]

3.  Investigations found that in NSW, it was outlawed to cross safety chains, due to the possibility of weakening by side loading the links.  While I do not understand this, I do know that it may impact on insurance claims in the event of an accident.

Cracka

thanks Cracka, that was a good read and interesting info.

regarding point 3 - where does it state this info.. i've looked into this before and all i could find were recommendations to cross the safety chains.

Thanks

Dan

[pommiedic]

thanks Cracka, that was a good read and interesting info.

regarding point 3 - where does it state this info.. i've looked into this before and all i could find were recommendations to cross the safety chains.

Thanks

Dan

Confused by this statement as we have to cross the chains at work, for both safety and insurance reasons.

dic

[crackacoldie]

This happened in 2009 and I no longer have all of the info as the claims have all been settled.  The legal information came from an independent traffic and accident investigation company I used to assist in making sure I had met all of my legal obligations.

Cracka

[Silvo]

Thanks Cracka.

Found the Vehicle Standards in the NSW Legislation. http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/subordleg+522+2007+cd+0+N

click on Schedule 2 Vehicle standards in the left column. Then scroll down to section 166.

Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007
Current version for 20 January 2012 to date

166   Drawbar couplings
(4)  Any such safety connection must be as short as practicable and be so connected and affixed that:
(a)  it is not liable to accidental disconnection but is readily detachable from the towing vehicle, and
(b)  it permits all normal angular movements of the coupling without more slack than is necessary, and
(c)  it will prevent the forward end of the drawbar from striking the ground in the event of accidental disconnection of the coupling, and
(d)  if it consists of more than one chain or wire rope, the chains or wire ropes are in a crossed-over position.

[Silvo]

i wish i had of found the RTA site first..it's way easier to read.

Link to PDF Download http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vehictowin_dl1.html

PDF Doc direct --> http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/2005_10_towingtrailers.pdf

SAFETY CHAINS

• Must comply with Australian Standards.
  Trailers less than 2500 kg when loaded must be
  fitted with at least one safety chain.
  Trailers over 2500 kg when loaded must be
  fitted with two safety chains.

To prevent the front end of the drawbar from hitting the ground if the coupling is disconnected,safety chains must be:

• As short as practicable and connected to
  the towing vehicle.
  Crossed over if two chains are fitted.

[crackacoldie]

Thanks for that feedback Silvo, much appreciated.  By the date of the legislation, the investigater must have given me the wrong information.

Thanks Again

Cracka

[Silvo]

Thanks for that feedback Silvo, much appreciated.  By the date of the legislation, the investigater must have given me the wrong information.

Thanks Again

Cracka

no dramas, very interesting topic. glad i looked into this, i had always wondered, so your post had prompted me.

one thing i did notice while browsing was a chain thickness requirement based on GVM also, where GVM > 1.3T needs 12.6mm chain. i am going to have to see if this applies to my fat camper!

[Redback]

i wish i had of found the RTA site first..it's way easier to read.

Link to PDF Download http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vehictowin_dl1.html

PDF Doc direct --> http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/2005_10_towingtrailers.pdf

I was told the reason for this by an RTA inspector, keeping the drawbar off the ground reduces the risk of a rollover, if the drawbar digs in, made sense to me.

[crackacoldie]

I was told the reason for this by an RTA inspector, keeping the drawbar off the ground reduces the risk of a rollover, if the drawbar digs in, made sense to me.

That is a good point, however, from the photos above, my chains were crossed and shortened, the wheight of the drawbar moved the cradle and it still dropped to the ground.

[dazzler]

Very lucky. By the looks from the photos the weld failed not the steel of the drawbar. Interesting.

I think the important point is that the drawbar should not be able to reach the ground when chains are connected.

[D4D]

As for the reason why the drawbar didn't drop into the chains I would assume the WDH bars would have something to do with it. The bar that didn't break pushed the drawbar across to the driver's side. Good quick thinking on the caravan brakes first then the vehicle brakes.

[4wd26]

great story and thanks for telling us.

all information is good information.

looking at the pics and was trying to tell if the breakaway brakes on the van activated?
I know you mentioned that you used the manual control and looking at the pics it appears that the breakaway system didn't move far enough away from the vehicle to activate?

Your thoughts would again be appreciated

[crackacoldie]

No the breakaway system did not fire, as the chains remained connect to the vehicle, and as you have stated, the unit did not seperate far enough for this to happen.

From further up, yes it was a weld failure, no penetration of the mig weld, not a steel failure.  The manufacturer could demonstarte that this weld only took 20 mins to complete, on a Friday afternoon, in leiu of the 45 mins that they usaully took.

Cracka

[briann532]

No the breakaway system did not fire, as the chains remained connect to the vehicle, and as you have stated, the unit did not seperate far enough for this to happen.

From further up, yes it was a weld failure, no penetration of the mig weld, not a steel failure.  The manufacturer could demonstarte that this weld only took 20 mins to complete, on a Friday afternoon, in leiu of the 45 mins that they usaully took.

Cracka

So glad the result was not as devastating as it could have been.

I also reckon the weld looks like the problem, not the metal. (Not a pro and only going by photos though.....)
Good to hear they were helpful about the problem.

Also thanks for the post, I've had a few debates with people over the chain crossed or not.............
I've always crossed them for the same reason. kept short too so they dont just drag on the floor and defeat the purpose.
Just long enough to get a decent turn is all you need. Anything more could be dangerous or at least a higher risk.

Cheers
Brian

[macca]

Not that it makes any difference in this case but another point the van manufacturer seemed to miss from the VSB1

"Caution
Drawbar safety chain attachment points should not come into contact with the road surface when the trailer is disconnected."

[ferret]

Not that it makes any difference in this case but another point the van manufacturer seemed to miss from the VSB1

"Caution
Drawbar safety chain attachment points should not come into contact with the road surface when the trailer is disconnected."

That's a valid point macca

Frank

[Black Diamond]

Well done on the quick thinking applying the trailer brakes first, could have been a lot worse

[V8TL8]

Crackacoldie

Wow this is a valuable post. Great control bringing the whole shebang to a halt it could have been a whole lot worse.

I played around with my setup a while ago:

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=10380.msg154363#msg154363

and

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=10380.msg154465#msg154465

but based on what you have posted up here I might just have to have a rethink and lengthen those chains again!

Chris.