Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
Wayne -
I think you are referring to this kind of clip?
I use this one without fail. As you note, it doesn't provide any security, since it doesn't lock. And I can't believe that a properly-closed coupler would suddenly pop open. What it does for me is ensure that I have fully closed the coupler in the first place - the clip won't fit through the coupler lever if the coupler is even slightly open.
I once drove several miles with an open coupler. Fortunately the high tongue weight of the TM kept the coupler on the ball, but it scared me to death when I discovered it.
Bill |
YUP, that is what I was talking about.
I have second hand experience of a trailer popping off of the tow ball:
Around 1969 my older brother was towing a boat, southbound US101, in the rightmost of 3 lanes near Sausalito. As some locals may know, there is a little bump over the culvert shortly before the climb.
The trailer separated from the tow ball, snapping the pair of safety chains.
The boat and trailer took off to the left.
The trailer became lodged in the center barrier and the boat went flying over the barrier.
The boat hit the front bumper of a northbound Greyhound bus in the rightmost of 3 lanes. No one was hurt. The only damage was a slightly dented bumper on the bus and the largest piece of the home made wood/fiberglass boat was about 2 feet by 2 feet. The 40 horse motor survived but was dented.
He was towing with a pickup truck so he loaded the pieces in the back. I helped him unload it at the dump.
Several years later my uncle was visiting from Milwaukee Wisconsin. He pulled out a small newspaper clipping with a story about a leap frog boat and he wondered if it was us, because the last name was mentioned in the article.
How now one was injured and no additional damage occurred is a miracle.
Always pin the towing latch.
Always use adequately sized safety cables/chains.
Crazy things can happen.
Locking pins on hitch
Linear Mode
