New truck receiver doesn't work with our current trailer

Debra in Cali · October 9, 2016

So we decide to go over to where we have our trailer stored to see how everything is going to hook with the new truck. We were concerned that our current trailer was going to be tilted too much with the 4 inch height difference between our 1500 and our 2500. We dropped the hitch onto the ball and it wasn't as bad as we thought that it was going to be. But our safety chain hooks are too big for the frame holes on the receiver. We were shocked that these holes aren't set up for larger safety chain hooks.

So how does everyone hook up your safety chains to your receiver?

OnTheReel · October 9, 2016

Heavy duty D-Rings or shackles through the holes usually buys you a little more space. Make sure they're rated for whatever the trailer weighs.

sdeeter19555 · October 9, 2016

I cut the chains to the length I needed...

I installed actual chain hooks that snap directly onto the receiver, I think they are 5/16" slip hooks with the safety latch.

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crankman · October 12, 2016

Debra , I had same problem and theres a couple ways to resolve it. Both answers you got are good , here a few pics of my fix. There rated for 10,000. They just barely fit through the factory holes. There 9/16 size.

Cowpie · December 11, 2017

Or serious shackles. I used Crosby shackles, each rated at 4.75 ton with 3/4" alloy pins. Kinda hard to imagine carabiner style being rated at 10K lb each.

Logan Lanfear · December 11, 2017

On 10/12/2016 at 11:08 AM, crankman said:

Debra , I had same problem and theres a couple ways to resolve it. Both answers you got are good , here a few pics of my fix. There rated for 10,000. They just barely fit through the factory holes. There 9/16

14 hours ago, Cowpie said:

Or serious shackles. I used Crosby shackles, each rated at 4.75 ton with 3/4" alloy pins. Kinda hard to imagine carabiner style being rated at 10K lb each.

Yeah, I dont see any that are rated for 10k. The 1/2 ones at home depot have a 9/16in opening and theyre rated for 3300 pounds. Might not have enough there.

sdeeter19555 · December 11, 2017

Or serious shackles. I used Crosby shackles, each rated at 4.75 ton with 3/4" alloy pins. Kinda hard to imagine carabiner style being rated at 10K lb each.

I made that same statement in another thread and got beat down...

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

Cowpie · December 11, 2017

I wasn’t trying to beat you down, Steve, it just didn’t seem logical. The Crosby shackles I have are 3/4” steel alloy and rated at 4.75 tons each... 9.5 tons in combination. Wanted at least that whenever towing to max trailer rating of the 2500. One would think it would take similar dimensions of a carabiner to be roughly same strength.

I suppose in combination they might get to 10K lb.... 5K each.

sdeeter19555 · December 11, 2017

No, that statement about questioning the safety of those quicklinks...I said the same thing in another thread and got multiple replies telling me how great they were.

I like your solution, that's likely stronger than the web of the receiver itself.

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

sdeeter19555 · December 11, 2017

In reality, while the trailer might weigh say 10k pounds, it doesn't really place 10k pounds on the receiver at any one time under normal conditions. But coming off the hitch, and jerking the chains can result in a significant shock loading of those links...those quicklinks may be rated for 5k, but I bet that's a static load rating, and not a shock load.

I just have had scarey results using quicklinks on other applications and, unlike most here, I had an 18k pound trailer break the pintle hitch off an HD truck (HD as in 35k pound GVW) at highway speeds. The jerking caused by it breaking the hitch, and dropping about six inches onto the chains, was almost uncontrollable, even with a truck that big...

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

Cowpie · December 15, 2017

On 12/11/2017 at 10:48 AM, sdeeter19555 said:

No, that statement about questioning the safety of those quicklinks...I said the same thing in another thread and got multiple replies telling me how great they were.

I like your solution, that's likely stronger than the web of the receiver itself.

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

Oh, OK. My bad. I misinterpreted what you were meaning. Happens when you get Madcow like I have. Or at least the wife thinks I have it.

SouthpawHD · December 23, 2017

9/16" links from Tulsa Chain are rated for 8,100 WLL, so not too bad.

https://www.tulsachain.com/chain-wire-rope-hardware/links/quick-link

sdeeter19555 · December 23, 2017

9/16" links from Tulsa Chain are rated for 8,100 WLL, so not too bad.

https://www.tulsachain.com/chain-wire-rope-hardware/links/quick-link

Working load is not shock load...

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

O_J_Simpson · December 23, 2017

Work load rating is static and not side loaded. The shock load will destroy the shackles fast, not to mention it will side loaded the shackles will never reach the static load rating before failing. But still better than nothing.