Repositioning safety chains

Shill123

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2020
Messages
5
Location
Tulsa
Unfortunately, my Equalizer hitch has damaged my chains at the attachment point on the trailer and need to be replaced.
To avoid the issue in the future, I need to move them. Would a weld on bracket or a couple of grade 8 bolts/nuts/washers through the frame be best? The bolts I could do myself. The welding I would need done at a shop.
I would think either would be a better option than the existing connection point, but I am by no means an expert on this.
 
Don’t understand how the hitch hurt anything

Pictures?

Do your chains not easily reach the receiver on the truck?

My past Jayco had such a drop on the hitch that I needed extensions on the chains to reach truck
My imagine is fine


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew
 
PXL_20201220_221139296.jpg
Here is a close up of my chains where the hitch has pinched them.
It appears to be a common issue with some trailers (multiple brands, probably all Lippert chassis) and the Equalizer hitch depending upon where the weld point has been located.

And chains are not tight at all. I believe the hitch head pinches this area on tight turns.
 
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Wow


Tons of people use Equalizer hitches. I use to on my Jayco but use a Husky now but the head is similar

Don’t think it gets that close


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew
 
It seems I may not be the only one experiencing the issue. I first was alerted to the possibility of the issue via the XLS Facebook page where several users have had the same issue (but not all).
And I also can find multiple posts in varying brand forums of the same issues. Example
So I guess I am looking for advice on how to correct the issue and be safe.

1) Take to a weld shop, have the original cut off and new bar repositioned just slightly back to clear the hitch head.
2) Take to a weld shop and have them repositioned with weld-able safety chain connection points (Like E-Trailer sells).
3) Drill into frame just past the welded on coupler and use some grade 8 bolts/nuts to connect the chain.
 
View attachment 32646
Here is a close up of my chains where the hitch has pinched them.
It appears to be a common issue with some trailers (multiple brands, probably all Lippert chassis) and the Equalizer hitch depending upon where the weld point has been located.

And chains are not tight at all. I believe the hitch head pinches this area on tight turns.

When we had our Imagine 2950, and when I pulled my enclosed car trailer the chain ends were separated where they attached to the trailer tongue. Then I would always cross over the chains making a cradle so to speak when attaching to the truck. I don't like how your chain ends are attached to the trailer tongue at the same point.
We pulled our imagine with a equalizer hitch and never had a pinch on the chains. They may have changed where they are attaching the chains to the trailer tongue thus placing them closer to the hitch head/ball and thus with the equalizer hitch, it causes more of a potential for pinching the chains.
 
When we had our Imagine 2950, and when I pulled my enclosed car trailer the chain ends were separated where they attached to the trailer tongue. Then I would always cross over the chains making a cradle so to speak when attaching to the truck. I don't like how your chain ends are attached to the trailer tongue at the same point.
We pulled our imagine with a equalizer hitch and never had a pinch on the chains. They may have changed where they are attaching the chains to the trailer tongue thus placing them closer to the hitch head/ball and thus with the equalizer hitch, it causes more of a potential for pinching the chains.

My Imagine is just like this but my hitch is not making contact


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew
 
Unfortunately, my Equalizer hitch has damaged my chains at the attachment point on the trailer and need to be replaced.
To avoid the issue in the future, I need to move them. Would a weld on bracket or a couple of grade 8 bolts/nuts/washers through the frame be best? The bolts I could do myself. The welding I would need done at a shop.
I would think either would be a better option than the existing connection point, but I am by no means an expert on this.

I would have shop weld a loop onto the frame so you could attach the chain to the frame sides and not right at the point behind the coupler. The chain link itself should not be welded as it weakens the link. You could then use appropriately sized clevis to connect your chain. Or, bolt on D-ring using correctly rated hardware.
 
Unfortunately, my Equalizer hitch has damaged my chains at the attachment point on the trailer and need to be replaced.
To avoid the issue in the future, I need to move them. Would a weld on bracket or a couple of grade 8 bolts/nuts/washers through the frame be best? The bolts I could do myself. The welding I would need done at a shop.
I would think either would be a better option than the existing connection point, but I am by no means an expert on this.

Found this while looking for other stuff. Hopefully link works.

https://www.zoro.com/buyers-products-chain-retainer-6-l-7-1316-w-5471000/i/G3764770/
 
My Imagine is just like this but my hitch is not making contact


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

I went back and found a picture of our old Imagine and it had the chains in the same place, I disremembered. Must have just been our car trailer that had the chain ends separated.
Maybe the chains got pinched in a very tight turn, like a 90, or backing into a site? Normally wouldn't happen any other time? Just guessing.
 
I went back and found a picture of our old Imagine and it had the chains in the same place, I disremembered. Must have just been our car trailer that had the chain ends separated.
Maybe the chains got pinched in a very tight turn, like a 90, or backing into a site? Normally wouldn't happen any other time? Just guessing.

This was what I thought as well. A near jackknife


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew
 
I went out and checked my chains today, since I have a 2500RL and the Equalizer hitch. I also have a nearly cut through passenger side chain link right at the welded loop. I'm interested in what you ended up doing to fix this going forward.
 
I think I am going to use 2 large anchor shackles and make a mount for each side of the frame just a little farther aft out of range of the hitch.
I'll use some heavy flat stock and either weld it or bolt it to the frame.
 
I think I am going to use 2 large anchor shackles and make a mount for each side of the frame just a little farther aft out of range of the hitch.
I'll use some heavy flat stock and either weld it or bolt it to the frame.

I know this is an old thread, but just incase you still read it... what did you end up doing for a solution? We have the same problem with our Imagine 21bhe and the Equalizer WDH crushing our safety chains. We just noticed it this weekend. We tried adding more washers, but then the angle for the bars was too tight. So now we have to decide to either have a welder move the support bracket back a bit if possible (while installing new chains to replace the ones that were crushed) or have them mount some sort of bracket on the side of each frame... or use a one inch ball riser, if that will work while still keeping the integrity of the WDH.IMG_8776.jpgIMG_8781.jpgIMG_8779.jpg
 
Had the same issue in our Inside XLS 23bhe with a 10k Equal-i-zer. Worst thing was, our dealer strongly advocated for the Camco Recurce R3 which they seem to sell pretty often, and I insisted on the Equal-i-zer, as I had a few k version with our previous trailer and loved it. The pinching issue was one thing, and then our 10k version needs a lot more frequent greasing than our old one...

Back to to topic: after deciding against a new hitch and having the chain attachment points relocated, I bought a hitch ball with a 1" rise. To make sure that the threads don't get hig by the Equal-i-zer's arms, i added two large hardened steel washers, which gave another little lift to the ball. It came out perfect, no danger of hitting anymore for a $25 investment or so.
 
I’ve would start with a longer chain, it wouldn’t be in that pinch point if it were just a touch longer.

On mine the chain attach points are much closer to the bumper, looks like your hitch receiver is a bit further back behind the bumper moving that attachment point further back.
 
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