How to Hook Up a Small Utility Trailer
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2014
- Get a set of two trailer chains on Amazon here→ www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000...
Get the 7 to 4 adapter shown in the video on Amazon→ www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000...
How to Hook Up a Small Utility Trailer - Авто та транспорт
Brian, those chains look like they can bounce right off the hitch.
I always hang the S hook part of the chain down, to take gravity out of the equation. If the opening of the S is up, if the hook slid forward it could fall off the hitch. IMHO.
Thanks so much Brian!!
"we're all learning here" love that quote good sir.
At 2:25 those, as you call it, "flat style, sheet metal couplers", are adjustable so you don't have to reach up under it & move the lock bar to get it to go on the ball. There is a nylon lock nut underneath that goes on the latch bolt. If it's difficult to latch the coupler you can loosen the nut 1-2 turns til you goes on the ball without difficulty. If the coupler latches too easily & has too much "slack" you can tighten it 1-2 til you removed the excess "slack". Either way, it should drop on the ball without difficulty, latch with minimal force and there shouldn't be any excessive "slack" in the couple/ball connection. Also, no matter which style of coupler one uses, it's a good ideal to spray a good dose of WD-40 in the latch mechanism every once in a while to keep it all lubricated.
Thanks for making this. I always thought trailers were incredibly complicated, but this made it easy.
Nice video. Always good when you bring safety into play. Beginners can learn a lot from this one.
That was super simple and helpful. Thanks Brian!
Great vid, also if it hasn't been called out after the hook up do a walk around and check lights. The safety hooks ( with the spring loaded tab that keeps them from falling off) are also a good idea and a requirement in most states.
Thank you for this video, you have a great way of explaining! If you ever have a chance, could you make a video on hitching your pop up camper?
Thanks for taking the time to make the video
Great video Brian!
Thanks for taking the time to edit in all of the pictures.
Aloha and take care
Hi Brian great series once again. Interestingly in Europe where I am the safety clips have a cable so they don't get lost, maybe one to think about.
I had to replace the round connector because of corrosion. I also keep that same adapter in the truck because all U-Haul stuff has the 4-pin flat connector. Makes sense to store the adapter with the receiver in the back of the vehicle, it does not get lost that way.
Thanks. Good info for a person new to towing.
Excellent vid/tut, thank you for this!!!
Just bought a behemoth 8.5x20 foot trailer. I think rule of thumb is if youre rear end goes down excessivley and ends up lower than the front by a certain amount you should use load distribution hitch. On mine ill definitely need one
Thank you for your well done video!
Here's a tip for those who feel their chain is just a little long, putting the truck at risk of snagging something that you might drive over. You can rotate the head of the chain a few turns, which effectively shortens it, allowing the chain to ride a little higher. Just be sure to leave enough slack to allow the truck to turn. My chains have spring loaded safety snaps that hold them on, even if the truck is bouncing.
Good morning! New Subscriber, thank you for sharing this information. I’m getting ready to start a small business and I needed to know how to connect a trailer. 🤗
Hi Natalie, What business are you starting?
How about a video on load distribution of weight across ALL AXELS(truck & trailer) and the importance of proper weight on the steer axel. Now that camping season is hear I see a lot of trucks sitting much lower in the back when trailer is hooked up which is taking weight OFF the steer axel of the truck which can result in a loss of steering and allow the front wheels to lock up and skid if heavy braking is needed.
If all you have is the hooks on a chain, a way to make them more secure is to loop them through the hitch, and hook the hooks back through the chain. Less chance of them falling off that way.
USS Swiften NCC-1300-C
Good series on trailer safety. Please continue untill all aspects of trailer safety are covered. Maybe an in depth look at trailer brakes and controlers.
Last couple times I rented a trailer from u-haul the tech took one chain and twisted it a bunch of times to shorten it, and hooked it up to the hitch. Then he did the same to the other chain. Each chain kind of looked like a braid with the links twisted together like that. I thought twisting it like that would make the chain weaker and not able to take as much of a load. The links are designed to take tension across its length, not its width. But the tech said it was ok. What do you think?
In ontario I was told your not allowed to use those style hooks with the safety chains, they must clip on so they cant fall off when your traveling down a bumpy road. I was also recommended to put the trailer wiring through the pin where the trailer attaches to the hitch ball so the wire cant rub against the ground if the wire is long.
I like the wire idea. The hook issue is new to me.
Canada is very strict with vehicle safety, I learned that from a truck driver who was also a safety inspector.
Great video.
Great instructional video. Like 👍 it
At like 4:34 is it really best to connect the chains from the bottom instead of the top? I mean, with the hook hooking from the bottom and not the top, if that makes sense. I would think they could fall off with momentum when you stop and they slide forward.
Hey Brian what are the torque requirements for hitch balls? 100 ft. lbs? 200 ft. lbs? Especially for 2 inch and 2 5/16 ball sizes? Can u tighten them up with a standard Impact wrench? Thanks, Marc
Thank you sir for sharing:)
Where can I get a coupler like yours? What brand is it?
great video
thank you buddy
Thanks!
Welcome!
Pep Boys usually has about a dozen different adapters in stock if anyone cares to know.
What are the chances that the ball and coupler can come undone when you hit bumps in the road? I wanted to ask this. Like particularly when you pull into like a store or parking light some of the ditches where you come off the road into a parking area a lot of them lately have big bumps. You probably wouldn't be going very fast on those, but it seemed like something to ask about, on the probability of a coupler of the tongue coming undone from the tow hitch?
good video
How can i add wait to the trailer tongue when i am driving and is empty is fish tailing really bad
Brian sorry to sound like a nay-sayer the vid was great. it must have been it got us talking and thinking about better things.
Run your wire through the couple safty Clip
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i have a question - you can clearly see there's a spot to mount the ball on the bumper, right under the license plate. Why does this have both a receiver and a spot for a ball?
MCatwar The reason their is a place for a ball on the bumper is because you can tow with the truck's bumper. However, some receiver hitches offer a stronger tow system for heavier loads than the factory bumper. As with any towing apparatus, though, the bumper has a towing weight capacity that one will need to consider in comparison to the load to be towed. It's best to check your vehicle's owner's manual. It will list the towing specifications for your vehicle the way it came equipped from the factory.
in Australia we dont have that type of coupler we have this type www.trojanparts.com.au/images/616202%20LARGE.jpg
and we have to use d shackle not just a hook
Your 7 to 4 info just saved me so much grief! Thank you sir!!!!!
still if u cross the chains the trailer will still the ground
I know others have already said it but law or not, I would think common sense would dictate those chains could easily fall off with clips to retain them. Kind of like wearing a helmet without doing up the strap to keep it secure in the event of a crash.
should look at you display photos there should be retaining clips on your safety chain hooks, as displayed on your photos. safety chains just hanging in hitch eyes will bounce out. Most states now require safety chains to have retaining clips
I only had that issue with light chains till I put thick gauge chain on them. Wisconsin does not have that law.
***** I never seen a trailer being sold with those on, by law or not. People put then in after market.
***** fair enough but are you telling me you never had to stop and reconnect your safety chain? You must agree that that is a problem and that if you were putting on a video about safety that you would not address this problem by showing a safer system?
fair use policy air enough but are you telling me you never had to stop and reconnect your safety chain? You must agree that that is a problem and that if you were putting on a video about safety that you would not address this problem by showing a safer system?
flineman
I've run this trailer for about 10 years now hauling motorcycles and gear through every kind of washboard road, ruts, RR crossings, pot holes, up & down steep rocky dirt roads etc. I've never had the chains come off. Ever. That isn't to say that clips wouldn't ADD to the safety of it. It just hasn't been a problem. All my heavy trailers have clips on them to secure them. But the hooks are huge and not compromised by a hole through them for a wire type clip either. I think that gravity, airwash, and hooking them from below keep them on. I'm going to have to do a video on this I can see.
I Disagree. After connecting the trainer, one must test the ball and trailer hitch to assure they are secure. Then proceed with other safety equipment
Noooo....you said zero about what is the part I'm putting it into. Please make sense when doing videos ty
Negative Ghost Rider. 21/32 is not 16.5. Actually it's 16.66.
bad
At 2:25 those, as you call it, "flat style, sheet metal couplers", are adjustable so you don't have to reach up under it & move the lock bar to get it to go on the ball. There is a nylon lock nut underneath that goes on the latch bolt. If it's difficult to latch the coupler you can loosen the nut 1-2 turns til you goes on the ball without difficulty. If the coupler latches too easily & has too much "slack" you can tighten it 1-2 til you removed the excess "slack". Either way, it should drop on the ball without difficulty, latch with minimal force and there shouldn't be any excessive "slack" in the couple/ball connection. Also, no matter which style of coupler one uses, it's a good ideal to spray a good dose of WD-40 in the latch mechanism every once in a while to keep it all lubricated.