Posted 2012-07-07 10:35 AM (#145414) Subject: air ride gooseneck hitch
Member
Posts: 14
Location: michigan
I just bought a Air Safe gooseneck hitch for my trailer. Its the kind that replaces the coupler on the trailer. I travel a lot of chatter bump dirt roads and it really doesnt matter how slow you go it beats the snot out of my trailer and truck. I havent installed it yet becasue I have a clearence issue with my reese hide away hitch. The saftey chain loops are in the up position when my ball is up and there isnt enough clearence for the new hitch to turn without hitting them. I thought about cutting them off(shame on me i know but I rarely use them, heck I almost never lock the hitch to my ball) but I want to hear from some people who use one first before I make my saftey chain loops go bye bye to make the switch.
Posted 2012-07-07 7:35 PM (#145419 - in reply to #145414) Subject: RE: air ride gooseneck hitch
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Iowa
you had better check with your state laws before doing away with safety chains or not locking down your ball. Big no, no here in Iowa. I lock my ball down and use my safety chains ALWAYS. State law or not.
Posted 2012-07-07 9:19 PM (#145420 - in reply to #145414) Subject: RE: air ride gooseneck hitch
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by mjkowboy on 2012-07-07 10:35 AM
I just bought a Air Safe gooseneck hitch for my trailer. Its the kind that replaces the coupler on the trailer. I travel a lot of chatter bump dirt roads and it really doesnt matter how slow you go it beats the snot out of my trailer and truck. I havent installed it yet becasue I have a clearence issue with my reese hide away hitch. The saftey chain loops are in the up position when my ball is up and there isnt enough clearence for the new hitch to turn without hitting them. I thought about cutting them off(shame on me i know but I rarely use them, heck I almost never lock the hitch to my ball) but I want to hear from some people who use one first before I make my saftey chain loops go bye bye to make the switch.
Posted 2012-07-07 10:17 PM (#145421 - in reply to #145414) Subject: RE: air ride gooseneck hitch
Veteran
Posts: 201 Location: Lincoln, NE
In Nebraska, a stock trailer hauling a horse came loose from the truck towing it. It collided with a car going the opposite direction. A girl in the car was killed and the horse had to be euthanized.
I suspect your liability insurance would be null and void without the safety chains. You would have legal liability for any damage or injury if your trailer should come loose and have no insurance coverage.
Posted 2012-07-07 10:28 PM (#145422 - in reply to #145414) Subject: RE: air ride gooseneck hitch
Expert
Posts: 1877 Location: NY
are you sure that the hitch dose not clear the chains? It dose not sound right, I would call the maker and find out what is wrong they would not make a hitch that would make you cut off your chains
Posted 2012-07-08 7:55 AM (#145430 - in reply to #145414) Subject: RE: air ride gooseneck hitch
Member
Posts: 14
Location: michigan
The reason my chains wouldnt clear the hitch is the brand of hide-away I have the chain loops are not a low profile and they are really close to the ball itself, they actually fold over the ball when its in the recessed position. I should have specified if I do cut them off I would fabricate some new ones. I may not use them every time I trailer but I do If I go any distance on paved roads it just happens that most of out trailering involves dirt roads for 4-h, high school and middle school equestrian practices and the county fairgrounds.
Its the thought of taking a torch to something I paid a lot of money for and then finding out the air ride hitch doesnt work very well.
Posted 2012-07-08 7:55 PM (#145450 - in reply to #145414) Subject: RE: air ride gooseneck hitch
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I used to have one of those hitches in one of my previous trucks so, I know what you are talking about. The chain holders do stick up. I would suggest that you could sell one or the other. Perhaps a different model of air ride will work with your hitch or a different hitch to go with your air ride. It's not worth the safety risk to modify your current hitch, IMHO.
air ride gooseneck hitch
