Posted 2008-02-25 9:25 PM (#77956) Subject: GN hitches & safety chains? link added
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Mi
Ok so I'm all set to order & have installed the GN hitch for my truck(finally). Only question I now have is where do the safety chains hook? Having a hide-a-ball type hitch installed. Do GN trailers not come with them anymore?
edited to add: did some more searching & found this setup for attaching chains, what do you think? http://www.unagoose.com/info.htm
Posted 2008-02-25 9:31 PM (#77958 - in reply to #77956) Subject: RE: GN hitches & safety chains?
Expert
Posts: 2614
Ours are on either side of the hitch ball in the bed,welded to the truck frame.Most GN trailers come with chains andI believe that in most states it is mandatory to haul with them.
Posted 2008-02-25 9:37 PM (#77960 - in reply to #77956) Subject: RE: GN hitches & safety chains?
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Mi
Welded to the truck frame?? As in the truck came from the factory like that or you added them? I ask because the reason I am going w/ this type of GN hitch is so I only have the one small hole(for the gn ball) in the bed of the truck. I don't want a bunch of holes in it. In all the pics I've looked at on the various websites of GN hitches they don't ever show the chain hooks.
Posted 2008-02-25 9:45 PM (#77965 - in reply to #77956) Subject: RE: GN hitches & safety chains?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 644 Location: Odenville, Alabama
with a hide-a-ball hitch, the hooks for the safety chains are next to the ball and they retract flush with the bed of the truck when the chains are not attached.
Posted 2008-02-25 9:53 PM (#77967 - in reply to #77960) Subject: RE: GN hitches & safety chains?
Expert
Posts: 2614
We had a hide-a-ball hitch at one time,also.The hooks are flush with the bed when the ball is down.Now we have a turnover ball,but I think they are the same way,you pull them up to hook the chains to.No,they install them when you have your hitch installed.Usually all one unit,and bolted onto the underframe beneath the bed.
You'll do well to have those chain hook holes in your bed,if you're ever stopped by a state man.We were stopped about a year or so ago by one,not long after the mandatory law was passed here in our state.That is one thing he looked in the bed to see,I'm sure that is what he was checking.You may not see chains on GN hitches that you install aftermarket on a GN trailer,but I don't see any new GN trailers for sale that don't have chains.I'm not saying they don't make them,but,I haven't seen them in the hundreds + trailers I've seen.
Go to the site popuphitch.com.The chain hooks are included as part of the system.If you will look about halfway down the page you will see them in the bed of a truck.The hooks are spring loaded.
Posted 2008-02-25 10:00 PM (#77970 - in reply to #77956) Subject: RE: GN hitches & safety chains?
Member
Posts: 41 Location: FL & up-state NY
Which hitch/brand are you having installed? We just installed ours (B&W I believe) w/ the turn over ball a few weeks ago. It had the two spring-loaded hooks for the chains as part of the hitch setup. Just had to drill the two small holes on either side of the ball for them. Little confusing because I believe the company advertises that you only have to cut one 4" hole in the truck. Which between you & me was the biggest hole in the world to watch my husband drill in a brand new $50k+ truck. I think I met my quota of prayers for the year in about 5 minutes. But he did a great job! Anyhow, I know there were diagrams & install instructions on their web site. Maybe you could refer to the brand you are using's web site to see how they have the hooks set up for the hitch. Just a thought... Good luck w/ your new hitch....
GN hitches & safety chains? link added
