Got a surprise this morning. Took my new chevy 2500HD to the storage lot to bring home the weekend warrior. Went to hook up the safety chains to the hitch, and it ain't happening. The way the hitch is designed, there is no way in hell to get the chain hooks on the hitch. Oh you can put them on, but they won't latch. By latch I mean the spring doohickey that closes so the hook won't come loose. Any suggestions?
All I know is the hooks came with the trailer. The holes on the hitch won't allow the hook to go all the way through so that the safety latch will engage. Smaller hook won't work nor will a bigger one. Thinking about getting some D rings welded on. What do you guys think?
I don't know why the proper sized hooks wouldn't work, the hooks on my trailers work and latch properly. You could always just get some chain quick links, put those on the hitch chain loops and then hook your safety chains to the quick links.
I remember the hooks sucked to get on and off with the hitch on my '97 F150, the slots were kinda narrow and the plate was at an odd angle. But my '04 3500 Flatbed has some nice thick steel donuts welded to the rear, really easy to put them on and take them off.
I also use D ring shackles or quick links to make mine easier to hook and I leave them on the truck permanently. Just make sure they have a high enough load rating that you'd trust them to keep you from parting ways with your trailer if it came loose.
Thanks for the reply's. Going to have the D rings welded on this coming Monday,.I've already looked at the rings and they are pretty stout looking..........
my reese tow beast hitch on the 04 was easier to attach to, but the hooks on both my trailers, a 14 cargo and 35 ft tt fit through the 15 holes and snap shut fine.
I'm don't even understand why this hitch was designed without a "typical" safety chain attachment point. You guys got any pics of what these alternatives you're using look like?
Picked up my new truck thursday and hooked the trailer up friday. Discovered the same thing. I could get them on but they are a pain. Going to either do a bigger hook on the trailer or clevis on the hitch. Chain idea is good too.
These trucks are rated to tow massive amounts of weight, therefore the safety chain attachment points have to be up to the task of supporting that weight if there is a hitch failure. You bought the big bad Duramax and if you're towing a little utility trailer with small hooks either swap the hooks out for bigger ones, put some chain links on the hitch that will allow you to attach the small hooks, or buy a half ton. Don't blame GM for adequately sizing the safety chain hooking points. My 14K pound trailers with 3/8" hooks work great on the factory hitch.
This is exactly what was needed to get the job done. My issues were with itty bitty S hooks on smaller trailers. My new trailer came with these beasts and my life is back in order.
I changed out the hooks on my enclosed trailer. Instead of having the s type hook I have a pair of big hooks (1/2" I think) on their. Way easier to connect and will work on any hitch now.
I know Commercial LEO gives tickets for quick links on break away chains.... I would use a properly rated clevis or drill out receiver to accept larger hooks.
Really I think it's pretty shitty of GM to go to a receiver that doesn't accept hooks. Not a problem with older body style trucks.
For everybody that is worried that GM lost their mind and made it impossible to hook your tow chains to your fancy new truck, fret not. Here are pics showing that at least one person had the sense to make sure you can hook chains to your truck that is made for towing.
These are the three most popular tow chain sizes, 1/4", 5/16", and 3/8". I am out of stock on 3/8" tow chains right now, so the last pic is just a 3/8" slip hook. And all of these hooks could EASILY by hooked from the front to the back, or the back to the front.
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