This is How A Towing Safety Cable Works

More often than not, long trips come with unexpected surprises . No matter how well-prepared you are, things can go very wrong in such trips. So, it makes sense to keep yourself prepared for the worst. Towing is no exception. No matter how many times you have checked those nuts and other equipment, a long trip can always throw you a curve ball. This is the reason why having a safety cable is a must (like carrying around that spare tire or an umbrella) when you are planning to tow a vehicle. It is best to have an ace up your sleeve in the form of a safety cable otherwise, you will get caught off guard sooner or later.

In fact, if I am not entirely wrong, it is mandatory to use safety cable. Federal laws in most states require you to use safety cable and there is no way around it and believe me, it is in your best interest.  Should the trailer get discounted from the towing vehicle, things can get really messy. Forget about the damages to your assets (that are bound to happen), because you will find yourself in a legal mess should anyone gets injured. Save yourself from this hassle and get a towing safety cable now.

Using Towing Safety Cables

You can use either a safety chain or a safety cable while towing a trailer. They both serve the same purpose – offering a second line of defense in case the trailer gets disconnected from the vehicle. Safety chains, as the name suggests, are forged from metal and that means, they are extremely durable and can withstand more force. Safety cable on the other hand resembles like a rope. Of course, safety chains are the real deal but safety cables can also get the job done pretty well. Both act as a safety net should something goes wrong like – holding on to the dislodged tongue. They create a secure link between them by crossing over and connecting under the coupler before securely fastening onto the car with hooks.

Safety cables are of course not strong enough to allow you to carry the dislodged trailer a mile or two. They are not built for this. Their only purpose to give the driver some crucial seconds or minutes to pull over safely and diagnose the problem.

It is towing cable that is going to determine whether your journey is going to be a successful one or not. Safety cables can withstand a specific amount of force. This determines the maximum weight of an object that can be attached to the cable without compromising its structural integrity. Just like you wouldn’t try to fit an elephant in your car, it’s not wise to exceed the maximum weight capacity of Towing Safety Cables. Safety cables also available in different varieties. Class I safety cable flaunts an impressive 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) GTW whereas Class V can withstand a massive 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) GTW.

Hook type is another factor that you need to consider carefully. The most popular of them all is S-hook. As the name suggests, S-hook is forged from metal and is curved like the English letter ‘S’. Quick links and Slip hooks are other popular options that you can always give a try. No matter which Hook Type you finally choose, you need to make sure that it does not come loose during the journey. Try rubber hookers in case, you want to keep the hooks from coming loose.

I hope your tow vehicle has already got a hookup point to connect the safety cable, right? If not, you need to brush the dust off your tool box and put the welding hat on. You will need to weld on a safety chain loop or bracket so that the safety cable can be attached to it safely.

Now, it is time to attach the cable to the frames. Now, be careful while doing so. you’ll want to make sure they aren’t gripping too tightly or dangling loosely – think “Goldilocks” level of snugness. Too little tension and the chains won’t be able do their job properly when it’s time for a turn!