Glider Trailer Picture Wanted

John DeRosa

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May 6, 2025, 2:56:31 PMMay 6

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I'd like to find a picture of a glider trailer to illustrate a point I want to make in my "Trailer Chains" presentation (https://aviation.derosaweb.net/presentations/#trailerchains).

I hope that this doesn't seem too macabre but ... I'd like to find a picture of a glider trailer that was involved in an accident of some sort. This has to do with illustrating the importance of having, and the consequences of not having, proper running gear.

The picture of the trailer itself is most important, not necessarily the glider inside.

NOTE: I promise not to divulge specifics of who/what/where/when/how, names, contest id, glider brand name, model number, image background, etc, etc, etc. AKA - everything of import Photoshopped out!

Thanks, John (OHM)

Bill Tisdale

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May 6, 2025, 3:16:15 PMMay 6

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John, 404 error trying to look at what you already have.

Trailer chains and how affixed to the trailer may be governed by the State DOT regulations. Many chains must be welded to the trailer tongue. I ran into that when I acquired a trailer from UT, that had been in AZ. But it would not pass DOT inspection in NV. I no longer have that trailer, and I just checked, I do not have pictures of how the chains were attached.

Also consider how the chains are crossed under the hitch and secured to the tow vehicle. Open tow hooks are not acceptable in many areas where there is not constant tension on the chain as in securing a load.

Sorry, and thankfully, I do not have pictures of trailers from accidents. I do know of one instance where a trailer rolled on a curve, started to steer the SUV, when the trailer rolled, it rolled the SUV.

Bill

John DeRosa

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May 6, 2025, 4:38:51 PMMay 6

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404 error fixed. Thanks for letting me know.

John DeRosa

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May 6, 2025, 4:53:18 PMMay 6

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Bill,

I have not heard that some states the chains must be welded to the tongue. I will have to investigate.

But I do not like welded on chains as this encourages the owner to not replace old rusty dangerous chains as it is too "difficult". Plus the welding process weakens at least one link (and you know what they say about the weakest link!).

I have heard that in Europe they don't allow chains on trailers at all. Is that true?

- John (OHM)

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 2:16:15 PM UTC-5 tisda...@gmail.com wrote:

Uli N

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May 6, 2025, 7:54:45 PMMay 6

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Not sure if they are not 'allowed' but certainly they are not the standard! The break-away cable is required when the trailer has brakes, to apply the brakes should the coupler or tongue fail. Also, the receiver/hitch combination is not a thing over there.

Uli

'AS'

Russ Owens

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May 9, 2025, 12:20:06 PMMay 9

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Here are my glider trailer crash pictures. Travelling 70 mph. Trailer disconnected and chains broke. Tow vehicle rolled 8 times. Occupants suffered minor injuries. Trailer slid upside down in soft sand. Vehicle totalled, Cobra trailer totalled. Rex repaired minor damaged glider. All this in 2004. Lucky and happy to be alive. Russ

DSC01354.JPG

DSC01357.JPG

DSC01355.JPG

John DeRosa

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May 10, 2025, 8:38:05 AMMay 10

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Thanks for the pictures.

Very glad, and truly amazed, that everyone came out

with only minor injuries. You were lucky that day.

Thanks again, John (OHM)

Piet Barber

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Jun 11, 2025, 11:40:15 PMJun 11

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Hi Bill!

> Trailer chains and how affixed to the trailer may be governed by the State DOT regulations. Many chains must be welded to the trailer tongue. I ran into that when I acquired a trailer from UT, that had been in AZ. But it would not pass DOT inspection in NV. I no longer have that trailer, and I just checked, I do not have pictures of how the chains were attached.

Some states (like your state, Nevada) just reference this regulation in title 49: 49 CFR 393.70(d)

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/part-393/section-393.70#p-393.70(d)

Source: Linklock.net, under resources. <- Kudos to these guys for backing up their product with this excellent research!

They have a cool excel spreadsheet that interprets each state's laws for this issue. Man, what a time to be alive that somebody has done this research for us!

As for the requirement that you must weld chains to the trailer:

4 states outright prohibit the practice. I can find no state law where any state requires it.

New York prohibits the practice Title 15 Rule 57.3(f)
Texas prohibits the practice Title 37-21-21.5
Washington prohibits the practice WAC 204-70-070
Wisconsin prohibits welding 347.47 trans 308.06

SAE J684 Standard says that welding the chain reduces the chain's strength, and recommends that you don't weld the chain to the trailer. You'll have to pay $100 to get a copy of that standards document, though. :(

Many states require only one chain (!)

Alaska Arkansas California Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maine Maryland Mississippi Montana New Hampshire New Jersey South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Utah Vermont Virginia

According to their spreadsheet, they say that there are 9 states (and a district) that have no requirement for chains at all (!!!)

Alabama Arizona Delaware Idaho Kentucky New Mexico Rhode Island West Virginia Wyoming District of Columbia

Only 16 states require that the chains be crossed: (weird that some of these states only require one chain, explain that one to me)

Florida Michigan Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska New Hampshire New jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Washington

Here are the laws state by state:

Alabama
https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=32-9-1
Alaska
http://www.touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/aac/title13/chapter004/section275.htm
Arizona
https://www.azleg.gov/viewDocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00981.htm
Arkansas
https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2010/title-27/subtitle-3/chapter-35/subchapter-1/27-35-111/
California
http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-29004.html; http://www.eyershitch.com/california-towing-laws.html
Colorado
https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2016/title-42/regulation-of-vehicles-and-traffic/article-4/part-5/section-42-4-506/
Connecticut
https://eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/Browse/RCSA?id=Title%2014|14-137|14-137-124|14-137-124

http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=804&q=244914

Delaware
http://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c043/sc01/index.shtml; https://www.dmv.de.gov/services/vehicle_services/other/ve_other_general.shtml https://www.dmv.de.gov/forms/veh_serv_forms/pdfs/Vehicle_Inspection_Manual.pdf?022516
Florida
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.530.html https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/393.71
Georgia
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/146112.pdf

http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/153467.pdf

Chip Bearden

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Jun 12, 2025, 8:19:45 PMJun 12

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Great stuff, Piet!! I've heard so many discussions over the years about what's required and what's safe.

Chip Bearden

JB

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John DeRosa

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Jun 12, 2025, 11:41:36 PMJun 12

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With the permission of Piet I have included his list of links to US states trailering regulations to my "Trailer Chains" presentation.

https://aviation.derosaweb.net/presentations/#trailerchains

Many thanks to Piet for providing this comprehensive list. If you spot an error on a link, or have a better link (I just changed Illinois), please let me know.

- John (OHM)

Piet Barber

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Jun 13, 2025, 8:51:12 PMJun 13

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Ray Lovinggood

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Jun 19, 2025, 4:54:22 PMJun 19

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I'll give a one-hand clap for the states that required crossed chains, but are okay with only one chain.

Ray

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