RV MAIL
LETTERS FROM THE ROAD
CHAIN MAIL
Interesting photo on page
19 in your online magazine
(GoRV #10) where the
safety chains between the
caravan and tow vehicle
are shown as ‘straight’
connection. A recent test
by another magazine (I
cannot remember which
one) proved something
that I was taught years
ago; that safety chains
should be crossed.
With the straight
connection, if the hitch/
towball should become
uncoupled (for whatever
reason) the hitch would
drop straight down
between the chains and dig
into the ground resulting in
a major problem. With the
chains crossed, the hitch
would drop down onto
the chains and prevent it
contacting the ground.
Ian Crombie
Via email
G’day Ian, you’re quite right:
the safety chains should be
crossed. As for that photo…
well, I agree they should be
crossed there, too. By the
way, the magazine that proved
the crossed-chains theory was
this one. Check out issue #3
to revisit the experiment. – Ed
4
gorv.com.au
A LOAD OF BULL
All I can say is what a load
of bull in relation to the
report that A Current Affair
aired. I agree entirely with
GoRV (GoRV #11) that
we need to stand up for
ourselves to counter
such negativity.
The year before last
we covered in excess of
28,000km around this
wonderful land and saw
very little evidence of the
carnage as presented by A
Current Affair.
The past year saw another
12,000km notched up
travelling to and from FNQ.
This year will probably see
another trip up through
the centre of the country.
The use of the UHF (CB)
radio to communicate
with fellow travellers,
especially truckies, has
made for relatively stress-
free travel and road use for
us and those we share the
highways with.
We have always ensured
that our van is correctly
loaded to ensure the right
balance is achieved and that
the tow vehicle is more than
up to the job.
Do we need a special test
for drivers towing? After
listening to some of those
interviewed it probably
wouldn't be a bad idea to
at least impart some of the
basic fundamentals that
apply to caravan and camper
trailer towing, possibly even
before purchasing a van or
camper trailer.
It's a pity I haven't kept all
of my dash cam footage as
I'm sure I would have had
enough to produce at least
two episodes of "Worlds
Worst Drivers" or some
such, like featuring both
car and heavy vehicle antics
that we have witnessed on
our travels.
Keep up the good work.
Mike Rhodes
Via email
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