Safety chains length & mounting

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Hi All,
  I installed a weight distribution hitch to my 2015 Silverado.  The original safety chains are rather short so I'm looking for suggestions on the best method to extend them. 
Also while looking at the connection to the A-frame I noticed the chains are mounted with bolts through a thin piece of 1/8" steel. The bolt holes are within 1/2" of the edge of the steel adding to the problem. The connection doesn't look very substantial.  Has anyone in the forum relocated or changed the mounting method? Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.    

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Markie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Location: Chambersburg PA Online Status: Offline Posts: 67	Topic: Safety chains length & mounting Posted: 14 Jun 2018 at 7:43pm
	Hi All, I installed a weight distribution hitch to my 2015 Silverado. The original safety chains are rather short so I'm looking for suggestions on the best method to extend them. Also while looking at the connection to the A-frame I noticed the chains are mounted with bolts through a thin piece of 1/8" steel. The bolt holes are within 1/2" of the edge of the steel adding to the problem. The connection doesn't look very substantial. Has anyone in the forum relocated or changed the mounting method? Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.
	Mark & Vicki R-POD 178 & 2015 Silverado 5.3L Weimeraner "Zeke"

crankster78 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 08 May 2018 Location: Minn Online Status: Offline Posts: 163	Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 8:58am
	Greetings You can buy grade 8 chain and couplers at any box store. They have a gold color to them. Also, the hooks are available. That's the high strength chain. Add large washers under the bolts holding the chain to the camper, if you are concerned about the mount. Crankster78 R-179
	Crankster 78 R-179 2015

TheBum Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407	Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 10:09am
	The connection isn't substantial at all. The bolts holding our chain to that strip ripped out completely when my wife had our 2016 179 one weekend. She even had to wrap the chains around one side of the A-frame to be legal coming home. When I remounted the chains, I drilled a horizontal hole all the way through the A-frame on each side and used Grade 9 bolts to attach the chains. They're not going anywhere now. Fortunately, FR has started using a more robust connection in subsequent model years.
	Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats

Markie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Location: Chambersburg PA Online Status: Offline Posts: 67	Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 10:45am
	Thanks for the response. Its odd I havent seen much on the forum on this subject. I'm on my way to the box store for some Grade 9 bolts and extra lengths of chain.
	Mark & Vicki R-POD 178 & 2015 Silverado 5.3L Weimeraner "Zeke"