Nutcracker: Halton Police encourage drivers to check their balls
Trailer hitch balls, that is
According to a video posted to Twitter by the attending officer, the truck and trailer in question were bounding along Dundas Street when the gendarmes spotted something amiss at the hitching point. Closer inspection revealed the ball on which the loaded trailer’s tongue was resting did not get a good tightening at last inspection, an oversight which could certainly lead to calamity.
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The officer also goes on to complain about the state of this trailer’s safety chains, though the links shown in the video seem ok at first glance. Nevertheless, problems like that are sometimes only obvious when viewed in person. There is an alarming amount of play in the trailer hitch ball, however, a fact shown by the cop when he spins the ball freely on its drawbar.
It should go without saying that a walk-around check should be the last thing every driver does before they set off with a trailer in tow. This goes double when said trailer is extremely heavy, as this contractor’s hauler surely was since it was laden with dozens of heavy shingle bundles — those weigh about 70 pounds each, in case you were unaware. At least it seems this load was evenly distributed aboard the trailer and not too far back on the hauler’s tail.
Be safe out there, folks. And heed the advice of Halton Police — check your balls.