Are you planning a camping trip or perhaps a getaway to the lake? Maybe you're looking to haul a load to the landfill. This is why Colorado peeps should always check the chains on their trailers.

Last week, on the very same day Mesa County implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions, I found myself hooking up my equipment trailer. Where my trailer is concerned, there is enough slack in the chains they have the potential to drag the ground. If you've been in the dryer areas of the United States for long, you already know how catastrophic this can be.

The Mesa County Sheriff's Office issued the following statement via Facebook:

Don't forget to check your chains on your trailer if you are headed out to the trails or camping this week. Dragging chains can easily start a fire in these dry conditions. Enjoy the outdoors and thanks for helping us prevent wildfires!

Check out the video directly below. It demonstrates some important things to remember when hooking up a trailer. The tip about adding a twist to the chain to take up slack is an excellent reminder.

Believe it or not, sparks can very easily start a fire in dry conditions like we're currently experiencing in Colorado. Back in 1994 I was caught in the fire in Mack, Colorado when a passing train through a spark. That fire went from a smoldering weed along the track to a full acre in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, firefighters were battling another blaze in area, and they sent in that bomber plane with a fire retardant. It dumped that stuff all over the fire, me, and my Volkswagen.

It's officially summer, and even with restrictions in place, Colorado residents are hitting the road for camping, boating, and outdoor fun. Trailers and recreational vehicles abound. Too much slack in a chain can go easily unnoticed. Please give them a glance, followed by a second glance, before hitting the road.

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