Mercury 1996 Sable Manual page 242

Connecting the safety chains
Always attach the trailer's safety chains to your
vehicle. They help protect your trailer if the
hitch breaks.
To connect the trailer's safety chains:
1. Cross the chains under the trailer tongue
and attach them to your vehicle's frame or
hook retainers. Never attach the safety
chains to your vehicle's bumper. The bumper
is not designed to bear the weight of a
trailer.
2. Make sure that you leave enough slack in
the chains to allow you to turn corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions
that the rental agency gives you.
Connecting the trailer's brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic, or
surge-type hydraulic brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them according
to the manufacturer's instructions. Be sure that
your trailer's brakes meet local and federal
regulations.
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to your
vehicle's brake system. If you do,
your vehicle may not have enough
braking power and your chances of
having a collision greatly increase.
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