secondary coupling for unbraked trailer

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

hi,

http://www.towsure.com/product/Secondary_Coupling_Cable_with_Snap_Hook

these are a legal requirement yet dont see many fitted or in use.

any ideas how one is fitted, thinking wire part found towball neck so maybe
bolt the ring part to one of trailer hitches bolts down to its chassis.

reckon keeps outfit together if towball fails, unlike a braked trailer which should be
stopped by its break away cable as the tug accelerates away, mind cant imagine
doing that as sure i i would brake if felt it come apart and try to 'catch' the caravan

also seen trailers with two chains crossed beneath the hitch to catch to the nose
of the trailer

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

from

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/trailers/brakes.aspx

national trailer and towing association

part f

Unbraked trailers manufactured after 1 Jan 1997 must be fitted with a secondary coupling that will provide some residual steering in the event of an unplanned uncoupling. This device should also prevent the ball coupling hitting the ground in similar circumstances. It must be connected to the towing vehicle when the trailer is being towed

ok my trailer is much older than 1997, but worth trying to update.

[supergnome]

I use a lenght of chain made easy to spot by those who do.

[Nisstay]

I have been towing ifor williams trailers for some years and have always been under the impression that the wire must be fitted to the link at the bottom of the handbrake on the trailer and the wire attached via a hole in the towbar. hanging it on the ball joint is not apparently accepted by VOSA and will incur penalties if they find it so. My oppinion is that in the event of the trailer becoming detached .. the wire is strong enough to pull the handbrake on and the hook through the hole in the towbar is weak enough to give way .... thereby leaving the trailer to brake on its own ...........I might be wrong . what ya think ?

rex

[rustic]

I have been towing ifor williams trailers for some years and have always been under the impression that the wire must be fitted to the link at the bottom of the handbrake on the trailer and the wire attached via a hole in the towbar. hanging it on the ball joint is not apparently accepted by VOSA and will incur penalties if they find it so. My oppinion is that in the event of the trailer becoming detached .. the wire is strong enough to pull the handbrake on and the hook through the hole in the towbar is weak enough to give way .... thereby leaving the trailer to brake on its own ...........I might be wrong . what ya think ?

rex

We are talking un braked trailers here, so they don't have handbrakes.
I use a chain also a padlock, but I didn't realise they had to keep the front of the trailer off the road.

[wildbri]

I suppose they mean that the chain or wire should be short enough to keep the nose of the trailer from hitting the ground digging in and snapping the chain/cable and allowing the trailer
to career off on it's own.

regards bri

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

think will look at a chain or chains, or heavy cable.

on braked it isnt illegal round neck of ball, but advised
avoided. that said if no where else then best still.

on troll had ball n jaw so ran breakaway around pin
as rated stronger than ball typically.

gather a loop around type breakaway needs to loop
somewhere, and the snap clip should attach to a ring
on car unless uprated for a single line pull.

toying with put a jaw ball on t2 to enable looping and
a more positve mount for a strap than just over ball.

[christof123]

I tow an ifor mini digger trailer which has a chain, looks factory fitted.

Not putting the chain around the neck is a good idea mind, you dont want to be going down a duel carridge way and have your mini digger and trailer start to undertake you:eek: because the actual bolts have come away, which happend to my cousin (yes he shoukd have checked first) in his works van.
He is to scared to tow it now, leaves it someone else.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

I tow an ifor mini digger trailer which has a chain, looks factory fitted.

Not putting the chain around the neck is a good idea mind, you dont want to be going down a duel carridge way and have your mini digger and trailer start to undertake you:eek: because the actual bolts have come away, which happend to my cousin (yes he shoukd have checked first) in his works van.
He is to scared to tow it now, leaves it someone else.

surely well into the braked/breakaway category.

how many vehicles have somewhere independent of the tow bar to anchor
a secondary or breakaway. an old sierra had its factory recovery eye next
to the towbar so could loop breakaway thru it.