Safety Device for a trailer

AndAndDen · Post by **AndAndDen** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:40 pm

What sort of Safety Device will i need for a Erde 101 Trailer just in case it comes unhitched

while driving the Bongo. Thanks

rob and karen · Post by **rob and karen** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:45 pm

On a caravan you have a break-away -cable which wraps around the tow ball and in the event of a caravan coming off it pulls the handbrake on , on a trailer you have no handbrake but it would hold the trailer on for you might be worth a look
rob

Colin Lambert · Post by **Colin Lambert** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:13 pm

I agree with the above. Better to B****r the back of the Bongo rather than Run away and demolish a wall (think what would happen if it hit a 'bus queue) as happened in Poole last year when a boat trailer broke free.

dp bradford · Post by **dp bradford** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:04 pm

My Erka trailer has a short loop of chain fixed to the A frame; I always drop it over the tow ball before hitching up so that if the coupling fails the trailer's still restrained

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:03 pm

Our Duuo trailer came with a steel cable that loops over the towbar, fit as standard

AndAndDen · Post by **AndAndDen** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:18 pm

So would we be better getting a Secondary Coupling Cable with snap hook( seen one in Towsure) or a Breakaway Cable.

Dont quite understand which one to get

.The secondary Coupling Cable says it is for a Trailer or caravan without brakes.

rob and karen · Post by **rob and karen** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:26 pm

the secondary coupling cable is ideal

that is attached to the front end of trailer and put around the towball , the same as a break away cable , if you had a brake away cable you have a bracket which attaches to the handbrake on caravan/trailer ,then wrapped around the towball , so yes a secondary coupling cable is what i would put on
rob

AndAndDen · Post by **AndAndDen** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:28 pm

Thanks for that rob and to you all for your replys. Doesn't take much to confuse us

.

Bonza · Post by **Bonza** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:48 pm

Some tow bars have a secondary hook near the tow ball just in case the ball breaks off or comes away.

Attach a safety cable to that if you have it.
Bonz

flash · Post by **flash** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:52 pm

I brought an ERDE 122 last week & it has a short chain to hook onto the towball as a safety measure, apparently it's an EEC regulation.

daveblueozzie · Post by **daveblueozzie** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:36 pm

my erde trailer came with a short chain attached to it i hook it to the tow bar using a padlock for a bit extra security so no one can just unhitch and walk off with the trailer, i know any determined thief would laugh at the padlock (but it does deter the kids out for a bit of fun at my expense).

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:23 pm

And & Den

Your trailer has a short length of anodised metal chain bolted on which can be looped around the towball for extra security...that's why you need a padlock!

I may also have located a towing hitch lock for security (acts like a wheel clamp around he tow hitch) if you want it?

cheers

H

AndAndDen · Post by **AndAndDen** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:03 pm

Thanks Harry pm' you. Andy

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:16 pm

on our towbar ive put a secondary breakaway plate for securing the cable to, i dont really trust just looping it over the towball.

plus i believe this act is now illegal

http://www.towsure.com/product/479-Brea ... le_Bracket[/u]

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:59 pm

I think that you will find that 'breakaway cables' are what is fitted to breaked trailers. They are attatched to a device on the trailer handbrake wihich trips a catch and puts the trailer handbrake on if the trailer breaks away from the towing vehicle...I had one of these on me big box trailer I used to use for shows.

The little Erde type trailers are unbraked and don't actually require a breakaway device.

Sticking the chain around the towbar is more psychol;ogical than of any real benefit...but I do it anyway...and its not illegal (I've checked).

cheers

H