Trailer Brakes while parked backwards down hill

[C.J]

H.An emergency breakaway cable must be fitted to the parking brake linkage and the other end clipped or fixed round some fixture on the towing vehicle so that, in the event of the trailer becoming detached from the towing vehicle, the cable will apply the parking brake automatically, before snapping itself. It is not recommended to loop the cable round the towball. (But do so if there is no alternative attachment point.) It is a separate offence not to use the breakaway cable provided.

 

Taken from NTTA - Trailer maintenance.

[Stubby]

Its called a breakaway cable because it will apply the handbrake and then break.

 

Its is not designed to keep the trailer attached to the towing vehicle.

 

Ok . some look too meaty to me to snap that easy . Never had a trailer jump off the ball though .

[Stubby]

Had a very old Rice horse trailer once and you had to put a pin through the draw bar to stop it compressing and putting the brakes on when you reversed it .

[Dean Lofthouse]

Today I have spoke to two technicians from two different top brand trailer manufacturers.

 

Both have said trailer brakes (for reverse parking) are only manufactured to meet current regulations of holding on an 18% slope.

 

So in effect the forward braking efficiency far exceeds the reverse braking efficiency and if parking on a reverse slope, chocks should be used. If parking for lengthy periods of times on any slope forwards or backwards, chocks should be used anyway.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Dean Lofthouse

[Goaty]

I've had two different chippers make holes in hedges when unhitched facing up hill.

'Twas quite a surprise.

 

 

Was this in the early days if the fave girls thread.

Another one to blame dean lofthouse for.

[C.J]

2.2.2. Parking braking devices 2.2.2.1. The parking brake with which the trailer or semi-trailer is fitted must be capable of holding the laden trailer or semi-trailer stationary, when separated from the drawing vehicle, on an 18 % up or down gradient. The force applied to the control must not exceed 60 kgf.

 

From European Directive 71/320/EEC

 

It says up or down

[Dean Lofthouse]

2.2.2. Parking braking devices 2.2.2.1. The parking brake with which the trailer or semi-trailer is fitted must be capable of holding the laden trailer or semi-trailer stationary, when separated from the drawing vehicle, on an 18 % up or down gradient. The force applied to the control must not exceed 60 .kgf.

 

From European Directive 71/320/EEC

 

It says up or down

 

CJ... I don't get what you are saying.

 

The 18% is a "minimum" requirement for reverse or forward.

 

Are you saying that chocking is uneccesassary or that the brakes work equally well in reverse?

 

Ive already held my hands up, apologised and said they do work well in reverse, but should still be chocked as per instructions

 

Whats your point ?

Edited February 19, 2015 by Dean Lofthouse

[WeFixIt]

You need one of these!!

 

 

Safety Chain 400mm 5 Link 63mm ring for ball [ 400mm long with 5 Links & Ring 8mm. Ring ID = 63mm (sized to fit over tow ball.) ]

 

Peace of mind !

[scraggs]

You need one of these!!

 

[ATTACH]176830[/ATTACH]

 

Safety Chain 400mm 5 Link 63mm ring for ball [ 400mm long with 5 Links & Ring 8mm. Ring ID = 63mm (sized to fit over tow ball.) ]

 

Peace of mind !

 

I thought it was illegal to use chains like that now ?

But I stand to be corrected

[Dean Lofthouse]

I think its a legal requirement in parts of the USA