Trailer Brakes while parked backwards down hill

[Dean Lofthouse]

even on a brand new trailer

[Gerbutt]

When I was doing an assessment I was told the chipper handbrakes don't work fully in reverse, the assessor had one go over a small cliff for that reason.

[Tom D]

Dean's right, the brakes are nowhere near as good in reverse as they are going forward. Might be enough to stop you pushing them but not hold a heavy load on a steep slope.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I'll say it again for safety reasons seen as how I have been dismissed as wrong.

 

Trailers with auto reverse (including chippers) should, if possible be parked on a flat level surface. If the trailer has to be parked (unhitched) on an incline, it should be parked with its nose facing downhill.

 

If it is not possible to park the trailer with its nose facing downhill, all wheels should be chocked, with suitable purpose made chocks.

[Stubby]

I'll say it again for safety reasons seen as how I have been dismissed as wrong.

 

Trailers with auto reverse (including chippers) should, if possible be parked on a flat level surface. If the trailer has to be parked (unhitched) on an incline, it should be parked with its nose facing downhill.

 

If it is not possible to park the trailer with its nose facing downhill, all wheels should be chocked, with suitable purpose made chocks.

 

Thats it in a nut shell really Dean . End of I think

[C.J]

O.K I've had a little read.

 

If the handbrake is partially applied,they will work going forward but not in reverse.

 

Since 1989 trailer brakes must be fitted with an "energy store".

 

When the handbrake is fully raised the energy store overcentres and locks the brakes so it won't go forward or back.

[gensetsteve]

Trailer handbrakes when trailer could run back wards down a hill are not good. Loads of caravans have gone over cliffs as well. We are on a steep hill and a few years ago we un hooked an ifor tipper and pulled the handbrake on and watched it disappear half a mile across a field.

[Dean Lofthouse]

O.K I've had a little read.

 

If the handbrake is partially applied,they will work going forward but not in reverse.

 

Since 1989 trailer brakes must be fitted with an "energy store".

 

When the handbrake is fully raised the energy store overcentres and locks the brakes so it won't go forward or back.

 

Again....over centering is a term used for the hand brake lever itself to apply a strong force on the cable going to the drums. The force does apply a near fully loaded braking force to the shoes, but it still will be overcome in reverse if the incline and load combination is enough.

 

If this wasn't the case, the auto reverse function would not work when fully loaded

[Stubby]

Again....over centering is a term used for the hand brake lever itself to apply a strong force on the cable going to the drums. The force does apply a near fully loaded braking force to the shoes, but it still will be overcome in reverse if the incline and load combination is enough.

 

If this wasn't the case, the auto reverse function would not work when fully loaded

 

Once again ...Yep !

[C.J]

"Since 1989 it has been a legal requirement that trailer brakes are of the auto reverse type. The auto reverse mechanism, inside the brake, senses when the trailer is going backwards and the normal forward braking mechanism is overridden. One of the features auto reversing brakes include is that the handbrake mechanism must have an energy store fitted to ensure efficient braking when the trailer is at rest."

 

Quote from Indespension.

 

So to answer Steve's original question - its poor maintenance or adjustment.