when reversing a folding camper using the tow vehicle , what stops the brakes of the camper being applied ? obviously during towing on the road when the car brakes , the hitch attachment is compressed and this applies the brakes on the camper . But also during reversing procedures the same compression takes place . is there something i need to do to the hitch arrangement to stop the compression happening . Any advice greatly accepted . the clutch on my car didnt take kindly to the extra resistence .
We don't have to do anything to ours when reversing (it's a 2004) and I don't remember having to mess about with anything before reversing our old 1989 unit either.
Found this on another site, hope it helps:
Modern trailer and caravan brakes have automatic reverse
interlock, but not earlier designs. The early ones required you to get out of the car after making sure the hitch had not compressed and manually throw a lever, or insert a pin before you could reverse. All braked trailers built after March 31st 1989 have auto-reverse brakes.
If it doesn't have this auto reverse, then pulling forward a few inches (to release the brake) then reversing slowly and smoothly stops the brakes being applied again.
Question:- When I reverse the brake seems to release o.k. when on flat ground. When I reverse up a slight gradiant it seems to take more effort. My drive is a 15-20% slope up to the garage where it is stored. I tend to get a distinct smell from the clutch as if it might be pushing with the brakes on.
Does anyone else have this? or is this normal? Is there any way of checking?