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Subject Topic: 1960`s Caravan brakes Post Reply Post New Topic
Personalecha
19/8/2014 at 10:34am
 Location: east sussex
 Outfit: Carlight Casetta View alecha's Profile View Profile   Reply to alecha Reply   Quote alecha Quote  
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Hi, I've started a new topic as I couldn't find anything here about vintage caravans and their braking systems. I am trying to find out wether she even has a towing brake! I know nothing about this and can't find anything from googling. No diagrams, nothing. So does anyone out there know about caravans of this age. I'd really appreciate it if you do.

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Thanks in advance


PersonVectratot
19/8/2014 at 11:58am
 Location: DURHAM
 Outfit: Mondeo TItanium 140 Avondale Mayfly 25 View Vectratot's Profile View Profile   Reply to Vectratot Reply   Quote Vectratot Quote  
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My first caravan was a 1960 model, yes it will have brakes. Mine had auto reverse system not the type where one had to get out and engage a lever or swing over bracket, castle nuts with split pins was pretty straight forward to service the system. Do you know if it is Peak or B&B, a little more info may help.


PersonGrampian91
19/8/2014 at 12:04pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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If it weighs more than 750kg (laden) then it must be braked.

What you will probably find is the brakes wont have auto reverse. So to reverse the van you need to pull forward gently and get out to knock a lever over to prevent the brakes applying in reverse.

The issue is some will auto cancel it you pull forward again.


Personalecha
19/8/2014 at 1:57pm
 Location: east sussex
 Outfit: Carlight Casetta View alecha's Profile View Profile   Reply to alecha Reply   Quote alecha Quote  
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Thank you both for your help. When I can find someone who will do them, this information will be really useful. I tried a caravan repairs today but they'd rather not work on one her age.
Do I really need towing brakes? Or will just having a hand brake suffice? Secondly, in response to Vectratot, where do I look to find out if they're (brake design??) B&B or Peak.

I'd like to avoid having a system which auto cancels the brakes applying every time you go back and forth trying to park.

Again, many thanks for this.

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Thanks in advance


PersonDaveS1
19/8/2014 at 3:48pm
 Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
 Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3 View DaveS1's Profile View Profile   Reply to DaveS1 Reply   Quote DaveS1 Quote  
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As Grampian says the current law requires a caravan weighing more than 750kg to have brakes. Whether or not that law applied in the 1960's I don't know.
However, you ask if you need 'towing brakes'. The short answer is Yes because a) it is the law and b) it is highly likely that you will not be able to stop quickly without them. The brakes on your towing vehicle simply will not be able to cope.
Daves1


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PersonGrampian91
20/8/2014 at 12:51am
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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When your caravan tries to overtake you and pushes the back of the car sideways you may wish you had teh brakes sorted properly.
You may also wish you had kept some clean trouseers in the boot to replace the brown stained ones your wearing after the event also.

If you dont want a manual reverse braking system then you need a newer caravan with auto reverse brakes.

Or maybe tons of practice so that you can reverse into place without having to pull forward again.

The legal and safety aspects of non working brakes dont bear thinking about.

Brakes MUST work.


Personnavver
21/8/2014 at 10:30pm
 Location: West country
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Peak or B&B are manufacturers. Alko is another. Probably something written on the hitch.

In those days the chassis would be made by one manufacturer, the hitch by another, the brakes by another. Knott used to make brakes as well.


Personalecha
22/8/2014 at 8:17am
 Location: east sussex
 Outfit: Carlight Casetta View alecha's Profile View Profile   Reply to alecha Reply   Quote alecha Quote  
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Thank you all for your advice. I finally found a place that will do her brakes yesterday. I had been looking for mobile mechanics but couldn't find anyone that was happy to do a caravan of her age. Having read all the advice here, it was a nerve racking journey along the motorway to get to the caravan mechanic! But the other option was to have her sit rotting and going nowhere. Which is funny because when I bought her and collected her from Norfolk, I knew nothing about her road worthiness - and merrily motored the 100 + miles home to Brighton with her, with not a care in the world.
Anyway, she's being sorted now. Next step is getting an old steady off and putting a new one on and having the gas checked - then we're ready to go anywhere. Thanks again.

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Thanks in advance



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