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Topic: trailer cable

tiggermclean

03/8/2007 at 10:05pm
Location: coventry
Outfit: aztec palacio and outbound chateau 4

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I do not have a breakaway cable for my trailer is there anything else I can use, please help we go away in the morning.

fatbloke28

03/8/2007 at 11:17pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: trigano chantilly

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if its braked you need a different cable to an unbraked one ,and ofcourse something to attach it to on the car ,halfords sell one for braked trailers but not the plate it attaches to

a strong chain will be fine for unbraked ones but it must be just long enough to hold the trailer to the car but short enough not to let the trailer hit the road ,and ofcourse that plate it attaches to on the car.
i tried everywhere to find one then stumbled over them in a camping shop ,it uses one of the towballs bolts to attach it to the car so the chain/wire just clips into it.

Cave Troll

03/8/2007 at 11:17pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Nissan Note 1.6 SVE :Khyam XL Classic

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You could use a short length of chain obtainable from a DIY store.
Secure both ends to the trailer draw bar so that it forms a loop but make sure it is long enough to hoop over the towball before hooking up the trailer.

-------------
R.I.P. Dottie Dog 24.08.1994 - 07.05.2007
R.I.P. Mr Bean 04.04.1996 - 24.09.2009

fatbloke28

03/8/2007 at 11:22pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: trigano chantilly

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its recomended you dont loop it over the towball nowadays.
a brakeaway cable must pull on the brakes before it snaps ,the unbraked one shouldnt snap under any circumstances.
a loop over the towball would just fall off in the rare case the towball comes adrift hence its not done any more and ofcourse if the trailer came off the ball the hitch may rise up and pull any loop off the ball anyway.
a loop around the actual towbar itself is ok but not perfect.
there seems to be a few different attachment doodas for the chain wire ,the brakeaway type seems just to be a spiral of metal you "wind" the cable around whilst the type i have is a hefty bit of iron with a bolt hole ans a slit ,the bolt goes through the hole attaching it to the car and a hefty spring clip on the cable clips into the slit.

on a visit to the dump the police were there inspecting trailers and early in the year a large number of yellow jacketed chaps were pulling over anything being towed and going over them with great care for defects.
most trailers sit about waiting to be used so the bearings dry out and rust sets in so maybe a danger on the road etc.a missing safety chain may get a verbal on a good day but could be classed as a danger if the copper has had a bad day

Post last edited on 03/08/2007 23:48:19

steveandkirsty

04/8/2007 at 4:03pm
Location: South Birmingham
Outfit: Quechua 6.2 Xl Air & Apapaho 9 DLX

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Hi,

Just to second the towball thing, as well as not being particually safe, it's now illegal.

Cheers
Steve

Emvid

05/8/2007 at 4:24pm
Location: South Wales
Outfit: Vango and Cabanon

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OMG - I was aking at my local camping/caravan shop that sells trailers etc. about 8 weeks ago about breakaway cables as we had been given an old trailer without one.

They sold me the type that loops over the towball (only just mind, its a real tight fiddle to get it on and off). Anyway I was asking the bloke in the shop about legalities etc etc and he said that was all I needed for an unbraked trailer.

I have to admit both me and hubby had thought it was a kind of pointless thing, as has been explained above, if the trailer lifts off so will the breakaway cable most probably!!!

I have just been to Cornwall and back like that, not realising. Looks like I will now have to buy another type with bolts etc.

Cave Troll

05/8/2007 at 7:22pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Nissan Note 1.6 SVE :Khyam XL Classic

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Looks like i need to sort something myself as my trailer comes with a short chain already attached that is just long enough to slip over the towball.
I didn't know it was illegal!
My Nissan towball is bolted on underneath the car and has a long neck that comes up from under the rear bumper.
Any suggestions on how i can adapt it would be gratefully received.

-------------
R.I.P. Dottie Dog 24.08.1994 - 07.05.2007
R.I.P. Mr Bean 04.04.1996 - 24.09.2009

Emvid

05/8/2007 at 8:25pm
Location: South Wales
Outfit: Vango and Cabanon

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SOunds like you have the same type of towbar as me Cavetroll. So any tips gratefully received by me too.

corpogreen

05/8/2007 at 8:53pm
Location: nottingham
Outfit: Grand Canyon 8 Pennine Fiesta

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How long has this law been in ? My son bought a brand new trailer last June and there was no mension about a safety cain or cable. It isnt fitted with breaks.and is very light that you can pick it up when its empty.

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      Corpogreen esq
          dead horse
               and
       donkey buyer

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