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Subject Topic: What does braked and unbraked mean?
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PersonHollyjf
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I’m a caravan virgin and am looking to buy my first caravan and have found one online I asked the buyer if the caravan was braked and he said no but has a handbrake .
Sorry to sound stupid but is that not a braked caravan?
I’m really confused

Help much appreciated
Holly


Personoldham
06/4/2019 at 4:25pm
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An unbraked trailer means that all the breaking comes from the towing vehicle. A braked trailer activates brakes through a mechanical link from the tow bar; if the car brakes, it activates the trailers brakes. Hope this helps


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PersonHollyjf
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So is it a braked caravan if it has a handbrake?


Personoldham
06/4/2019 at 4:47pm
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No, handbrake is for when you are unhitched.

Braked / unbraked for when towing. Braked has its own brakes A braked trailer activates brakes through a mechanical link from the tow bar; if the car brakes, it activates the trailers brakes.

UnBraked means that all the breaking comes from the towing vehicle.


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Persontango55
06/4/2019 at 5:02pm
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If the trailer has got a a hand brake then there are brake shoes inside the wheel drum which is specified as a braked trailer. If it's an unbraked trailer it means that it doesn't incorporate any brakes at all. However, braked trailers are heavier that's why they need brakes to slow the trailer down whereas a trailer such as a small camping trailer is light so needs no brakes therefore doesn't have a handbrake.





Post last edited on 06/04/2019 17:17:57


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PersonHollyjf
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I’m so confused. How do I know who is right ?


Persontango55
06/4/2019 at 5:08pm
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Google it and do some research on the topic as you'll find out more that way as quite often you get a difference of opinion on this forum.
I know what the difference is between a braked and an unbraked trailer which I have explained in detail but some people will confuse matters making it sound more complicated than what it really is. It's not rocket science!
I Googled the question myself and found three answers immediately but the link below confirms exactly what I have said.


Here








Post last edited on 06/04/2019 17:20:17


PersonHollyjf
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Thankyou that helps a lot! So the caravan I’m looking at has a handbrake which means it is a braked caravan ..

X


Persontango55
06/4/2019 at 5:33pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Hollyjf on 06/4/2019
Thankyou that helps a lot! So the caravan I’m looking at has a handbrake which means it is a braked caravan ..

X


Yes, so you can tell now tell the seller that you have done some research and as the caravan has a hand brake it obviously has brakes which also tells me they've never had it serviced either.


PersonHollyjf
via mobile 06/4/2019 at 5:53pm
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 06/4/2019
Quote: Originally posted by Hollyjf on 06/4/2019
Thankyou that helps a lot! So the caravan I’m looking at has a handbrake which means it is a braked caravan ..

X


Yes, so you can tell now tell the seller that you have done some research and as the caravan has a hand brake it obviously has brakes which also tells me they've never had it serviced either.




Thanks!


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PersonRob and Tina
06/4/2019 at 6:05pm
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An unbraked trailer must have a max weight of 750kg so as all the conventional caravans made over the last 30 years or so are heavier than this then any caravan you look at should be braked.

As Tango mentioned above it sounds like the caravan you are looking at has not been serviced.

Have you worked out how heavy a caravan your car and licence will allow you to tow? It's worth checking this out before you fall in love with a caravan you are unable to tow.


Rob


PersonHollyjf
via mobile 06/4/2019 at 6:44pm
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Yes I have my car can tow 1500kg braked and the caravan I’ve seen is 1000kg (or do he says) panther


PersonRob and Tina
06/4/2019 at 6:58pm
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You need to know the kerbweight of your car and aim for a caravan with a max weight (MTPLM) of 85% of the car kerbweight. There are weight limitations on licences obtained after 1997 so you need to check weights carefully if you got your licence after that.

As this chap doesn't seem to have a clue about this van I would not believe anything he says regarding the weight, he may have quoted the ex works weight (MIRO) rather than the MTPLM which you need to know.

If you give us details of the car and caravan, year, model etc we can probably check the details for you and perhaps save you a bit of time.

Has this caravan got any service history and a recent damp report? Even if it has it is worth getting a pre purchase check by a caravan engineer, it may cost a little but it could save you a lot of money and trouble in the future.

Rob


PersonHollyjf
via mobile 06/4/2019 at 7:10pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Rob and Tina on 06/4/2019
You need to know the kerbweight of your car and aim for a caravan with a max weight (MTPLM) of 85% of the car kerbweight. There are weight limitations on licences obtained after 1997 so you need to check weights carefully if you got your licence after that.

As this chap doesn't seem to have a clue about this van I would not believe anything he says regarding the weight, he may have quoted the ex works weight (MIRO) rather than the MTPLM which you need to know.

If you give us details of the car and caravan, year, model etc we can probably check the details for you and perhaps save you a bit of time.

Has this caravan got any service history and a recent damp report? Even if it has it is worth getting a pre purchase check by a caravan engineer, it may cost a little but it could save you a lot of money and trouble in the future.

Rob


Yea I’ve checked and my car can definitely tow it. No service history

It’s listed as a 1968 panther 447t


PersonRob and Tina
06/4/2019 at 7:20pm
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If that's the one on Gumtree then £1300 sounds an awful lot of money for a 50 year old caravan that has been messed about with. I would proceed with caution and get an engineers report. It may have an old 2" coupling rather than the current 50mm towing coupling and you would find it difficult to find a tow ball to enable you to tow it.

Rob


PersonHollyjf
via mobile 06/4/2019 at 7:41pm
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No it’s not on gumtree what is the link to the one you have found



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