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I now never trust anyone else to hook my trailer or caravan to towball.

just me but i will not stop and talk to anyone hitching up to leave,thats when mistakes can happen.after seeing two come off i double check out loud now.

Quote: Originally posted by michael on 14/5/2008

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I now never trust anyone else to hook my trailer or caravan to towball.

just me but i will not stop and talk to anyone hitching up to leave,thats when mistakes can happen.after seeing two come off i double check out loud now.

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Quote: Originally posted by Papa Pip on 14/5/2008

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 Always said it is the drivers responsibility and that he should check that all links are made before setting off. I also always try and lift the van off the hitch, if the car comes up with it then that is a sign it is secure.
Same attitude as I had when driving for a living, check everything twice and then check it again. You should also stop within the first 10-30 miles and check that the wheels are still cool and that nothing has fallen about in the trailer/caravan. A trailer or caravan caravan travelling at 50/60mph will do serious damage to anything it comes into contact with.

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Use the jockey wheel instead - saves strain on the back! I can't lift mine anyway - 70 kgs is too much, never mind with a car's backend attached.

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 15/5/2008

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Hi Rich, If you cannot pass it through the hole and clip it back on its self, then the next best thing is to clip it to a designatated hole. Do not pass it around the Swan Neck.

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Quote: Originally posted by bordercaz on 14/5/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by Papa Pip on 14/5/2008

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 Always said it is the drivers responsibility and that he should check that all links are made before setting off. I also always try and lift the van off the hitch, if the car comes up with it then that is a sign it is secure.
Same attitude as I had when driving for a living, check everything twice and then check it again. You should also stop within the first 10-30 miles and check that the wheels are still cool and that nothing has fallen about in the trailer/caravan. A trailer or caravan caravan travelling at 50/60mph will do serious damage to anything it comes into contact with.

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Use the jockey wheel instead - saves strain on the back! I can't lift mine anyway - 70 kgs is too much, never mind with a car's backend attached.

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>>> I think the chance of it jumping off the ball are remote otherwise it would not be legal to fix it on there. What do the panel think?     <<<

Well as the whole reason for the breakaway cable is to put on the brakes of a caravan that has "jumped off the towball" I reckon it would be a bloody silly idea to have the breakaway cable around the same unit.

You want the breakaway cable attached to a totally different part of the towbar altogether.

As to the remoteness of the breakaway cable jumping anywhere, well the whole senario, caravan or cable jumping off is remote, but the fact that they all have these cables and it does not cost an arm and a leg to fit a designated brakeaway clip it seems mad to me that anyone would want to chance losing their caravan or worse still, cause a major accident all to save £1.45.

i bet you could lift your van put it on ya shoulder and pitch it where ever you like caz i love the small vans we was away last week and there was 2 eriba s on site i think they look smart

 

Quote: Originally posted by bordercaz on 14/5/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by Papa Pip on 14/5/2008

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 Always said it is the drivers responsibility and that he should check that all links are made before setting off. I also always try and lift the van off the hitch, if the car comes up with it then that is a sign it is secure.
Same attitude as I had when driving for a living, check everything twice and then check it again. You should also stop within the first 10-30 miles and check that the wheels are still cool and that nothing has fallen about in the trailer/caravan. A trailer or caravan caravan travelling at 50/60mph will do serious damage to anything it comes into contact with.

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Use the jockey wheel instead - saves strain on the back! I can't lift mine anyway - 70 kgs is too much, never mind with a car's backend attached.

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Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 15/5/2008

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>>> I think the chance of it jumping off the ball are remote otherwise it would not be legal to fix it on there. What do the panel think?     <<<

it seems mad to me that anyone would want to chance losing their caravan or worse still, cause a major accident all to save £1.45.

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Wouldn't fitting a bracket to just one bolt of the towbar make the whole fitting a little lop-sided ?

 I was thinking that it could be attached to a 'hole' thats already on the towbar bracket (its a swan neck - its just that the 'hole' isn't big enough to pass the clip through) - not touching the actual tow bar bolts.

Rich