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Safety Device for a trailer
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:40 pm
by AndAndDen
What sort of Safety Device will i need for a Erde 101 Trailer just in case it comes unhitched

while driving the Bongo. Thanks

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:45 pm
by rob and karen
On a caravan you have a break-away -cable which wraps around the tow ball and in the event of a caravan coming off it pulls the handbrake on , on a trailer you have no handbrake but it would hold the trailer on for you might be worth a look
rob
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:13 pm
by Colin Lambert
I agree with the above. Better to B****r the back of the Bongo rather than Run away and demolish a wall (think what would happen if it hit a 'bus queue) as happened in Poole last year when a boat trailer broke free.
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:04 pm
by dp bradford
My Erka trailer has a short loop of chain fixed to the A frame; I always drop it over the tow ball before hitching up so that if the coupling fails the trailer's still restrained

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:03 pm
by Peg leg Pete
Our Duuo trailer came with a steel cable that loops over the towbar, fit as standard

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:18 pm
by AndAndDen
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:26 pm
by rob and karen
the secondary coupling cable is ideal

that is attached to the front end of trailer and put around the towball , the same as a break away cable , if you had a brake away cable you have a bracket which attaches to the handbrake on caravan/trailer ,then wrapped around the towball , so yes a secondary coupling cable is what i would put on
rob
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:28 pm
by AndAndDen
Thanks for that rob and to you all for your replys. Doesn't take much to confuse us

.
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:48 pm
by Bonza
Some tow bars have a secondary hook near the tow ball just in case the ball breaks off or comes away.
Attach a safety cable to that if you have it.
Bonz
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:52 pm
by flash
I brought an ERDE 122 last week & it has a short chain to hook onto the towball as a safety measure, apparently it's an EEC regulation.
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:36 pm
by daveblueozzie
my erde trailer came with a short chain attached to it i hook it to the tow bar using a padlock for a bit extra security so no one can just unhitch and walk off with the trailer, i know any determined thief would laugh at the padlock (but it does deter the kids out for a bit of fun at my expense).
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:23 pm
by Harry
And & Den
Your trailer has a short length of anodised metal chain bolted on which can be looped around the towball for extra security...that's why you need a padlock!
I may also have located a towing hitch lock for security (acts like a wheel clamp around he tow hitch) if you want it?
cheers
H

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:03 pm
by AndAndDen
Thanks Harry pm' you. Andy
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:16 pm
by dreamwarrioruk
on our towbar ive put a secondary breakaway plate for securing the cable to, i dont really trust just looping it over the towball.
plus i believe this act is now illegal
http://www.towsure.com/product/479-Brea ... le_Bracket[/u]
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:59 pm
by Harry
I think that you will find that 'breakaway cables' are what is fitted to breaked trailers. They are attatched to a device on the trailer handbrake wihich trips a catch and puts the trailer handbrake on if the trailer breaks away from the towing vehicle...I had one of these on me big box trailer I used to use for shows.
The little Erde type trailers are unbraked and don't actually require a breakaway device.
Sticking the chain around the towbar is more psychol;ogical than of any real benefit...but I do it anyway...and its not illegal (I've checked).
cheers
H
