Towing a 3 tonne caravan - WDH

[Tazzieman]

In Aus, the breakaway cable also activates the trailet brakes, but you don't leave the trailer in the previous country

 

[ECrider]

I think cross chains rated along with rated shackles is good practice, kind of seems logical. For the thought process of having a brake activating cable with a sacrificial carabiner to stop the trailer rear ending you, if braking, once hitch has failed then perhaps can have both. The cross chains being longer in length than the shorter cable?

Just thinking aloud.

 

[landmannnn]

Too different operations, whilst US and Aus attachments are a secondary coupling to prevent detachment of a towed trailer/caravan. With an overrun braking system it is the opposite, if detached from the tow hitch, the overrun cable pulls on the handbrake tight bringing the trailer to a stop, then snaps to permit separation of vehicle and parked trailer.
For those NA and Aus members who haven't seen a UK and EU breakaway cable

Actually, to clarify, the breakaway cable pulls out a pin which locks the trailer brakes. So when the cable snaps the trailer brakes are fully applied.
Somewhat archaic I guess.

 

[Blackwolf]

I tend with a heavy trailer (in the UK) to supplement the breakaway cable with a non-sacrificial chain of sufficient length to allow the breakaway cable to apply the brakes and break before the chain goes tight. I bunch up the chain with a weak cable tie to stop it dragging.

My thinking is that if the trailer becomes detached the brakes will be applied but I may retain some ability to steer it as it slows and ensure it stays on my side of the road.

The chain must of course be long enough to allow the breakaway cable to work as intended.

 

[ECrider]

I tend with a heavy trailer (in the UK) to supplement the breakaway cable with a non-sacrificial chain of sufficient length to allow the breakaway cable to apply the brakes and break before the chain goes tight. I bunch up the chain with a weak cable tie to stop it dragging.

My thinking is that if the trailer becomes detached the brakes will be applied but I may retain some ability to steer it as it slows and ensure it stays on my side of the road.

The chain must of course be long enough to allow the breakaway cable to work as intended.

Method in my madness - first time for everything

 

[Tazzieman]

Cross chains? Not familiar with that term.

Stops the trailer frame front V dropping to the ground and digging in, and thus upending your day!

 

[Clark Kent]

You can see it here in my camper hookup.

The left side safety chain connects to the right side vehicle anchor and vice versa. The crossed chains form an X which causes the van to self-align to the vehicle hitch if it disconnects and drops down.

A common mistake is to put the D shackle in the last (end) link of the safety chain. The provided chain is typically longer than is required due to different height tow vehicles. On many vehicles using the last link will allow a disconnected A-frame to hit the ground. The safety chains should be crossed and shortened by moving the D shackle further up the chain so the A-frame cannot hit the ground but enough free length is retained for turning.
You can see I have shortened my chain free length by five links and the excess chain is secured.

This is a Cruisemaster D035 pin hitch.

 

[bigleonski]

You can see it here in my camper hookup.

The left side safety chain connects to the right side vehicle anchor and vice versa. The crossed chains form an X which causes the van to self-align to the vehicle hitch if it disconnects and drops down.

A common mistake is to put the D shackle in the last (end) link of the safety chain. The provided chain is typically longer than is required due to different height tow vehicles. On many vehicles using the last link will allow a disconnected A-frame to hit the ground. The safety chains should be crossed and shortened by moving the D shackle further up the chain so the A-frame cannot hit the ground but enough free length is retained for turning.
You can see I have shortened my chain free length by five links and the excess chain is secured.

This is a Cruisemaster D035 pin hitch.

View attachment 7922013

What mods did you make to the big green power supply to get around the apparent 85km/hr shut down issue mate? I assume that has replaced the typical anderson plug set up?

And what be this?