Brakes and Reversing?

[timbott]

As most of you probably know, I bought my first 'van a couple of weeks ago and still playing very nicely thanks, but I suppose at some stage I'm going to have to actually tow it somewhere:icecube:

Anyway, I have been mucking about with it today, and my mind went back to the days I used to regularly tow Rally cars on trailers around the country and when reversing the trailer brakes had to be disabled for obvious reasons!!!

I assume this also has to be done on a caravan but how? To be honest I forget how we did it on a car trailer as we hired so many and usually someone else got out to disable the brakes as I was driving so I never questioned how to do it.

cheers, Tim

[Spacemutt]

If it's new enough, it will have auto-override brakes that disconnect as you reverse it. Older trailers will have a u-shaped bar (about 2 inches wide) that you flick over the draw-bar to stop it from pushing back and engaging the brakes. .

[timbott]

Originally posted by stephen cobby
If it's new enough, it will have auto-override brakes that disconnect as you reverse it. Older trailers will have a u-shaped bar (about 2 inches wide) that you flick over the draw-bar to stop it from pushing back and engaging the brakes. .

I think the trailers I used to tow had them u-shaped bar things but my caravan doesn't appear to have. I have just taken a quick piccy of the tow hitch on the 'van so I don't know whether anyone can tell me anymore from that.

Tents are so much easier:hahaha:

cheers, Tim

[OldFart]

Originally posted by timbott




Tents are so much easier:hahaha:

cheers, Tim

Rollocks :D

Try banging tentbpegs into the ground at -14 F and you'll then agree that the van is a better option.
Mind you at those temps yer inboard waterpipes can freeze, as ours did :icecube:
But even thats not a real prob as you just get the wifes hairdryer blasting the pipes.... :p
Stephens right ..you'll probaly find its an auto unlock, just try it and see :hahaha:

[timbott]

Originally posted by OldFart


Rollocks :D

Try banging tentbpegs into the ground at -14 F and you'll then agree that the van is a better option.

I think this caravaning lark need some getting used to. I was in it yesterday fitting a radio and the wind down this way was horrendous (6 fence panels down in the garden:Cross: ), the van was swaying all over the place - I felt sea sick:scared: At least in a tent the floor stays still:hahaha:

I like it really, just going through a bit of a steep learning curve at the mo:goofylook

cheers, Tim

[Spacemutt]

Stick the legs down, no more sea-sickness. :p

Seeing as the draw-bar is covered up, it looks like it's an auto-override to me. :)

[timbott]

Originally posted by stephen cobby
Seeing as the draw-bar is covered up, it looks like it's an auto-override to me. :)

That's what I thought, I'll give it a try.

cheers, Tim

[Ferryman]

Back to the subject (Brakes and Reversing) on the mainland all caravans have a shockbreaker mounted in the sliding part of the towhook.
At normal breaking the weight of the caravan overrules the pressure of the shockbreaker and the caravan breaks nearly simultaniously with the towing car (aprox. ½sec. later), but when backing up the trailerbrakes will not apply.
It works perfect, as long as you are not backing up a steep hill.
Tony.