![]() ![]() The cable can be looped around the towball neck if there is no other obvious way of connecting it. In essence, the attachment should be as close to the towball as possible. Or, you’re advised to loop it around the bar. Some towbars have special attachment rings for the breakaway cable. It’s best to fit connect the breakaway cable after you’ve made sure the caravan’s tow-hitch is correctly attached to the towball. If you haven’t already, best practise is to have a rehearsed procedure for hitching up your caravan to your car. The relevance of this to breakaway cables is that Reg 55 requires the towbar to have a designated breakaway cable attachment point, which 94/20 never included. New designs of towbar are now approved to UNECE Regulation 55, instead of usually confirming to Directive 94/20EC (Reg 55 was always an accepted alternative). Most workshops will replace it if there are signs of fraying, damage to the clip, any wear and tear etc. As we say, it’s only costs around £5 to get a replacement.ĭo note, also, it’s a condition of your annual caravan service that the breakaway cable is inspected and, if required, replaced. Meanwhile, however, if it looks damaged or worn, get it replaced. It’s also up to you to ensure it is “fit for purpose”.Ĭhecking the condition of the breakaway cable is also part of the annual service requirement for any caravan, again as specified by the caravan trade body the NCC (National Caravan Council). Needless to say, the correct attachment of caravan to car is your responsibility, as the driver of the outfit. They might look similar in these images, but there are two types of breakaway cable suitable for car/caravan outfits – one with a standard clip, for looped attachment the other a more heavy-duty carabiner for direct attachment to a designated point. It’s always worth thinking about carrying a replacement. It is possible to accidentally set off the breakaway cable – for example by driving off and forgetting it’s still attached. Industry body the NCC (National Caravan Council) is stressing that replacement breakaway cables are OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and/or approved by your caravan’s manufacturer, arguing that non-OEM products might not be sufficiently robust for their intended purpose. The cost of a breakaway cable? Less than a fiver. Do note this article refers to braked caravans weighing over 750kg.īut don’t worry. It has been a legal requirement since 1982 to have a breakaway cable fitted to a car and caravan outfit. Hence, once operated, it should be replaced immediately. ![]() The breakaway cable works by actually breaking itself. In doing so, it’s likely it will detach itself from the caravan and/or its clip will straighten out. This is a straightforward device that acts in an emergency to engage the brakes of a caravan should it become detached from the vehicle that’s towing it. What is a breakaway cable and what does it do? It’s important to check that the breakaway cable has been correctly fitted before each journey to avoid serious accident or injury. Here’s the very latest on breakaway cables. To give you a better idea of how frequent claims of this kind are becoming, we compared the number of detachment claims recorded in recent years – shockingly there were 80% more made 2014 than in 2010.ĭetachment is a serious consequence of poor towing practice. It may surprise you to learn that instances of caravans detaching themselves from the towing vehicle are on the rise. It’s one of the smallest items on your caravan, but it carries a huge responsibility. Trailer tent and folding camper reviews. ![]()
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