Hi I have bought a small 5x3 ft trailer and have never driven with one before. I have read on another thread about how the trailer should be fixed with a chain as well as the towing ball and am a bit concerned there might be a whole set of regs I know nothing about. Does anyone know where I can get such info from.
I have searched here under towing law but havent just found enough info to satisfy my worries
A braked trailer needs a breakaway cable fitted. This is designed to pull the brake on and then snap should the trailer become unhitched.
An unbraked trailer needs a secondary backup fixing, IE a chain or wire cable which should be capable of keeping the trailer attached to the vehicle to stop it wandering off across the road.
In practice a breakaway cable would be sufficient to use as the backup fixing as they only snap once the brakes have been pulled on. On a small unbraked trailer,the cable used for a breakaway cable would be sufficient to keep it attached until the outfit is brought safely to a standstill.
My trailer tent has a loop fitted what drops over the towball. I beleive the backup cable is permitted to loop over the towball, but a breakaway cable should be looped through an eye and clipped back on itself.
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Topic: laws for towing
