Hi, we use a small Erde 102 trailer for our camping gear and it has no brakes, (not a requirement for small trailers). I assume you have a tow bar fitted so all you need is a break-away cable or chain (ours has a chain) which you hook over the tow ball as back-up in case the tow hitch fails.
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Depends how small the trailer is. trailers up to 750kg gross weight do not need to be braked but do need a brake-away cable/chain as Keanonwuk has said. Ideally the break-away should be connected to a separate point on the tow bar in case the tow ball fails but if non is available most people do hook it over the ball. Obviously the other end is fastened to the trailer to keep it connected to the car in the event of hitch failure.
Towsure are selling secondary coupling cables for unbraked trailers, its a stout cable, much thicker than a breakaway cable, I prefer a chain myself though. Sorry to hi-jack your thread, but it sprang to mind! :) On my car the chain is looped round the ball, nowhere else to put it. I don't like doing it that way but its better than nothing.
Is the trailer a manufactured one ( Erde or similar)or a DIY homebuilt?
If it is a manufactured one it should have the necessary secondary cable fitted (unless it has broken or been removed).It can be a chain or a stout wire but must be capable of carrying the weight of the laden trailer (750kg)should the ball hitch become uncoupled.
If it is a DIY job you need to find the rating for the hitch to ensure you are legally towing an unbraked trailer.This should be stamped into it somewhere.It must be rated no higher than 750kg.
If it is higher then the trailer is useless.It is no good saying that the trailer and load is no higher than 750kg if the hitch is rated at 3500kg as you could technically carry that weight and would need brakes.
As an example my Ifor Williams trailer weighs 720kg empty,it is rated to carry 3500kg. If I was stopped with the empty trailer I could not argue that I do not need brakes because the trailer is only 720kg and I only use it for carrying one 25kg bag of cement in to save getting the boot dusty.It is not about what you carry but what you might.
If I was stopped with the empty trailer I could not argue that I do not need brakes because the trailer is only 720kg and I only use it for carrying one 25kg bag of cement in to save getting the boot dusty.It is not about what you carry but what you might.
No unbraked trailer is allowed to have a plated gross vehicle
weight* of more than 750 kg. No unbraked trailer is allowed to have a plated
gross vehicle weight that is more than half the kerb weight of the vehicle that
is towing it.
*The combined weight of the trailer and the maximum amount
of cargo it is designed to carry.
Post last edited on 29/06/2012 22:59:32
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Topic: Towing Trailer
