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[geoffr70]

Ahaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Greetings all. Firstly thanks to Andy B and everyone else recently for their little snippets of info and advice regarding towbar electrics and associated stuff. My detachable towbar is now fitted to the Elite with foldaway 12n plug and waiting to go - I'll be blocking an A road near you soon! 

Right, is it a legal requirement to use a breakaway cable and the extra wide add-on towing mirrors on a car when pulling a caravan?

Thank you

[Andy B]

Ahaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Greetings all. Firstly thanks to Andy B and everyone else recently for their little snippets of info and advice regarding towbar electrics and associated stuff. My detachable towbar is now fitted to the Elite with foldaway 12n plug and waiting to go - I'll be blocking an A road near you soon! 

Right, is it a legal requirement to use a breakaway cable and the extra wide add-on towing mirrors on a car when pulling a caravan?

Thank you

Mirrors definitely are, not sure about breakaway cable but would think so. You need to find a secure point on the towbar itself as your towball is detachable.
My mirrors are Milenco like these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-Milenco-Towing-Mirrors-/230626727434?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item35b26c960a#ht_500wt_1156 My nearside is a convex but that's up to you. There are loads of crappy mirrors that are much use as an ashtray on a motor bike and vibrate such that you've no idea what's behind you. 

[Dodger]

Legal requirement to have at least an offside towing mirror if the item being towed is wider than the towing vehicle (ie: you can't see what is behind you with the normal mirrors) but best to have a pair.
Also, breakaway cable is required, to activate caravan brakes in the event of it becoming detatched from car. (it is no longer acceptable to wrap breakaway cable  around the towbar, it must have its own seperate attachment point, ie: pigtail or holed bracket)

Hope this helps...

[bored bigyin54]

yes breakaway cables are law and u cant hang them over the towbar like a lot of caravaners do i have been stoped for that

[geoffr70]

Thanks Andy, oh and bigyin and dodger. I'll have to get down Halfords tomorrow and get them! Luckily there's a bracket on my tow bar for the cable - at least I think that's what it's for!

[bored bigyin54]

my mate still hangs his over the towbar he wont if he gets stopped

[geoffr70]

my mate still hangs his over the towbar he wont if he gets stopped

Not sure what you mean by this! Is it just to make it look like it's connected to something so he hoped he doesn't get stopped? Could he not loop it on the framework of the bar itself? Just been looking on the caravan club website.

[Andy B]

yes breakaway cables are law and u cant hang them over the towbar like a lot of caravaners do i have been stoped for that

I agree, but the Caravan Club still say you can if there's now where else  :-/ :-/

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf page 6

[Andy B]

.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.

This bit? Page 6 
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf

[geoffr70]

.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.

This bit? Page 6 
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf

Yes that's the one.

Does the breakaway cable come with any special attachments to operate it as I'm not sure how they work. I know they're meant to apply the caravan brakes if it comes detached, but how?

All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes?

I was going to tow my van to a workshop tomorrow to adjust the drum brakes tomorrow to find out, but won't be able to now until I'm all legal with my mirrors and breakaway cable 

[Andy B]

....
All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes? .....

The break-away cable pulls the bottom of the handbrake lever thereby pulling the handbrake on if the caravan become detached from the car.

Mine is just a hook with a safety clip on on, but I think some are like a climbers carabina.

[YZ250]

.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.

This bit? Page 6 
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf

Yes that's the one.

Does the breakaway cable come with any special attachments to operate it as I'm not sure how they work. I know they're meant to apply the caravan brakes if it comes detached, but how?

All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes?

I was going to tow my van to a workshop tomorrow to adjust the drum brakes tomorrow to find out, but won't be able to now until I'm all legal with my mirrors and breakaway cable 

It pulls the handbrake on and then the ring opens to free it from the car. 

EDIT: Damn, too slow again.

[geoffr70]

.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.

This bit? Page 6 
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf

Yes that's the one.

Does the breakaway cable come with any special attachments to operate it as I'm not sure how they work. I know they're meant to apply the caravan brakes if it comes detached, but how?

All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes?

I was going to tow my van to a workshop tomorrow to adjust the drum brakes tomorrow to find out, but won't be able to now until I'm all legal with my mirrors and breakaway cable 

It pulls the handbrake on and then the ring opens to free it from the car. 

EDIT: Damn, too slow again.

How does it pull the hand brake on though? Is there an attachment underneath the hand brake lever?

[Andy B]

.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.

This bit? Page 6 
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf

Yes that's the one.

Does the breakaway cable come with any special attachments to operate it as I'm not sure how they work. I know they're meant to apply the caravan brakes if it comes detached, but how?

All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes?

I was going to tow my van to a workshop tomorrow to adjust the drum brakes tomorrow to find out, but won't be able to now until I'm all legal with my mirrors and breakaway cable 

It pulls the handbrake on and then the ring opens to free it from the car. 

EDIT: Damn, too slow again.

How does it pull the hand brake on though? Is there an attachment underneath the hand brake lever?

Stick your head under the front of the 'van, and look at the end of the handbrake. You'll find a hole, the cable attaches with a key ring type ring.
have a search of eBay & look at the pictures. 

[geoffr70]

Thanks Andy I'm onto it! Kevin's coming out tomorrow!