Could someone tell me the reason for the finger breaking split ring that is fitted to the break leaver that the cable is attached to,and is it required
Break away cable
- Thread starter David_L
- Start date
So that if the 'van breaks loose the brakes are applied and then the ring fails and lets the car free. You don't want to stay attached to something that could go flying anywhere, do you?
I'm no engineer, but i'd imagine that if the ring attaching the breakaway cable to the caravan was too weak and the towball / hitch became detached whilst on the move the wek ring would unravel / be ripped from the caravan before the runover brakes were applied on the caravan, meaning that the caravan was effectively freewheeling all over the place.
Parksy
Moderator
- Nov 12, 2009
- 11,904
- 2,400
- 40,935
If your caravan hitch became detatched from your towing vehicle for any reason the breakaway cable would apply the caravan handbrake.
Most incidents where caravans become separated from the towcar do not happen at high motorway speeds but more commonly when the unit is pulling away after hitching incorrectly. If the hitch has failed to engage properly and the driver is unaware the caravan brakes are applied immediately the hitch slips off the towball to prevent or limit damage to the caravan and anything else in the vicinity.
The answer to the original question then is yes, the split ring is necessary.
Most incidents where caravans become separated from the towcar do not happen at high motorway speeds but more commonly when the unit is pulling away after hitching incorrectly. If the hitch has failed to engage properly and the driver is unaware the caravan brakes are applied immediately the hitch slips off the towball to prevent or limit damage to the caravan and anything else in the vicinity.
The answer to the original question then is yes, the split ring is necessary.
Facebook
Twitter