Caravan Clinic - Breakaway Cables

[Parksy]

Just read the Caravan Clinic feature in the Awards Issue. Regarding the newer cables with a carabiner type fastening it was my understanding it was okay to clip these straight on to the towcars' attachment without wrapping it back on itself?
Caravan Clinic article suggests you still need to wrap it round and clip back onto the cable itself as per the 'dog lead' type clip.
Just wondered which is correct - can't remeber where I was told not to wrap clip round. Mine is an Aklo but assume BPW would be the same?
Will be at the NEC on Saturday so hopefully I will get an answer there.
N.

 

[Robtel]

I have a detachable towball so wrapping around the tow ball is not recommended. I bought a new breakaway cable direct from alko which has the following description:

DESCRIPTION
Can be used for direct attachment to towbar mounting point, when towbar manufacturers do not recommend looping the cable around the ball.

see this link:
http://shop.al-ko.co.uk/products/breakaway-cable-with-caribena-clip.html

 

[chrisbee1]

For an article that could be described as “technical”, certainly to new caravaners, it’s very misleading. I thought the whole idea of caribena breakaway cables were that they are specifically designed so that they can be clipped directly to the tug. There doesn’t seem to be any text (or illustrations) to show the difference between the two kinds of cable.

 

[Lutz]

It would be helpful if the caravan (chassis) maufacturers quoted the maximum force required to actuate the caravan's brakes using the breakaway cable. If the cable manufacturers then also quoted the minimum breaking strength for their cables depending on whether they are looped around or clipped direct then all the discussion about looping or clipping direct would be superfluous. The customer would see for himself from the specification whether clipping direct is an acceptable method of attachment or not.

 

[Sproket]

For an article that could be described as “technical”, certainly to new caravaners, it’s very misleading. I thought the whole idea of caribena breakaway cables were that they are specifically designed so that they can be clipped directly to the tug. There doesn’t seem to be any text (or illustrations) to show the difference between the two kinds of cable.

You could have a look here at the how to video

http://www.al-ko.co.uk/videos.html

 

[chrisbee1]

Sorry Sproket, I was referring to the article in PC mag when I said there was no text (or illustrations) to differentiate between the two.

The only video I can find regarding breakaway cables specifically refers to “non direct attachment” of cables and shows the spring clip type cable, not the caribena one. I have a caribina type which I connect directly to a dedicated anchor point on my tug. Rob-T’s link refers to a “direct attachment” cable. The whole point is that the article did not differentiate between the two.

 

[Sproket]

This is taken from here ................ ( page 23)

The cable should be looped through any large diameter hole or loop in or on the towbar and then clipped back
on itself. The cable hook should NOT be clipped directly to that hole as this may lead to premature failure, unless
the cable is designed for direct attachment. If there is no suitably sized hole or loop in or on the towbar, the
cable must be passed around the neck of the towball, beneath the coupling head and then clipped back onto itself.

 

[JohnGriffiths]

It seems ridiculous that the possibility exists to attach a safety device incorrectly. These things should be idiot proof. All towbars now have to go through type approval so why isn't there a standard attachment point on every towbar where the hole is large enough and strong enough for any trailer that can be towed by the car? Why make the part that requires attachment the weakest link if not attached correctly, just make it strong enough however it is attached.

 

[Lutz]

Why make the part that requires attachment the weakest link if not attached correctly, just make it strong enough however it is attached.

One could equally argue that the cable manufacturer is fully aware that the towball is strong enough so why not offer a cable that will work no matter how it is wrapped around the towball. If designed correctly, the attachment of the towball to the towbar is foolproof. In the case of a detachable towball, it should be physically impossible to hitch up the trailer without the towball being engaged properly.

 

[raccoon]

I am a bit confused by the comments that the breakaway cable can be rapped around the tow ball. I was stopped and checked by VOSA earlier this year and at that time I had my cable around the towball. They told me that this was bad practice and not allowed. The reason being that there is no guarantee that the bolts would not snap that hold the towball on, although unlikely to do so. I should always use the hole in the plate or the ring that is welded onto the towbar.

 

[Lutz]

Some towbars don't have a hole or ring, though, so one has no choice but to wrap the cable around the towbar.
There's also a big difference between bad practice, which is arguably true, and 'not allowed', which is not true. There's no law which prohibits this practice.

 

[David_L]

I feed mine through a "Pig Tail" fitted to the tow bracket which seems to cover all the problems regarding attachment.
No other reply seem to mention this method,is there any reason for that

 

[chrisbee1]

This is taken from here ................ ( page 23)

The cable should be looped through any large diameter hole or loop in or on the towbar and then clipped back
on itself. The cable hook should NOT be clipped directly to that hole as this may lead to premature failure, unless
the cable is designed for direct attachment. If there is no suitably sized hole or loop in or on the towbar, the
cable must be passed around the neck of the towball, beneath the coupling head and then clipped back onto itself.

Exactly Sproket, no mention of direct attachment using the correct cable in the article.

 

[Sproket]

Because i use a dixon bate shock link for towing the van ( it is held on by three pins ) where do i fasten my breakaway cable round the ball ?

At the bottom L/H corner you will see one of these

fitted onto the bottom pin.......

But then i have come to realise that i can't use it i have the ( wrong cable fitted )
So to use that plate i need one of these..........

.....for a direct attachment........

 

[forestgump]

raccion is right vosa states that if it is not a carabina type it must be choked on it self but not on tow hitch it must be aeround the tow frame as the tow ball can fail.

 

[Lutz]

Even that is not always possible, FG. Some towbars are completely hidden behind the bumper with only the swan neck towball showing, so you've got no option but to wrap the cable around the towball.

 

[NickinFrance]

I feed mine through a "Pig Tail" fitted to the tow bracket which seems to cover all the problems regarding attachment.
No other reply seem to mention this method,is there any reason for that

So do I but as the 'pig-tail' plate is fitted between the tow ball & bracket, if the tow ball bolts failed we would be in the same situation as if we looped the cable around the tow ball.
Time for a re-think.