re brake away cables

[landypete]

HI

does any one know if brake away cables need replacing after a certian time even if thay still look ok ?

as my van is nearly 20years old the cable looks in good cond but i dont no if it as ever been replaced as i work for alarge steel company the lifting chains are inspected every 3mths and replaced every 2yrs and it got me thinking is there a certain time before the brake away cable needs replacing

thanks peter

 

[Parksy]

The break away cable should be fine as long as it hasn't dragged along the ground and worn thin Peter.

The lifting chains at work are used to lift items so are subject to stresses which is why they are inspected and replaced to avoid metal fatigue.

Your break away cable ideally will never be used because it's a device which would only operate if the caravan became detached from the tow vehicle.

 

[Sproket]

If in any doubt .... change it ..... for a new breakaway cable it won't break the bank,

But it will put your mind at ease.

 

[Martin_E]

If you do change your breakaway cable make sure you use the right one, genuine AL-ko or genuine BPW, if you have the latter there are two types.

If you use the cheap ones then you could find your insurence is null and void, as they are not type approved

 

[Lutz]

Breakaway cables are not subject to type approval. You may be confusing it with the cable possibly not being approved by the manufacturer.

 

[landypete]

HI

thank for the advice mine looks in very good cond i just wondered if thay had a life span as its a very inportant piece of kit in my eyes but it seems to be there is no info on this ie tests old vs new god forbid thay fail but it seems to be a subject thats underlooked like parksey said thay are not subject to constant use but thay are exposed to all the elements

ps please exsuse my spelling not very good lol

thanks peter

 

[HenryS]

Morning. I note from Sproket's list of breakaway cable suppliers that Johns Cross Motorcaravan and Camping Centre are saying that "It is now illegal to wrap breakaway cables around the towball" Is this the case? I have been doing it for years as there is not a separate eye on my tow bar to attach the breakaway cable to. Perhaps some of our legal beagles would care to comment. JOHN L!

Henry S.

 

[Lutz]

To the best of my knowledge it is only illegal to wrap the breakaway cable around the towball in Holland.

My towbar doesn't have a dedicated eye to attach the cable, either.

 

[HenryS]

Thanks Lutz.

Henry S.

 

[lordmonty]

i think it now illegal in the uk as well,if you have the flange[seperate towball]type bracket you can get an attachment that bolts on between the ball and bracket,with a swan neck there should be a seperate attachment point,it's not good practise to wrap it round the ball because if that becomes detached from the bracket then the cable becomes useless.

 

[Lutz]

I am not aware of a change in UK law regarding breakaway cables.

The towbar on my car is a detachable swan neck without a dedicated eye to attach the cable so I must wrap the cable around the neck.

 

[Heethers]

Just bought a Shackle to attach to the eye on my Tow bar.

NigelH

 

[doublecouple]

Morning. I note from Sproket's list of breakaway cable suppliers that Johns Cross Motorcaravan and Camping Centre are saying that "It is now illegal to wrap breakaway cables around the towball" Is this the case? I have been doing it for years as there is not a separate eye on my tow bar to attach the breakaway cable to. Perhaps some of our legal beagles would care to comment. JOHN L!

Henry S.

if you go to Towsure web site they sell the bracket to attach the brake away cable to the tow ball mount adding it is now illegal to wrap around tow ball