Towing handle looks to be down. If cable was looped over a detachable towball and that became detached, the cable with not do its work.I see the towing handle is up - was it attached properly? Failure of the hitch ?
All speculation of course....as above, why did the breakaway cable not do it's job.
Looks like the driver is going to have a very expensive insurance claim against them
I suspect this video is going to be the subject of much discussion today !
You should raise the car on the van nose wheel to check the hutch is latched. Detachable or fixed it’s the same procedureIt has been suggested that to check if the detachable is locked in place, one lowers the jockey wheel to raise the rear of the vehicle. It probably works in many cases however as you are lifting the rear of the car, but whether locked in place or not surely the detachable towball will give you the false impression that all is okay. It however will confirm that the caravan is locked onto the towball.
It has been suggested that to check if the detachable is locked in place, one lowers the jockey wheel to raise the rear of the vehicle.
Still does not prove that the detachable towball has locked in place although the caravan hitch may be locked onto it.You should raise the car on the van nose wheel to check the hitch is latched. Detachable or fixed it’s the same procedure
It has been suggested that to check if the detachable is locked in place, one lowers the jockey wheel to raise the rear of the vehicle. It probably works in many cases however as you are lifting the rear of the car, but whether locked in place or not surely the detachable towball will give you the false impression that all is okay. It however will confirm that the caravan is locked onto the towball.
I assume you mean towball and not tow bar?Yep, like a lot of others I'll do that before I start any journey. I also just jump up and down on the drawbar to make sure the detachable bar is firmly in its socket!
I also won't loop the breakaway cable around the towbar, preferring something substantial to attach it to
I assume you mean towball and not tow bar?
Indeed
Always in the back of my head that something like this could (and clearly does) happen
Tried to see what the debris was but it is not clear.
Still does not prove that the detachable towball has locked in place although the caravan hitch may be locked onto it.
Maybe you misunderstood my post? I stated that winding down the jockey wheel to lift the rear of the vehicle does not prove that the detachable has locked in place.What then shows the detachable is in place? What is your technique?
Mine is to fit it iaw Witter instructions ensure the turn handle colours are correctly aligned. Lock it and give the car a good shaking.