Trailer with / without brake?

[John-D]

Hiya

I have a Mazda RX8 (231ps) 6-speed. Ok, it's not the most practical car to tow a van, but what a car! The owner's manual states that the maximum trailer weight is: 700kg without brake and 1,200kg with brake.

Being very new to caravanning (and the wife's still looking for a van), what the hell is a 'brake' and are all vans fitted with one? I know that there is a handbrake on vans, is this the same?

Also, the Mazda website offers a detachable tow bar. Not going down the obvious - it'll drop off, are there any major disadvantages?

--m(^0^)m--

 

[Lutz]

The brake referred to is the overrun brake. Normally this is coupled to the handbrake. One can be fairly certain that any caravan over 750kg and produced in the last 30 or so years will be fitted with an overrun brake.

 

[DavidW1]

Hi John,

Welcome to vanning - detachable bars have locking devices to prevent them "detaching" when in use, either a lockable pin or lever type of arrangement.

The obvious two advantages are the clean look to the back of the vehicle and once you have barked your shin or dirtied your trousers a few times on a fixed bar you won't need to be told about the other one.

They are more expesive though.

 

[John-D]

The brake referred to is the overrun brake. Normally this is coupled to the handbrake. One can be fairly certain that any caravan over 750kg and produced in the last 30 or so years will be fitted with an overrun brake.

Hiya Lutz

So lets get this right. Is this a 'link' fitted to the van handbrake, so if the car and the van are separated while driving, the van handbrake will come on?

--m(^0^)m--

 

[John-D]

Hiya Dave

I understand what you mean by cracking you shin on the tow bar - thanks.

--m(^0^)m--

 

[Lutz]

The brake referred to is the overrun brake. Normally this is coupled to the handbrake. One can be fairly certain that any caravan over 750kg and produced in the last 30 or so years will be fitted with an overrun brake.

You're talking about the breakaway cable between the handbrake and the car? Yes, that's what actuates the brake if the two are parted while towing.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

Can someone clarify if, in the statement "braked trailer" or "trailer with brake" is the legal requirement for this to have brakes that operate

1/ When the car brakes are used

OR

2/ Brakes that operate when the van becomes detached (brakeaway cable)

OR

3/ Both

I know that 3/ would be the norm because it makes sense to do both but just wondered what the legal requirement was?

 

[Lutz]

Here is the wording of the requirements:

Brakes

Trailers built since 1983 must have overrun brakes on every wheel, worked from a coupling that is damped and matched with the brake linkage. The brake efficiency must be 45%. In addition, there must always be a working parking brake capable of holding the laden trailer on an 18% gradient. (nearly 1 in 5 ) All trailers must have a break-away cable that will stop the trailer automatically if it becomes uncoupled.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

Thanks Lutz

I forgot about the handbrake function.