Trailer 'safety chain'? 1 4 ROG?

grandmaweloveyou

grandmaweloveyou

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I mentioned recently that the trailer company undertaking my ramp repairs informed me that a legal requirement was a 'safety chain'?

Does anyone know of this as the trailer company who undertook my floor refit never commented?

Apparently it is best to have a neon coloured chain so that when driving, passing police can clearly see it thus having no need to pull u over?

I am collecting the trailer tomorrow so wanted to ask beforehand.

Thanks.
 
It is an automatic brake, so that if the trailer became uncoupled and tried to run away, the safety chain would tighten up and put the trailer brakes on.

Someone locally was driving an old Rice Trailer which came off in a town, (either it hadn't been connected correctly or it had simply worn hitch ball) the trailer went straight on and hit a window cleaner off his ladder, who was killed. So accidents do happen sometimes.
 
Hi

At the risk of sounding silly, do you mean the breakaway cable? Attachs from the hitch to a special hole on your tow bar. If so, yes I believe they are a legal requirement. I bought a brand new trailer this year and was told this by the company who sold it to me when they were showing me how to hitch etc.
 
The breakaway safety chain or breakaway cable is a legal safety requirement

Should the trailer come apart from the vehicle then that cable will activate the trailer brakes and hopefully stop it from going too far from the breakaway point
 
Sometimes I think the trailer test actually is a good idea. I don't often but just occasionally having had to learn this stuff is kind of handy :)

My break away cable is red. I don't have a special hole on my tow bar, I look it round the actual bar and back on itself :)
 
Looping it around the tow bar and back onto itself isn't the best thing to do as if the trailer detaches the loop can come off too so the breakaway won't activate. Every tow bar will have somewhere to clip it to.
 
annagain said:
Looping it around the tow bar and back onto itself isn't the best thing to do as if the trailer detaches the loop can come off too so the breakaway won't activate. Every tow bar will have somewhere to clip it to.
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Not round the tow ball, round the actual tow bar. They're different. It can't detach unless the clip breaks.

It's fine. That's how I was taught to do it and no, there really isn't anywhere to clip it :confused:
 
Ahh right, I see what you mean now. I'm pretty sure every tow bar does have somwhere though, even if it's quite far back so not obvious?
 
Having had a flat trailer become detached and the breakaway cable not work, DO get someone to check that the brake WILL come on.

In my case, the trailer just demolished a fence but it could well have killed someone. Now I know better.
 
And mobile version strikes again today :rolleyes: I didn't know they had to be flurescent to be seen :confused: mine is the standard one fitted to the trailer and is a funny dirty grey, should I wrap it in coloured tape to make it visible?

Our trailer is chained to the towbar at shows etc so as it can't be stolen would it be illegal for it to be chained whilst driving? I couldn't find anything saying so....
 
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