| (
A ) |
Braked trailers
manufactured pre Oct. 1982 may be fitted with a spring damped coupling
as a replacement item. |
| (
B ) |
Braked trailers
manufactured after Oct. 1982 must be fitted with a coupling that
incorporates a hydraulic damper. |
| (
C ) |
Braked trailers
manufactured after Oct. 1982 require brakes that comply with EC
Directives. If brakes are required, all wheels must be braked. (if
manufactured in or after 1968) |
| (
D ) |
Any braked trailers
manufactured after April 1989 must be fitted with a hydraulically
damped coupling and auto reverse brakes to give braking efficiencies
required by EEC Directive 71/320 (ECE13). |
| (
E ) |
The size of the
ball coupling on braked and unbraked trailers must be 50mm to ISO
and BSI Standards. The use of old 2-inch unit is not recommended. |
| (
F ) |
Unbraked
trailers manufactured after 1 Jan 1997 must be fitted with a secondary
coupling that will provide some residual steering in the event of
an unplanned uncoupling. This device should also prevent the ball
coupling hitting the ground in similar circumstances. It must be
connected to the towing vehicle when the trailer is being towed. |
| (
G ) |
Braked trailers
must be fitted with a parking brake that operates on at least two
road wheels on the same axle. At all times it must be capable of
being maintained in operation by direct mechanical action without
the use of hydraulic, electric or pneumatic systems – i.e.
Operated by rod or cable action. The efficiency of the handbrake
must also comply with EEC Directive 71/320/EEC; i.e. It must be
capable of holding a stationary trailer on a gradient of at least
16% (1 in 6.25) |
| (
H ) |
An emergency
breakaway cable must be fitted to the parking brake linkage and
the other end clipped or fixed round some fixture on the towing
vehicle so that, in the event of the trailer becoming detached from
the towing vehicle, the cable will apply the parking brake automatically,
before snapping itself. It is not recommended to loop the cable
round the towball. (But do so if there is no alternative attachment
point.) It is a separate offence not to use the breakaway cable
provided. |
| (
I ) |
A secondary coupling
as per ( F ) must
be fitted to a braked trailer manufactured before 1982 that has
a manual handbrake arrangement . (A secondary coupling can also
be fitted to a braked trailer with hydraulic damping, manufactured
after 1982. In such cases, great care should be taken to ensure
that the secondary coupling is appropriate in terms of the weight
of the trailer (esp. If it is over 1000kg.). Also the operation
of the breakaway cable is likely to be prejudiced.)
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