Breakaway cable fixing
Comments
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I must admit to getting a bit confused by all of this. My Barcelona went in for its second service, last week and the dealer changed the breakaway cable (not sure why, the old one looked OK to me). However, rather than the original spring clip version,
it now has a caribiner type. I have a swan-neck tow bar so there is no fixing point on the car / tow bar. When I queried why they had changed the type of cable, I was assured it was still OK to loop this around the towbar. I assume that is correct given
that I haven't got an alternative fixing point?0 -
If you have to loop it round the ball and clip it back onitself, you should use the spring clip type.
It is possible to buy an attachment point thing that is bolted onto the towbar, this could be an idea where one is not already fitted. You would then use the carabiniera type clip.
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My Barcelona went in for its second service, last week and the dealer changed the breakaway cable (not sure why, the old one looked OK to me). However, rather than the original spring clip version, it now has a caribiner type. I have a swan-neck tow bar
so there is no fixing point on the car / tow bar. When I queried why they had changed the type of cable, I was assured it was still OK to loop this around the towbar.AS far as I am aware that is incorrect and I would have insisted in the dealer fitting the spring clip type if I were to loop around the towbar.
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This topic has been done to death in the past. There is a huge amount of informed advice in 'ask an expert/ archives' . In summary Reg 55 issued in 2001 obliged towbar manufacturers to include a breakaway cable attachment point. Alko make a carabina clip specifically for fixed point attachment, which they publish should be used where it exists. For reasons beyond comprehension Alko still supply their chassis with the obsolescent spring clip and have consistently failed to answer my queries as to why. You could try mailing Peter John Eustace, their UK MD or Phil Wiggins their UK. contact point. Phil.wiggins@al-ko.co.uk
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This topic has been done to death in the past. There is a huge amount of informed advice in 'ask an expert/ archives' . In summary Reg 55 issued in 2001 obliged towbar manufacturers to include a breakaway cable attachment point. Alko make a carabina clip
specifically for fixed point attachment, which they publish should be used where it exists. For reasons beyond comprehension Alko still supply their chassis with the obsolescent spring clip and have consistently failed to answer my queries as to why. You could
try mailing Peter John Eustace, their UK MD or Phil Wiggins their UK. contact point. Phil.wiggins@al-ko.co.ukI could not agree more !!!!
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I am not questioning the helpful and expert advice which has been given on here - but just to add to the confusion, here is a photo taken from the CaravanGuard website showing how to attach a breakaway cable - note the carabiner and not spring clip used to create the loop around the towbar
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I must admit to getting a bit confused by all of this. My Barcelona went in for its second service, last week and the dealer changed the breakaway cable (not sure why, the old one looked OK to me). However, rather than the original spring clip version, it now has a caribiner type. I have a swan-neck tow bar so there is no fixing point on the car / tow bar. When I queried why they had changed the type of cable, I was assured it was still OK to loop this around the towbar. I assume that is correct given that I haven't got an alternative fixing point?
Have you had a really good look under the car for an attachment point? A previous discussion on this highlighted the fact that some are not easy to find .
If the regulations have required an attachment point to be fitted since 2001, is your towbar older than this?
Being a swan neck type does not preclude there being an attachment point.
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I understood that the difference between the cables was that the spring clip was not suitable for direct attachment and the crab type one was. That is why I changed mine, as I have a direct attachment point. I can't say I have seen anywhere where it says
a crab type one should not be looped around the tow bar. I agree looping is not the most desirable of methods, but why a spring clip type should perform any better than a crab type, I am uncertain.0 -
This is NOT right, the ministry doing a spot check will issue a probition notice if it is just looped around the ball, all towbars now have a mounting point and it must be fasened to it, if your trailer/caravan jumpes off the ball so can your breakaway cable,
only loop around the ball if their is nowhere elsealso some countrys will prosicute for just looping around the ball
ust the propper mounting points, as told ny the n.c.c.
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This is NOT right, the ministry doing a spot check will issue a probition notice if it is just looped around the ball, all towbars now have a mounting point and it must be fasened to it, if your trailer/caravan jumpes off the ball so can your breakaway cable,
only loop around the ball if their is nowhere elsealso some countrys will prosicute for just looping around the ballA trailer i purchased in France,only had a chain ,which i was told was their way !!I've since added a cable to be conected to the tow point on the
.underside of the towbar.ust the propper mounting points, as told ny the n.c.c.
Write your comments here...
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Not all towbars have an attachment point. Looping the cable round the ball should not be done with a bolted on or detachable towbars. Fixed types and detachables can in theory become detached from the car so the cable has to be behind the towbar. On a swan
neck you simply attach to whatever is there.0 -
I must admit to getting a bit confused by all of this. My Barcelona went in for its second service, last week and the dealer changed the breakaway cable (not sure why, the old one looked OK to me). However, rather than the original spring clip version,
it now has a caribiner type. I have a swan-neck tow bar so there is no fixing point on the car / tow bar. When I queried why they had changed the type of cable, I was assured it was still OK to loop this around the towbar. I assume that is correct given
that I haven't got an alternative fixing point?Have you had a really good look under the car for an attachment point? A previous discussion on this highlighted the fact that some are not easy to find .
If the regulations have required an attachment point to be fitted since 2001, is your towbar older than this?
Being a swan neck type does not preclude there being an attachment point.
My car is a 2015 VW Touareg and has a Westfalia tow bar fitted by the dealer (at great expense). There is definitely no fixing point on the tow bar. My previous Touareg - 2010 model with an identical dealer-fitted tow bar was the same.
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....My car is a 2015 VW Touareg and has a Westfalia tow bar fitted by the dealer (at great expense). There is definitely no fixing point on the tow bar. My previous Touareg - 2010 model with an identical dealer-fitted tow bar
was the same.Whereas the Westfalia towbar I bought for my 1999 Omega DID have a loop, as does the Bosal currently on my 2007 Merc. If neither hadn't, I'd have fitted one.
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I understood that the difference between the cables was that the spring clip was not suitable for direct attachment and the crab type one was. That is why I changed mine, as I have a direct attachment point. I can't say I have seen anywhere where it says
a crab type one should not be looped around the tow bar. I agree looping is not the most desirable of methods, but why a spring clip type should perform any better than a crab type, I am uncertain.Write your comments here...
Well from now onwards anyone who follows the link 'will' have seen Alkos instruction that the carabina clip is for use with a dedicated attachment point.
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I understood that the difference between the cables was that the spring clip was not suitable for direct attachment and the crab type one was. That is why I changed mine, as I have a direct attachment point. I can't say I have seen anywhere where it says
a crab type one should not be looped around the tow bar. I agree looping is not the most desirable of methods, but why a spring clip type should perform any better than a crab type, I am uncertain.Write your comments here...
Well from now onwards anyone who follows the link 'will' have seen Alkos instruction that the carabina clip is for use with a dedicated attachment point.
http://www.al-ko.com/shop/uk_vt/breakaway-cable-with-caribena-clip.html?gclid=CJWyofHX3NACFUG4GwodjeAGwQ
You notice it says designed for and suitable for direct attachment. Nowhere does it say it can't also be used for looping round the tow ball. On the
clip version designed for looping, it clearly states not suitable for direct attachment. So you would have thought they would have put a statement on the crab version, if looping was prohibited. As I said I changed mine to the crab type,
as I have an attachment point. Having said that the design of the cables is identical. The designated failure point appears to be the swaging, which is stamped with a number.0 -
I have been giving this some thought overnight, and am now coming around to agreeing with you Steve.
Clip type can only be used where it clips back on the cable, but is there actually any reason why the carabiner type cannot also be clipped back on the cable?
Out of interest, where can we read these regulations on the requirement for attachment points on towbars? It all seems a bit of a mess!
Our current Volvo one is a Brink, previous was I think a Witter.
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I have the 'carabina' and on my previous detachable Witter swan neck I looped because of no fixing hole/bracket, because it clunked I opted for a free replacement fixed and this now has an anchor point I use.
I assume if the van became detached the caravans handbrake would operate and this extra loading would snap the carabina, completely detaching the towcar from the caravan. But would probably do the same if looped
doesn't seem to be any hard and fast laid down rules to follow.
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I have been giving this some thought overnight, and am now coming around to agreeing with you Steve.
Clip type can only be used where it clips back on the cable, but is there actually any reason why the carabiner type cannot also be clipped back on the cable?
Out of interest, where can we read these regulations on the requirement for attachment points on towbars? It all seems a bit of a mess!
Our current Volvo one is a Brink, previous was I think a Witter.
I think that is part of the problem, finding any actual law. I did an internet search and plenty of advice and views come up. Some even say the advice they give is law. However, I could find nothing on a government site. Perhaps somebody else can.
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Either design is meant to fail once it has pulled the handbrake on. Does it actually matter whether that will be the clip/carabiner or the actual wire?
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Having recently tested the cable on my caravan (carabiner type), not intentionally, I can confirm that it was the other end that became detached by deforming the hooped shape that is connected to the lower part of the handbrake, once the handbrare is fully
applied.A very red face also occurs
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Having recently tested the cable on my caravan (carabiner type), not intentionally, I can confirm that it was the other end that became detached by deforming the hooped shape that is connected to the lower part of the handbrake, once the handbrare is fully
applied.A very red face also occurs
I did the very same thing about three years ago and the same happened it broke off at the h/brake end.An easy repair.I have always looped round the towball and will continue to use this method.
v9
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Having recently tested the cable on my caravan (carabiner type), not intentionally, I can confirm that it was the other end that became detached by deforming the hooped shape that is connected to the lower part of the handbrake, once the handbrare is fully
applied.A very red face also occurs
I did the very same thing about three years ago and the same happened it broke off at the h/brake end.An easy repair.I have always looped round the towball and will continue to use this method.
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Write your comments here... Another one who has tested and found the system works and the cable breaking at the caravan fastening. To be ultrasafe the cable should be atteched to the towbar frame and not the towball although the additional risk is minimal.
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I had a Ford Galaxy and fitted a pigtai to connect the breakaway cable, the pigtail was large enough to thread through and clip back on its self. now changed my car to a Ssang Yong Korando which is fitted with a Witter tow bar and has a attachment for the cable clip but is to small to pass through and loop back on its self,So the only way is to clip directly and you must use a carabina type clip to do this[ I was told this by a staff member on the Alko stand at the NEC show this year.]
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The other alternative is a galvanised steel shackle through the attachment and then loop your cable through that.
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