Caravan uncoupling
We picked up our caravan from its storage compound today to take it into the repairer for extensive damp treatment (it's only 4 years old, and we've had it since new). Despite all the usual checks, single, double and triple, the van became uncoupled from the car as we left the compound, causing extensive damage. We are very experienced caravanners, and have toured all over the UK and Europe, and nothing like this has ever happened before. My husband's confidence has taken a sound knock, and he simply can't understand why this occurred. How can we stop it happening again? Any tips? Many thanks!
Comments
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Hi there,
Sorry to hear of your uncoupling, and I'm assuming that the hitch came off the tow ball, rather than the tow ball failing in some way?
If that is the case, the one check I always do after I think the hitch is connected to the tow ball, and BEFORE lowering the stabiliser handle, is to wind the jockey wheel down and make sure that the hitch lifts the back of the car by an inch or two. If it does then I'm as confident as I can be that the hitch is locked onto the tow ball correctly.
Paul.
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Same here, its the most reliable way of checking the hitch is properly engaged.
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So do I, and then do it again. My Freelander never moves when the van is attached.
Before I returned to caravaning I was at my Classic car clubs National day at Fontwell. A trader was leaving the site on the Sunday evening and his caravan parted company with his Sprinter van. How it missed some of the cars still on display I don't know, it was a scary thing to witness.
And he didn't have the breakaway cable attached.
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Did your breakaway cable fail too? I wonder just how effective they are if the caravan becomes uncoupled.
We do the same as most others - double check that the car and caravan are firmly fixed together by winding down the jockey wheel. It takes seconds, but could save thousands of pounds, or even lives.
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If one's vehicle has adjustable suspension a lazy way is to drop the suspension to the lower height to test the coupling is secure (assuming one is not already in the lowest setting).
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Not doing the ' lift the back end of the tow-vehicle' is a failure whilst on a B + E towing test.
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Seen two caravans uncouple both whilst leaving site. In both cases they became uncoupled whilst crossing speed bumps and were brought to a halt by breakaway cable functioning correctly. Last one two years ago at Hurn Lane got away with no damage except needing a new breakaway cable and the brake being hard to release because of the violent stop. The green indicator to show proper connection is not very easy to judge and like everyone else I check the coupling by using the jockey wheel.
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Thank you everybody for your advice. We actually did all the checks and double checks suggested, and our Audi also told us that we were fully hitched up. Now waiting to have the caravan checked over, as the hitch may prove to be faulty - like most other things on this humdinger of a caravan!
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Interestingly, when we were hooking up to take the caravan out of storage a few years ago, my OH did the 'lift the back end' thing, and the hitch itself seemed to 'flex'. He was immediately worried, and took the hitch apart to find two of the bolts which go through the hitch, and the front of the A frame, had sheared and one of the others was badly worn.
It was frightening as we had just towed back from the south of France, and dreaded to think what might have happened had they failed en-route. We were able to buy replacements from a local firm, very quickly, and we replaced them - which was more difficult than removing them. So we were on our way not more than half a day late - but now OH makes sure to check on the hitch, when he's lifting it, as well as checking that the car is lifting!
I posted about it as a warning on other forums, at the time. Our dealer said he had seen it once or twice before, and t that it was generally found during the service.
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We witnessed a similar occurrence at Old Hartley CC Site a few years ago when the Warden was moving a members van resulting in 3/4 vans being badly damaged when the van carried on down the steep slope,from the distance it travelled one can only assume that the break away cable had not been attached, resulting in some very unhappy owners
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In my one and only experience with this (hitch glitch!) the breakaway cable worked fine although it snapped. I tied the ends together until I could buy a replacement.
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I had the uncoupling experience when leaving Tewksbury just a week or so ago. Despite it looking ok, I clearly hadn't got it right. I now know to use jockey wheel to test it.
But breakaway cable pulled the brakes on so sharply that the sudden tension pulled my electric socket apart on the car. Needed to get a new one fitted, which was done by Elite towbars in an hour or so. Excellent service.
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The break away cable is intended to snap. Otherwise it would drag the caravan along after the tow vehicle should the failure be at speed. It's function is to apply the caravan brake so that it will slow to a stop reasonably quickly and safely.
Once the caravan is detached and the brakes applied the electrical connecters will be under considerable mechanical load, and as far as I'm aware, there is no built in point for intended failure so it could occur anywhere. The whole electrical connection system should be examined for damage and not just the point of actual failure.
If you want a system that will keep the detached caravan bounding along behind the tow vehicle should the coupling detach or fail, they are available and are often used on plant trailers. They consist of a substantial chain on each side of the tow coupling. However, there is nothing to stop the trailer running into the back of the tow vehicle!
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I lost my caravan some years ago in Wales the breakaway cable broke before doing its job and the caravan crossed the road and mounted the curb coming to rest without damaging any one or anything. Thank God! The mechanic who came out thought it had happened to the van before so I splashed out on a decent Alco hitch which I transferred to the next van.
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Not sure if this helps,but if you "you tube" car detachments it shows a video made by Dan Trudgian ( not sure if spelling is correct) of this increase in car detachments.
He states what many posters have said about lowering jockey wheel to raise rear or car.
It would be reassuring to know what is the reason for this to happen.
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I witnessed a detachment on site this morning. At the second attempt, the coupling was made secure. The problem was human error.
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As experienced caravanners that must have been a real shock, it is every caravanners nightmare! All the other contributors have mentioned how to check, but your confidence is less easy to fix! I wonder if reflecting on your many years of happy and incident free caravanning might help? Good luck anyway!
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,without having to be at least a two vehicle family 
