Breakaway cable

johndailey
johndailey Forum Participant Posts: 520
100 Comments
edited June 2016 in Caravans #1

Can anybody recommend a web site to look at the full set up and workings of the breakaway system? I am aware of the procedure for the correct attachment but would like to view the hidden bits.

Comments

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited June 2016 #2

    Look under your Aframe and you will see the cable connected to the bottom of your caravan handbrake - which it pulls on when under tension, before snapping should the caravan become detached. You can watch this in action by attaching the cable to your car then pushing the van away from the car.

  • geoffeales
    geoffeales Forum Participant Posts: 322
    edited June 2016 #3

    the link below will take you to Caravan Guard who do a very good piece on it.  Essentially the cable is a back-up should your towball or hitch let go

    http://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/essential-guide-caravan-breakaway-cables-7707/

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,155 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #4

     

    http://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/essential-guide-caravan-breakaway-cables-7707/

  • johndailey
    johndailey Forum Participant Posts: 520
    100 Comments
    edited June 2016 #5

    Thanks for the reply guys. I understand about the cable tensioning before 'snapping'. What I am trying to see is how the actual brake locks on and what makes it stay locked on.  I may appear a bit thick (which I probaably am), but at the moment I cannot
    get my head round the mechanical action after the tensioning.

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #6

    Thanks for the reply guys. I understand about the cable tensioning before 'snapping'. What I am trying to see is how the actual brake locks on and what makes it stay locked on.  I may appear a bit thick (which I probaably am), but at the moment I cannot
    get my head round the mechanical action after the tensioning.

     

    In essence, the break away cable puts the handbrake on .... but pulls at the bottom of the lever rather than where you or I would at the top

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #7

    With Al-Ko caravan running gear it is locked on by one of two methods depending on the design of the handbrake fitted; either by the rachet or the gas strut.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited June 2016 #8

    You can see the design on the ALKO website.

  • geoffeales
    geoffeales Forum Participant Posts: 322
    edited June 2016 #9

    as Jennyc mentioned earlier, the cable simply pulls on the caravan handbrake from underneath the A-frame. On earlier vans this remains locked on by a ratchet and on later models by a cam mechanism

  • MrGarval
    MrGarval Forum Participant Posts: 120
    edited June 2016 #10

    As previous post say the breakaway cable if activated pulls on the handbrake and either method that would normally hold the hanbrake on do just that. I have witnessed a van trying to run away from the towvehicle and was impressed as to how quickly the handbrake
    was 'snatched' on.

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