SAFETY
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After setting, fully tighten each joint by hand and then tighten further to
the next pin. Refit the pin.
When parking always use the handbrake and, if necessary, suitable
wheel chocks.
Make sure wheels, tyres and tow bar connectors are in safe
operating condition and tow bar is properly connected before towing.
Safety chains / connections and their adjustment
The legal requirements for the joint operation of the breakaway
cable and safety chains are as yet unidentified by 71/320/EEC or UK
regulations. Consequently we offer the following advice / instructions.
Where brakes only are fitted:
a) Ensure that the breakaway cable is securely coupled to the
handbrake lever and also to a substantial point on the towing vehicle.
b) Ensure that the effective cable length is as short as possible, whilst
still allowing enough slackness for the trailer to articulate without the
handbrake being applied.
Where brakes and safety chains are fitted:
a) Loop the chains onto the towing vehicle using the towing vehicle
hitch as an anchorage point, or any other point of similar strength.
b) Ensure that the effective chain length is as short as possible whilst
still allowing normal articulation of the trailer and effective operation of
the breakaway cable.
Where safety chains only are fitted:
a) Loop the chains onto the towing vehicle using the towing vehicle
hitch as an anchorage point, or any other point of similar strength.
b) When adjusting the safety chains there should be sufficient free
length in the chains to allow normal articulation, whilst also being short
enough to prevent the towbar from touching the ground in the event of
an accidental separation of the towing vehicle from the trailer.
