towing an un-braked caravan

[Gullible]

Hi,
I've read the hand book and it says I can tow up to 750Kg un-braked and 3,500Kg braked.

What does that mean in practice. I've looked at a lot of caravans and they say they have brakes but most of them are parking brakes for when the caravan is stationary.

How come I see large old caravans being towed by smaller vehicles than my D2?

750Kg would be a large trailer. I need to tow about 2,000 - 2,500Kg judging by the caravans that we are looking at. :confused:

[seano87]

750kg is law to start with - anything over legally requires brakes. I don't think I've ever seen a caravan without some form of brakes??

Are you sure the ones you're referring to as having park brakes don't in fact have the very common mechanical cable / drum brake setup?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[tastrax]

Chances are that all the larger caravans have electric brakes as well as the cable "handbrake". You will need to fit an electric brake controller into your vehicle when you purchase a van over 750kg.

As for smaller cars hauling bigger vans - I suspect many folks overload their vehicle specifications - some have dramatic disasters due to this fact.

[Homestar]

Up to 750Kg for an unbraked trailer - like a 6x4, motor bike trailer, etc.
Up to 2,000Kg with mechanical override brakes that are typically found on caravans, car trailers, etc.
Over 2,000Kg requires electric brakes with a breakaway system - think big caravans, decent car trailers that can hold something bigger than a Jap 4 cyl car, etc.

Cheers - Gav

[101RRS]

Are you confusing the "hand brake" with the good old override/handbrake combo where the forward momentum of the van when braking activates the handbrake which in turn pulls on the brakes via a wire.

Garry

[Sharkee]

Unless been removed by someone for whatever reason all caravans depending on age should have either hydraulic, mechanical overide or electric brakes. I have not seen one without brakes yet

[Sue]

Are you confusing the "hand brake" with the good old override/handbrake combo where the forward momentum of the van when braking activates the handbrake which in turn pulls on the brakes via a wire.

Garry

That's the Breakaway system that bacicat2000 has mentioned above.. he is spot on with the law regarding brakes and trailers/caravans too.. :)

[Ports]

(a) if the trailer is fitted with brakes, one and half times the unladen mass of the motor vehicle; or
(b) if the trailer is not fitted with brakes, the unladen mass of the motor vehicle.

[101RRS]

That's the Breakaway system that bacicat2000 has mentioned above.. he is spot on with the law regarding brakes and trailers/caravans too.. :)

I was not describing breakaway brakes - talking about standard override brakes - allowable up to 2000kg - I suspect that is what the OP is confusing the handbrake with on a medium sized van.

garry

[Ports]

163 Mass limit for trailers being towed by light motor vehicles

(1) The total mass limit for a trailer, including any load, being towed by a light motor vehicle is the lowest of the following—

(a) the capacity of the towing apparatus fitted to the motor vehicle;

(b) the maximum trailer mass specified by the light motor vehicle's manufacturer for trailers that may be towed by the light motor vehicle;

(c) the GVM of the trailer.

(2) If the manufacturer of a light motor vehicle has not specified a maximum trailer mass for trailers that may be towed by the light motor vehicle, or it cannot be identified, the following is to be taken to be the light motor vehicle manufacturer's limit for the purposes of subregulation (1)—

[bee utey]

Both Bacicat and Ports are correct, with the proviso that the trailer brakes must be able to be operated from inside the vehicle (electric or vacuum) if the mass of the trailer exceeds the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. This covers vehicles under 2T empty weight and trailers under 2T laden. Over that the other rules are applied re breakaway brakes and maximum towing weights as set by the manufacturer or by law.

[Gullible]

Few, thank you all for that. I was worried that I was confused by a simple thing. ;)

I think that the age and size of the caravans that I am looking at they have the override/handbrake combo and that was confusing me.

I'm looking at anything between 20' and 28' so I'll bear in mind the 2,000kg limit if not fitted with a breakaway system.