Dumb question 3. Do I need a permanently fixed EBC?

[Gullible]

We have a 2 tonne caravan that we are going to tow 1,000km up to our holiday and depending on whether we sell it when we are up there we will then tow it 1,000km back. Then sell it.

As this will be the last time we tow a large caravan (I'm not a fan of towing) do I really need to have a permanent electronic brake controller fitted or is there a plug and play version that will get us through the holiday?

[RobA]

Nationally the law in regard to towing requires brakes fitted to any trailer above 750kg ATM. The National Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide (http://www.towingguide.com.au/content/legal_requirements.html) is the national guide

QED you therefore must have a system to control the braking from within the towing vehicle. This can be either fitted to the draw bar of the trailer/caravan and/or in the tow vehicle. The above link provides you with all the guidance needed to clarify this

As well your insurer and the law would expect compliance with any legal requirement. So in the unfortunate case of an incident without a brake controller you would not be in a happy place.

Your van may already be fitted with override brakes. If so that may offer a low cost exit but you would certainly need to check with your insurer and registration folk. This is cut from the above guide

751-2,000kgs GTM: There must be a braking system on the wheels of at least one axle and over-ride brakes are permitted. However, for caravans exceeding 1000kgs, independent brakes (electric brakes are the most common form) are strongly recommended.

Rob

[BigJon]

My Dad has an 05 Sport. He fits the brake controller only when he is going to tow the big caravan. He made an adaptor (piece of wood) that sits in the cupholder with the controller bolted to it. All the wiring is unpluggable (is that even a word?).

[weeds]

I doubt there would be a plug and play unit out there...........

[Gullible]

what about the ones some hire companies provide that connect to the tow bar electrics?

[chuck]

Mate of mine recently hired a big van for five a week trip.

The hire company gave him a portable brake controller to use that plugged into the cigarette socket.

So you can get portable units.

Cheers

[Gullible]

Thanks for that chuck.

I'll do some research on them.

Can you find out what he thought of the portable brake controller?

[Blknight.aus]

from 750kg to 2000kg you only need to have over-ride brakes. And the van should have been built with them or electric command brakes if it was ever designed to mass over 750kg.

over 2000kg you need command brakes with a breakaway control that will hold the brakes for at least 10 minutes. (from memory it might be longer).

its perfectly legal to exceed the requirement. I have installed command electric brakes with a breakway system on a half ton trailer for people before today. its legal BUT the brake system must comply with the standard you shoot for and requires testing as part of the rego process.

the easiest command brakes to fit are on the trailer only have one setting on or off and they come on with your brake lights. They have an adjustable module that wires into the AUX power supply for the trailer and takes signal from the brake lights to apply the brakes on the trailer.

you can now also get bluetooth/wifi style brake controllers.

[eddy]

Up to 2000kg, something like this should do the job https://www.couplemate.com.au/trailer-parts-shop/brake-controller/brake-controller-metal-chassis/ or the one in this link http://www.myswag.org/index.php'topic=19673.0

[Gullible]

Ah ha, that was what I was thinking about.