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Difficulty: MediumTowing Equipment and Safety Checks (Caravans & Trailers)

You are completing your pre-departure safety walkaround checks before towing a braked trailer on a long journey. Which safety check must you perform on the breakaway cable?

  1. Ensure it is securely attached to a dedicated fixing point on the towing vehicle and has enough slack to allow normal turning without activating the brakesAnswer
  2. B
    Clamp it completely taut between the towball and trailer coupling to reduce overall vehicle stopping distances
  3. C
    Connect it directly to the trailer wheel valves to monitor and regulate tyre pressures under heavy load
  4. D
    Loop it firmly around the jockey wheel assembly to prevent trailer skidding and snaking at higher speeds

Answer

Ensure it is securely attached to a dedicated fixing point on the towing vehicle and has enough slack to allow normal turning without activating the brakes
Under UK DVSA guidelines, the breakaway cable must be attached to an approved fixing point on the towing vehicle's towbar structure. It must have adequate slack so that normal vehicle movements, turning, and road undulations do not pull the cable and trigger the trailer brakes inadvertently, while remaining short enough not to drag on the road surface.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Inspect the breakaway cable attachment point
Confirm the cable is fastened to a dedicated mounting eye on the towbar structure rather than looped loosely over the towball, unless permitted by the manufacturer
Ensures the emergency mechanism remains functional even if the towball itself fails or the hitch unseats
2
Verify cable routing and slack clearance
Ensure there is enough slack so tight turns do not pull the cable, but not so much that it drags on the road
Prevents accidental emergency brake application during normal cornering while avoiding wear and tear on the cable

Key Concept

Correct fitment and inspection of trailer breakaway emergency braking cables
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Towing Equipment and Safety Checks (Caravans & Trailers)

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