Double check that Trailer??

[Noddy]

I have just been to a nasty accident
Chap towing his Rib for a day out at Weymouth.
He got about a mile from home when the trailer uncoupled from his towbar
he had a "safety rope" which snapped.
Trailer and Boat collided head on with a car coming in the oppposite direction.
Fuel in boat ignited and when I got there the whole lot was a fireball in the middle of the road.
Luckily the driver managed to get out with no more that singed hair and shock but, believe me, it could have been a lot worse.
There was nothing left of the Rib except a charred outboard.
Moral of the story is check and double check that coupling and use a wire strop for safety - make sure its in good condition and up to its job!
Martyn

[Nasher]

Poor sod

However was the 'Safety rope' a proper keep it attached to the car job, or just a breakaway cable that activates the handbrake and then snaps as its supposed to?

Do agree that you can never check too many times that the hitch has located over the ball properly.

Nasher

[Noddy]

It was a 4 metre rib on a a small trailer - not braked.
He had attached a looped rope over the tow ball obvioulsy intended to keep the trailer and car together. It snapped when the trailer came off!!
I did feel sorry for him but not half as sorry as I felt for the innocent party?
Martyn

[PeterR]

Thanks for that reminder noddy I,m sure we are all guilty of it at some time .I have but been lucy enough to find out after only after yards and boys have laughed at my expense dad dont forget the boat.Your warning i think should be posted by john kennet for several weeks especialy as its the beginning of the season for most.Well done

[Nasher]

Point taken.

Last thing you want when out for a quiet Sunday drive minding your own business is a burnt out RIB for a bonnet mascot.

Doesn't give 'Us' in general good publicity with Joe public, before we know it our insurance policies will go up and then private drivers will be banned from towing.

I know its not the case here, but I'm amazed we still don't need a MOT style test for our trailers and Mr Cardigans caravan.

Nasher.

[Hightower]

Is it a legal requirement to have a safety wire attached that is supossed to stop the trailer from breaking away from the rear of the car if it become detatched?

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by Noddy

He had attached a looped rope over the tow ball obvioulsy intended to keep the trailer and car together....

What failed Was it the ball or the hitch Des

[codprawn]

A breakaway cable is only intended to apply the handbrake if the trailer comes loose - as it was an unbraked trailer this would not apply - there doesn't seem to be any requirement to fit a stronger cable to stop the trailer detaching.

Seems to me the pin type commercial/military couplings are much safer.

[RIVA]

the legal term is secondery coupling

and yes it is legal or 4 points wichever you choose

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by RIVA

the legal term is secondery coupling

and yes it is legal or 4 points wichever you choose

Excuse my ignorance but what is four point?