Hey! My name is Erica. I live for one thing and one thing only - driving my car. I have always loved cars so I was super excited when I passed my driving test last year. I decided that I needed to learn everything I could about the world of automobiles so I went down to my local auto club and made some friends. The guys there were really friendly and they took the time to talk about every aspect of owning, modifying, and maintaining a vehicle. I have learnt so much over the past few months, I just had to start a new blog. Enjoy!
Proper wheel alignment is crucial for the overall performance and safety of your vehicle. When your wheel
You need emergency towing services when your vehicle breaks down. Nonetheless, most motorists do not know
A good deal for a scrap car sounds like something that requires making the car look nice. But that's not
Landing your first customer as a newbie automotive technician can be quite overwhelming. Nonetheless, you
Wreckage yards are excellent places for finding car parts at affordable prices. These junkyards are full
Your first focus when you look at tradesman trailers might be getting the right size and design to match your business needs. After that, you'll look at extra features. If you're looking at larger trailers, then you may see that some come with safety breakaway systems.
How does a breakaway system work, and do you need one?
What Is a Trailer Breakaway System?
Breakaway systems usually come on larger tradesman trailers. This is a safety feature, typically used with electric brakes, that kicks in if something goes wrong with the trailer's connection to its vehicle.
So, for example, if you're pulling a trailer and it suddenly uncouples from your van while you're driving, then the breakaway system would automatically engage. It applies the brakes on the trailer's wheels so that it stops as soon as possible.
Do You Need a Breakaway System?
In some cases, a breakaway system is a legal requirement. For example, towing safety rules dictate that these systems are essential when trailers exceed certain weight limits. This is a basic safety measure. If a heavy trailer uncouples when you're driving, then you lose control of it. It becomes a small wheeled vehicle with no steering capabilities. This makes it dangerous.
For example, a loose trailer may veer into traffic. If you're on a motorway, you could be traveling at speed; if you're on a busy road, there will be lots of other vehicles around you. The trailer becomes an instant hazard in either case. It may crash into other cars or make drivers make emergency manoeuvres that cause a pile-up with other vehicles. Or, it could go off the road and hit parked cars or pedestrians.
From your own perspective, this is also a problem. If you stop suddenly because the trailer is loose, then its momentum could carry it into the back of your vehicle. This would damage the vehicle, the trailer and maybe even the contents it is carrying. If you can't use your trailer or its contents because of this kind of damage, then your business might suffer. You'll have difficulty transporting your tools and equipment to jobs, and, if they were damaged in an accident, you may lack the essential equipment you need to work.
Your tradesman trailer supplier can tell you more about breakaway systems and how they work. They can also advise you on whether the trailer you want to buy needs to have this kind of safety system.
Share