BREAKAWAY BRAKES - THE CRUCIAL INFORMATION YOU NEED

Any trailer over 2-tonne GTM is required by law to be fitted with breakaway brakes. The law requires that these brakes be able to stop the trailer and keep it stationary for a minimum of 15 minutes, which is hopefully enough time to have it secured.

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Thankfully, more and more people are becoming aware of the requirement for breakaway brakes but many are still confused as to their installation, operation, maintenance and testing.

Since most caravans are fitted with electric brakes, the breakaway brakes on most caravans consist of a battery, a switch and a controller. When the breakaway brakes operate, the breakaway battery is connected directly across the terminals of the existing electric brakes, thereby forcing them on as hard as possible.

To operate the breakaway brakes, the previously mentioned switch is usually mounted on the A-frame of the caravan and is connected to the tow vehicle by a cable. If the tow vehicle and the caravan become separated, the cable, which is firmly attached to the tow vehicle, pulls a plastic pin out from the switch. This pin normally separates the battery from the brakes. When it is removed, the circuit is complete and the battery is connected directly to the brakes.

However, to be effective, the breakaway battery needs sufficient stored energy to be able to keep the brakes fully on for a minimum of 15 minutes. But how can you tell if your breakaway battery is up to the job? Most breakaway brake controllers will have a test button on them that, when pressed, will give a pass/fail indication. For example, green light for pass, red light for fail. If the caravan is registered in NSW, any vehicle that tow it must also be fitted with a breakaway brake battery monitor. So does that mean that the breakaway brakes will work if the battery is OK? Well, no.

The problem is that there are many things that can prevent the breakaway brakes from working. For example, the electric brakes themselves may not work properly because of one or more electrical or mechanical faults. Also, the breakaway switch may not work because of corrosion or broken wires In the end there’s really only one way to make sure that the breakaway brakes are actually working.

As part of your pre-departure checks, drive off the site with the van connected then disconnect the 7-pin or 12-pin trailer plug and pull on the breakaway cable to dislodge the pin.

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HOW TO CHECK

Go around the back of the van to check that the van’s brake lights are on. Then try to move the vehicle. If the van’s brakes lock up in less than a 500mm travel then your breakaway brakes are working fine. Reinsert the pin into the breakaway switch and reconnect the trailer plug and you’re good to go.