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Breakaway cables

If you're new to caravanning then it's important to know about breakaway cables - a steel cable that is designed to bring the trailer or caravan to a halt in the unlikely event the towed unit becomes unhitched. There are two main ways to correctly attach the breakaway cable.

Where a designated attachment point is provided on the towbar

a) Pass the cable through the attachment point and clip it back on itself

b) Attach the clip directly to the designated point - permitted by the trailer manufacturer.

Where no designated attachment point has been provided on the towbar

a) Fixed ball – loop the cable around the neck of the towball, use a single loop only.

b) Detachable ball – we recommend you seek advice from the towbar manufacturer.

Other means of attachment

In some instances it may be possible to attach the cable assembly to either:

  • a permanent part of the towbar structure (as long as this meets the approval of the towbar manufacturer)
  • an accessory sold for the specific purpose of breakaway cable attachment

However, you have attached your breakaway cable always make sure the cable runs as straight as possible and goes through a cable guide underneath the trailer coupling.

Things to double check

Once you have attached the breakaway cable always ensure that:

  • the cable cannot snag in use on the trailer coupling head, jockey wheel or any accessory
  • there is sufficient slack in the cable to allow the towing vehicle and trailer to articulate fully without the cable ever becoming taut and applying the brakes
  • it is not so slack that it can drag on the ground – if let loose the cable may scrape along the ground and be weakened

Disclaimer

This advice does not apply to unbraked trailers up to 750kg GVW which are required by law to have the use of a secondary coupling.

A secondary coupling should keep the trailer attached to its towing vehicle even if its main coupling becomes separated.

The guidance set out on this page is provided for general guidance purposes only, and does not purport to be legal advice or a definitive interpretation of the law.