I'm a first time owner of Electric brakes fitted to the upcoming new snail in December. The tow truck is getting fitted with a brake controller. My other trailers all have override brakes,that I have to manually engage the stop lever,
( so I can reverse.)
? Do you still have to do the same with electric brakes to reverse, or is that one less hassell to worry about.
Regards Hey Jim
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Friday 15th of May 2015 08:12:35 AM
We have a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 which seems to be one of the more popular ones - fully automatic and has manual override .....operates the same in reverse as forwards so you don't need to do anything.
Normally no, because your van hitch won't have the sprung braking shaft that your trailers have. But I have seen some off road campertrailers that have been fitted with a Treg or a Trigg hitch that has the override braking system as well. On my camper trailer I fitted electric brakes and left the override brakes as well, so I had redundancy if the electric brakes ever failed and I didn't have to buy a handbrake mechanism.
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Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
there is a wide range of brake controllers around. Red-arc is a well known brand. If not already fitted, suggest you go visit a few 4x4 shops like ARB (but remember they will recommend what they sell) and also a trailer or brake specialist. You can google it, but it can be confusing with so many variations (pendulum or not....for example)
But brake controllers have a knob to adjust how hard the van brakes will be applied - this takes a bit of mucking around to get it just right so youre not using your van to do all the braking or the tow vehicle. Also make sure you discuss where the brake controller will be mounted - you need to be able to reach it easily while driving to be legal as the other knob is a push button which locks up your van brakes in an emergency when you push it. Depending on how hilly the roads are, you may need to turn the adjuster knob up or down. The trick is to make sure both vehicles brakes are wearing out evenly
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
If your van is being registered in NSW and is over 2T, your tow vehicle MUST be fitted with a remote battery monitor or you will not be legal to travel on NSW roads.
The selling dealer may not have advised you of this requirement, so get it fitted to the tow vehicle before you pick up you van and make sure the van is wired correctly to accept the tow vehicle with the remote battery monitor...if the van is not wired correctly have it corrected before you accept delivery. TEST the rig fully before accepting delivery.
On my camper trailer I fitted electric brakes and left the override brakes as well, so I had redundancy if the electric brakes ever failed and I didn't have to buy a handbrake mechanism.
Excuse my ignorance but how would that work.....which system has priority and even then if one fails how is the other system going to brake correctly?.
Its a Jayco Journey Outback 17.55 -3 tandem their specs say Tare weight (kg)1719/ 1984. Tow ball (kg)140/170. So now witch number do they mean 1719 0R 1984.
Jim, I had until fairly recently, 3 vehicles all fitted with electric brake cotrollers of different brands. all pulling the same caravan(at different times of course, I know what thy are like on this site). Once set to my liking none of them needed any adjustment or in depth attention. So yes set and (almost) forget.
Make sure you are shown how and why to adjust and enjoy your travels
Its a Jayco Journey Outback 17.55 -3 tandem their specs say Tare weight (kg)1719/ 1984. Tow ball (kg)140/170. So now witch number do they mean 1719 0R 1984.
For rego Its under. YES or No.
By the time Lambie puts all her junk in.
Jim
Hi Jim,
The first figure is for the road model and the second is for the off road model (Tare weight (kg)1719/ 1984. Tow ball (kg)140/170)
But for the actual figures check your compliance plate...
If your van is being registered in NSW and is over 2T, your tow vehicle MUST be fitted with a remote battery monitor or you will not be legal to travel on NSW roads.
You left out a vital piece of information. That 2 tonnes figure is is 2 T GTM and not 2 T ATM.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
I'm a first time owner of Electric brakes fitted to the upcoming new snail in December. The tow truck is getting fitted with a brake controller. My other trailers all have override brakes,that I have to manually engage the stop lever,
( so I can reverse.)
? Do you still have to do the same with electric brakes to reverse, or is that one less hassell to worry about.
Regards Hey Jim
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Friday 15th of May 2015 08:12:35 AM
You seem to all be missing the point.. On mechanical override brakes, the brakes are operated by inertia whenthe trailer or van starts pushing the tow vehicle. There is a sprung loaded shaft that is compressed when the trailer or van starts pushing against the tow vehicle under brakes. When you reverse the trailer or van, you will also compress that shaft and force the brakes on, unless you flick the little lever over to prevent the shaft being able to slide back against the brake operating lever.
So.... unless the van has been fitted with a Tregg or Trig hitch, he shouldn't need to worry about there being an override barke style coupling. If Tregg or Trig has been fitted.. sometimes the manufacturer fits an override brake style swivelling hitch to save fitting a separate handbrake handle. It is not common, but a couple of weeks ago I was talking to a bloke who had that on his brand new camper trailer.
This is a Tregg with override brakes, and the lever pointed to by the arrow is the one Hey Jim has to flip over when he reverses his trailers. Without that lever you can see how the shaft would get pushed back agaqinst the brake lever and cause the brakes to be applied.
This is a Tregg with separate hand brake lever and no ovveride brakes.
Obviously, unless Hey Jim has an offroad van he is unlikely to have the Tregg hitch, and this isn't even an issue....... But.. it can happen.
On my camper trailer I fitted electric brakes and left the override brakes as well, so I had redundancy if the electric brakes ever failed and I didn't have to buy a handbrake mechanism.
Excuse my ignorance but how would that work.....which system has priority and even then if one fails how is the other system going to brake correctly?.
Regards
It would work very well . If you are using electric brakes, you just flip the reversing lock over so the ovrride brakes are inoperative. If your leccy brakes decide to cark it, you flip the lever back and you have override brakes.. It's not a question about priority, it's just a backup if the electric brakes fail. And thbere didn't seem much point in replacing the swivel hitch with a non override one and having to also buy a handbrake mechanism.
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Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
SNIP It would work very well . If you are using electric brakes, you just flip the reversing lock over so the ovrride brakes are inoperative. If your leccy brakes decide to cark it, you flip the lever back and you have override brakes.. It's not a question about priority, it's just a backup if the electric brakes fail. And thbere didn't seem much point in replacing the swivel hitch with a non override one and having to also buy a handbrake mechanism.
Thanks for clearing that up Troopy - I had visions of one system fighting with the other.
By the time they loaded all the extra goodies onto my bucket list, up she will go. An extra 300mm length on the draw bar. A second spare tyre in a cradle in the a frame. ESC,
The tow truck is a 2012 200 series GX cruiser. So should be well inside safe tow limit.
That extra spare in a cradle reminds me of a setup I used to have. Very handy, but the spare had to be lifted out meaning nothing else could be mounted on the A frame. I replaced it with a crossbar and winch from a ute. Now the spare can be winched down allowing our bike rack to mount on the A frame. The spare is further back too making for (slightly) better weight distribution. Just a thought, it may suit you too.
In my above post, the comments were only a guide and as I have said for more information go to www.rvelctrics.com.au.
For caravans 2t GVM registered in NSW;
(1) a remote battery monitor MUST be fitted in view of the driver of the tow vehicle. If not fitted, the tow vehicle will be defected.
(2) The caravan must be wired to accept the remote battery monitor in the vehicle and a label MUST be attached to the A frame of the caravan advising anyone that the tow vehicle must be fitted with a charging circuit and remote battery monitor.
for information on the above please see vehicle inspection bulletin VIB6 effective April 2007 published by the NSW RMS
Without the label fitted to the van and the monitor fitted to the tow vehicle the rig is defective and cannot be registered in NSW.
I would like to comment, that the number of NSW 2T GVM registered caravans I have seen in free camping sites and caravan parks that are currently on our roads that are "defective" is frightening.
If your van is being registered in NSW and is over 2T, your tow vehicle MUST be fitted with a remote battery monitor or you will not be legal to travel on NSW roads.
The selling dealer may not have advised you of this requirement, so get it fitted to the tow vehicle before you pick up you van and make sure the van is wired correctly to accept the tow vehicle with the remote battery monitor...if the van is not wired correctly have it corrected before you accept delivery. TEST the rig fully before accepting delivery.
Hi Migra,
Would this not fall back on Jayco in the first instance. They are the people who register the van in NSW as a total package Deal Drive Away. They would be responsible in their declaration to Roads & maritime. They do a two hour hand over by Factory Trained Staff.
Jim, Is your van fitted with a break away unit? (If it does it will have a switch on the front of the drawbar to connect to the body of the tug.) According to VSB-01 vans with a GTM of less than 2000 kg do not require break away units.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
Na, no unit on the a frame / draw bar. The vans not large enough. I am going over next week to take a look in the Sydney yard.(I hope they may have one simular in the yard. Will give them a bell first) I want to take lots of mesurments so when we collect it, I can add the finishing touches to my liking, before we take it for a shake down trip. Might go via Melbourne back to Sydney. just in case there are any issues to be sorted.
1. the owner of the tow vehicle is responsible for the fitting of the remote battery monitor.
2. the caravan company is responsible for the fitting of the label onto the A-frame and the caravan is wired correctly at the 12 pin plug.
The caravan seller has a duty of care to ensure that the caravan when leaving their premises is compliant........but they seem not to care until you take legal action....this is after the driver has been booked + loss of demerit points by the police
Be aware that the driver is responsible for the compliance of the rig when on the road. There are also insurance issues if the rig is classed as defective....if you read your insurance policy "it states the rig must be compliant to the state road rules".
My brother is currently travelling and the number of caravans (NSW registered) that are "defective" is unbelievable.
. If you are using electric brakes, you just flip the reversing lock over so the ovrride brakes are inoperative. If your leccy brakes decide to cark it, you flip the lever back and you have override brakes.. It's not a question about priority, it's just a backup if the electric brakes fail. And thbere didn't seem much point in replacing the swivel hitch with a non override one and having to also buy a handbrake mechanism.
