Quote:
Originally Posted by Awkwardbob
Sorry, that’s funny, my partner posted that thread !
We’ve done a bit of work so far, and have opted for the Curt Echo brake controller as it satisfies the requirement that the controller be mounted on the trailer rather than the towing vehicle.
From my understanding, the emergency brakes are fine to be electrical as long as the power to them is not supplied by the tow vehicle.
Similarly my main car has an electronic handbrake, I see no reason why the parking brake need necessarily be mechanical rather than electronic on a trailer -although if I’ve read that wrongly, there is, as you say, a swappable dexter part with the necessary hardware. We saw them on etrailer.
The biggest headache has been the hitch. As you’ll know, it is illegal to fit a non EU type-approved tow ball to a current uk vehicle.
So we looked into the potential modifications needed to change to a 50mm hitch.
Annoyingly, all the 50mm hitches here which look like a straightish swap are only rated at 750kg (unbraked trailer limit) and all of the higher rated ones have the hydraulic overrun braking system -potentially requiring a completely different alko axle.
It was looking like a custom job and a big bill and headache
However...
It isn’t illegal to fit a non-standard (2”) ball to a car registered prior to August 1st 1998 or to a commercial vehicle.
So, to get round this in the short term, we’ve bought a 1998 Range Rover to use as a tow vehicle. It can pull 3.5 tonnes and take a much heftier hitch weight. We picked up an adaptor plate for a flange-style towbar which wil take the 2” ball from a company called Watling Engineering - who I found much more knowledgeable and helpful than any other dealer I’ve spoken to (and I suspect I’ve spoken to the one you mention also, and was left less than impressed as he just couldn’t be bothered).
I’ll let you know how we get on !
-Does your premier have the necessary breakaway switch ?
Cheers,
Bob
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Mine's a Forest River Rockwood pop-up
I think they need the breakaway switch to be legal here anyway. The weights levels are different and even differ by state so it's a muddle.
Mine has the breakaway which puts the electric brakes on.
For an EU compliant hitch, could you grind of the US one, bolt on an EU one of the right rating but just not use the underrun braking to trigger anything? I assume you'd get the bump as the hitch compresses under braking which is one of the main benefits to the US system....
My thoughts are if I'm putting the mechanicals in place they may as well operate the em-brakes too... As the the day they are needed the trailer battery could be dead.
Have a look at what they do in Australia and NZ as they seem to have a machup of US and UK/EU standards...
E.g. I guess this is what you would need:
https://www.trailersrus.com.au/elect...-hand-brake-br
My plan if I do bring it back to the UK is to do the brake prep work (handbrake and brake controller on traiker) before I ship it, possibly the lights as well.... That way it would roll off at Southpton tow ready... Sticking point is the hitch.
I have read the other way around the EU type approved hitch issue is an non type approved imported vehicle as you tow vehicle..
E.g. if you have access to a US import pickup you could use the 2" receiver hitch to tow a us trailer.
The nose weight is also a killer...
I am towing with a Nissan Pathfinder with 2" receiver that slots straight into the chassis, with a tongue weight max of 600lb (272kg)
The EU towbars are mounted totally different so I'd be lucky to get 150kg on a EU Spec Pathfinder and towbar.
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