Hi From Newbie & Question

[rxs1407]

Can anyone post a pic of there handbrake???

 

[robrobc]

Can anyone post a pic of there handbrake???

errr well mine is about 12 inches long with a red plastic handle....

The handbrake that is...........

Seriously, they will all vary to some extent depending on the type of suspension employed on the 5'er.......we have torsion beam suspension so our set up would be different to say leaf springs.

HTH

Rob

 

[Ant&Debs]

Hand Brake 5th Wheeler

Now that was funny!

 

[2657]

Can anyone post a pic of there handbrake???

This was supplied as being UK legal by Calder Leisure who assure me they use a trailer law specialist.

 

[rxs1407]

This was supplied as being UK legal by Calder Leisure who assure me they use a trailer law specialist.

I spoke to VOSA today and this is not legal as a "handbrake" at all... Good to use with one, but not as one..

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[robrobc]

This was supplied as being UK legal by Calder Leisure who assure me they use a trailer law specialist.

I thought that was a stabiliser/locking chock...............$75.99 each plus shipping........not exactly a handbrake methinks

 

[2657]

I spoke to VOSA today and this is not legal as a "handbrake" at all... Good to use with one, but not as one..

You pays your money you takes your choice.

 

[simon_simon]

Hi There
My Dutchmen has a handbrake with lever and cables running to the backplates of the front axle. However I am not sure VOSA would have any definitive guidance in this area if the 5er is less than 3.5 tons in gross weight, so I guess a brick would do. If over 3.5 tons they will have very clear guidance on handbrakes and lots of other things as well.

Simon

 

[2657]

I thought that was a stabiliser/locking chock...............$75.99 each plus shipping........not exactly a handbrake methinks

Depends on definition of hand or parking brake, trailer won't move with it on, both wheels firmly locked.

 

[vwalan]

after 1968 trailers over 750kg should be braked and have a parking brake `capable of holding the trailer on a gradient of at least 1 in 6.25..when a said trailer is parked and detached from its towing vehiclethey must be prevented fromrollingby means of a brake,chock or chain applied to atleast one of their wheels. the pic shown is only a chock and could not be classed as a parking brake,only a chock.
other funsters have had handbrakes fitted i,m sure someone will let you know who . cheers alan,.

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[2657]

Hi There
My Dutchmen has a handbrake with lever and cables running to the backplates of the front axle. However I am not sure VOSA would have any definitive guidance in this area if the 5er is less than 3.5 tons in gross weight, so I guess a brick would do. If over 3.5 tons they will have very clear guidance on handbrakes and lots of other things as well.

Simon[/QUOT

Calder Leisure 5ers are plated to 3450k, I presume for this very reason and your comment about a brick or wheel chock is how it was explained to me.It is important to note that not all spokesmen for VOSA will know exactly what is being described to them and the parking brake has no emergency braking function as on most trailers, this is performed very well by the breakaway cable connected to the electrically operated trailer brakes.This breakaway switch cannot be used as a parking brake because the brakes need a good 12v supply and obviously if parked for any length of time flat batteries would cause the brakes to release, always assuming that they are wired into the trailers 12v supply and not just the auxiliary connection from the truck, I have never tried it.
3500k GVW is also the cut off point for trailer MOT testing requirements it would be interesting to find out how many people with trailers plated higher than this who have had parking brakes fitted have also had their trailers MOT'd presumably at a VOSA commercial vehicle testing site.

 

[2657]

after 1968 trailers over 750kg should be braked and have a parking brake `capable of holding the trailer on a gradient of at least 1 in 6.25..when a said trailer is parked and detached from its towing vehiclethey must be prevented fromrollingby means of a brake,chock or chain applied to atleast one of their wheels. the pic shown is only a chock and could not be classed as a parking brake,only a chock.
other funsters have had handbrakes fitted i,m sure someone will let you know who . cheers alan,.

So a chock fulfills the requirements of the legislation, my contraption is a chock, whether it is described as a parking brake is academic:Smile

 

[vwalan]

its not worded like that in construction n use ,chocks are not parking brakes. its a big problem in this country that alot of dealers have no regard to the regulations.be ti brakes ,widths weights, or even mot for over 3,500kg living vans. its your livcence. every time a 5er gets stopped and faults found it makes it harder for everyone else.i would look forward to some of the dealers being fined and have the rights to selling illegal vehicles took off them . its because of them that some of you will get penalised when vosa stop you. the construction n use regarding these items is available on the internet. i advise every one to look them up .your driving licence i would have thought is a useful tool in travelling and its no goodif its took off you. cheers alan.

 

[2657]

Hi Alan, could you point me in the right direction on the internet, I have been searching and getting nowhere. Do the construction and use regulations you mention apply to trailers under 3500k. Calder Leisure have put a lot of effort into making sure that their 5ers are UK legal and I am sure that they would not sell a trailer that does not comply with UK regs.
Regards
Alec

 

[vwalan]

sorry i may have to retract my last statement. i use a transport managers site to access the info required . it does apear you cant get to it as a non paying guest. all i can say is try talking to a local transport firm ,they all have transport managers who may let you look it up with their facility or in the transport managers handbook most use. sorry again will continue to try n get access. alan.

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[simon_simon]

Hi
I am thinking that as a group with a common enthusiasm we need to collect our knowledge and culture allies. The RV owner seem to have been very effective in establishing sensible approach to using US spec RVs on UK roads by sensibly redefining the legislation.

My alarm bells go off when I hear of some 5ers being sold (toy haulers). The sellers have a vested interest in supporting this and verifying their commitment to the industry - and their customers.

It would seem that Calders work within the rules, however some people are in for a shock when they or VOSA weigh the chattles that they add to their 5er.

Simon

 

[Ant&Debs]

5vers

Hi
I am thinking that as a group with a common enthusiasm we need to collect our knowledge and culture allies. The RV owner seem to have been very effective in establishing sensible approach to using US spec RVs on UK roads by sensibly redefining the legislation.

My alarm bells go off when I hear of some 5ers being sold (toy haulers). The sellers have a vested interest in supporting this and verifying their commitment to the industry - and their customers.

It would seem that Calders work within the rules, however some people are in for a shock when they or VOSA weigh the chattles that they add to their 5er.

Simon

Hi Simon


Ooh! bit worried now. maybe missed the gist, but we just brought 5ver Toy hauler, should my alarm bells be ringing?

Tony

 

[vwalan]

hi simon, i agree we 5ers should help one another n pass on as much info as possible.
i do try to pass on as much as i can. i have lots of info here in books etc. not good on computers cant get the hang of it. i have been around trucks n cars, bikes ,trikes for years. i restored vw,s for years.building trikes n choppers as a side line. campers n expedition vehicles followed . transport management came as a side line also. i did drive trucks for awhile as well.i built my own artic unit to pull my self converted artic trailer. i have a good relationship with our local ministry ,vosa people . same with our local dvla. i ask many questions they struggle to answer . i find them all helpfull ,they know i dont go away i just keep asking. they regularly have to visit n inspect vehicles being built here.when i first had my 5er camper they were a bit of a rare breed . i have spoke to most of the 5er people in uk. i do find most dont seem to know too much about regs. moving stuff is more too it. its a shame as now there are more we will be monitored more closelly by the authorities . they also struggle to keep up. building 5er,s is not new lynton in manchester have been building them for years look at there web site . mine was built in 1987 it as had new springs n axles this year. i,d like to see more modern 5ers visit the places i take mine. its constantly wintered in maroc and as travelled further to gambia . the build quality is superb n a credit to lynton. keep in touch have fun .i do cheers alan.

 

[Ant&Debs]

5vers

hi simon, i agree we 5ers should help one another n pass on as much info as possible.
i do try to pass on as much as i can. i have lots of info here in books etc. not good on computers cant get the hang of it. i have been around trucks n cars, bikes ,trikes for years. i restored vw,s for years.building trikes n choppers as a side line. campers n expedition vehicles followed . transport management came as a side line also. i did drive trucks for awhile as well.i built my own artic unit to pull my self converted artic trailer. i have a good relationship with our local ministry ,vosa people . same with our local dvla. i ask many questions they struggle to answer . i find them all helpfull ,they know i dont go away i just keep asking. they regularly have to visit n inspect vehicles being built here.when i first had my 5er camper they were a bit of a rare breed . i have spoke to most of the 5er people in uk. i do find most dont seem to know too much about regs. moving stuff is more too it. its a shame as now there are more we will be monitored more closelly by the authorities . they also struggle to keep up. building 5er,s is not new lynton in manchester have been building them for years look at there web site . mine was built in 1987 it as had new springs n axles this year. i,d like to see more modern 5ers visit the places i take mine. its constantly wintered in maroc and as travelled further to gambia . the build quality is superb n a credit to lynton. keep in touch have fun .i do cheers alan.

Hi Alan

I agree. I have a CPC Nat/Internat Road Haulage Had it a long time, but mainly spent time as a driver, and struggle to keep up with new laws etc. We should stick together regarding 5vers.

Regards

Tony

 

[vwalan]

hi tony ,as you know thetre as been standards acepted in the larger artic world. dvla do make referance to 5ers being treated as a semi trailer . its somewhere on the web read it today when looking for construction n use.i use david lowes book n the freight transport association books .i know they are expensive but well worth it. probably too much for most 5er drivers to buy but a bible in constructing and running vehicles. croners is good but christ have you seen the price . i try very hard to keep up to date. can make mistakes so dont mind being corrected .we must keep in touch things do change and info doesnt always reach the streets untill its too late. every time i speek to vosa they always say how they notice an increase in 5er campers . a purge is due ,its happening slowly. the new weigh pads as made it easy for them. cheers alan.

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[vwalan]

if you google d.f.t. fact sheet .american caravans/trailers .
it gives a bit of info.

 

[Ant&Debs]

5vers

hi tony ,as you know thetre as been standards acepted in the larger artic world. dvla do make referance to 5ers being treated as a semi trailer . its somewhere on the web read it today when looking for construction n use.i use david lowes book n the freight transport association books .i know they are expensive but well worth it. probably too much for most 5er drivers to buy but a bible in constructing and running vehicles. croners is good but christ have you seen the price . i try very hard to keep up to date. can make mistakes so dont mind being corrected .we must keep in touch things do change and info doesnt always reach the streets untill its too late. every time i speek to vosa they always say how they notice an increase in 5er campers . a purge is due ,its happening slowly. the new weigh pads as made it easy for them. cheers alan.

Had a few run ins with vosa, just spent 9 years driving bands on tour. Lot of the time towing trailers on the back of the coaches. Vosa last year started a purge on things because a lot of the drivers were towing the trailers without the correct licence.

Also the same with being overweight, got stopped in Germany once with an overweight trailer and the german vosa impounded the vehicle till we got another vehicle to take some of the load, aLso had to pay a heavy fine.


Regards

tony

 

[algill]

Handbrake photo's

Hi Dodge

Photo's of handbrake as promised.

Give me a call if you have any questions.

Al

 

[rxs1407]

Link Removed


Link to the data sheet...

 

[IanH]

Just my 2cents worth

I have used one of those chocks in the states on a 30ft travel trailer (caravan) that we owned ,it works better than any handbrake on any trailer i have used or caravan that i have towed over here.
It was intended to be used to stop the trailer rocking when parked.

I cant use it on my 5th wheel coz there isnt the room between the tyres,plus when the landing legs are down on mine it isnt going anywhere.

Also its no good using the electric brakes even if you have a constant 12v supply ,it melts the break away switch oh: yep been there done that

Ian

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[rxs1407]

How much do they "rock" when on hard standing??

 

[IanH]

Ours dont rock much at all

But and rocking in the bedroom over the hitch gets exagerated being several feet forward of the landing legs ,as was demonstrated on a 5er on a site in the States much to the amusment of several fellow campers ,and it wasn't the washing machine rocking

 

[robrobc]

Ours dont rock much at all

But and rocking in the bedroom over the hitch gets exagerated being several feet forward of the landing legs ,as was demonstrated on a 5er on a site in the States much to the amusment of several fellow campers ,and it wasn't the washing machine rocking

That is why I use a Kingpin tripod.....stops all that fore and aft motion. Plus you can padlock through the tripod thereby increasing your security.

HTH

Rob

 

[algill]

Another photo for rxs1407

Sorry Dodge but I didn't get a photo of the connection at the hub end as it means taking things to bits. Basically, the new hub part had everything on it - electric brakes and the slot for the hand brake cable to be connected to.

This is another photo of the actual lever - not a great photo but you might be able to zoom it. If you look at the first one of the earlier photo's that shows almost all of the lever (there's just part of the rubber gripper handle missing from it).

Al

 

[algill]

As regards rocking ...... we don't have a problem!

We have chocks on the wheels when on site (as in this pic). Don't use the handbrake as it's best not left on. In fact we'll probably never need it (it's purely there to keep officialdom happy!!)

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