Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: geoffr70 on 28 May 2011, 21:21:58

Title: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 28 May 2011, 21:21:58
Ahaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Greetings all. Firstly thanks to Andy B and everyone else recently for their little snippets of info and advice regarding towbar electrics and associated stuff. My detachable towbar is now fitted to the Elite with foldaway 12n plug and waiting to go - I'll be blocking an A road near you soon!  ;D

Right, is it a legal requirement to use a breakaway cable and the extra wide add-on towing mirrors on a car when pulling a caravan?

Thank you :-*
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Andy B on 28 May 2011, 21:49:43
Quote
Ahaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Greetings all. Firstly thanks to Andy B and everyone else recently for their little snippets of info and advice regarding towbar electrics and associated stuff. My detachable towbar is now fitted to the Elite with foldaway 12n plug and waiting to go - I'll be blocking an A road near you soon!  ;D

Right, is it a legal requirement to use a breakaway cable and the extra wide add-on towing mirrors on a car when pulling a caravan?

Thank you :-*

Mirrors definitely are, not sure about breakaway cable but would think so. You need to find a secure point on the towbar itself as your towball is detachable.
My mirrors are Milenco like these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-Milenco-Towing-Mirrors-/230626727434?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item35b26c960a#ht_500wt_1156 My nearside is a convex but that's up to you. There are loads of crappy mirrors that are much use as an ashtray on a motor bike and vibrate such that you've no idea what's behind you.  :y
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Dodger on 28 May 2011, 21:55:21
Legal requirement to have at least an offside towing mirror if the item being towed is wider than the towing vehicle (ie: you can't see what is behind you with the normal mirrors) but best to have a pair.
Also, breakaway cable is required, to activate caravan brakes in the event of it becoming detatched from car. (it is no longer acceptable to wrap breakaway cable  around the towbar, it must have its own seperate attachment point, ie: pigtail or holed bracket)

Hope this helps... :y
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: bored bigyin54 on 28 May 2011, 22:34:02
yes breakaway cables are law and u cant hang them over the towbar like a lot of caravaners do i have been stoped for that
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 28 May 2011, 22:34:46
Thanks Andy, oh and bigyin and dodger. I'll have to get down Halfords tomorrow and get them! Luckily there's a bracket on my tow bar for the cable - at least I think that's what it's for!
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: bored bigyin54 on 28 May 2011, 22:38:49
my mate still hangs his over the towbar he wont if he gets stopped
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 28 May 2011, 22:40:52
Quote
my mate still hangs his over the towbar he wont if he gets stopped

Not sure what you mean by this! Is it just to make it look like it's connected to something so he hoped he doesn't get stopped? Could he not loop it on the framework of the bar itself? Just been looking on the caravan club website.
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Andy B on 28 May 2011, 22:43:40
Quote
yes breakaway cables are law and u cant hang them over the towbar like a lot of caravaners do i have been stoped for that

I agree, but the Caravan Club still say you can if there's now where else  :-/ :-/

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf page 6
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Andy B on 28 May 2011, 22:45:16
Quote
.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.
This bit? Page 6  :y
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf

Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 28 May 2011, 22:52:55
Quote
Quote
.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.
This bit? Page 6  :y
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf


Yes that's the one.

Does the breakaway cable come with any special attachments to operate it as I'm not sure how they work. I know they're meant to apply the caravan brakes if it comes detached, but how?

All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes?

I was going to tow my van to a workshop tomorrow to adjust the drum brakes tomorrow to find out, but won't be able to now until I'm all legal with my mirrors and breakaway cable  :y
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Andy B on 28 May 2011, 23:02:19
Quote
....
All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes? .....

The break-away cable pulls the bottom of the handbrake lever thereby pulling the handbrake on if the caravan become detached from the car.

Mine is just a hook with a safety clip on on, but I think some are like a climbers carabina.
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: YZ250 on 28 May 2011, 23:03:20
Quote
Quote
Quote
.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.
This bit? Page 6  :y
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf


Yes that's the one.

Does the breakaway cable come with any special attachments to operate it as I'm not sure how they work. I know they're meant to apply the caravan brakes if it comes detached, but how?

All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes?

I was going to tow my van to a workshop tomorrow to adjust the drum brakes tomorrow to find out, but won't be able to now until I'm all legal with my mirrors and breakaway cable  :y


It pulls the handbrake on and then the ring opens to free it from the car.  :y

EDIT: Damn, too slow again. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 28 May 2011, 23:08:21
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.
This bit? Page 6  :y
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf


Yes that's the one.

Does the breakaway cable come with any special attachments to operate it as I'm not sure how they work. I know they're meant to apply the caravan brakes if it comes detached, but how?

All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes?

I was going to tow my van to a workshop tomorrow to adjust the drum brakes tomorrow to find out, but won't be able to now until I'm all legal with my mirrors and breakaway cable  :y


It pulls the handbrake on and then the ring opens to free it from the car.  :y

EDIT: Damn, too slow again. ;D ;D

How does it pull the hand brake on though? Is there an attachment underneath the hand brake lever?
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Andy B on 28 May 2011, 23:12:41
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.
This bit? Page 6  :y
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf


Yes that's the one.

Does the breakaway cable come with any special attachments to operate it as I'm not sure how they work. I know they're meant to apply the caravan brakes if it comes detached, but how?

All i have on my van is the handbreak cable and lever, and i assume the brakes are activated by the compression of the van pushing the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle brakes. So how does the breakaway cable activate the brakes?

I was going to tow my van to a workshop tomorrow to adjust the drum brakes tomorrow to find out, but won't be able to now until I'm all legal with my mirrors and breakaway cable  :y


It pulls the handbrake on and then the ring opens to free it from the car.  :y

EDIT: Damn, too slow again. ;D ;D

How does it pull the hand brake on though? Is there an attachment underneath the hand brake lever?

Stick your head under the front of the 'van, and look at the end of the handbrake. You'll find a hole, the cable attaches with a key ring type ring.
have a search of eBay & look at the pictures.  ;)
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 28 May 2011, 23:15:55
Thanks Andy I'm onto it! Kevin's coming out tomorrow!
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Andy B on 28 May 2011, 23:24:38
Quote
.. I'll have to get down Halfords tomorrow and get them!  ....

Just seen this, you'd be better go to your local caravan accessories shop. They are more likely to have a choice of mirrors & Halfords are expensive these days. Avoid the el-cheapo mirrors, they're cheap cos they're crap, I bought a pair & used them once.
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 28 May 2011, 23:31:26
Yeah I know about Halfords but there's not really a caravan place close enough though. I'm not one to watch the fuel gauge but the added cost of fuel will balance things up if i drive to a proper caravan shop!

This one seems good and only has good things said about it:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_551255_categoryId_165511_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_List_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PLPz1
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: bored bigyin54 on 28 May 2011, 23:52:38
u want to try towsure on the web
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: bored bigyin54 on 28 May 2011, 23:56:02
towsure send it to u save on petrol
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 29 May 2011, 00:02:41
Yeah i know but I've decided that Kevin is coming out for a spin tomorrow come rain or shine!
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: VXL V6 on 29 May 2011, 10:15:04
Not sure of your towing experience (and not trying to be big headed or anything) but may I suggest that if you haven't towed before you take it very gently to begin with, especially going down hill!

I'm guilty of not using towing mirrors. Hate seeing double of everything...  :-[
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Andy B on 29 May 2011, 13:20:02
Quote
... Hate seeing double of everything...  :-[

I use the extened mirrors to see as much as I can of behind the caravan & tip the car mirrors down a little to aid positioning in my lane, especially useful on small country lanes.  :y
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 29 May 2011, 13:37:19
Quote
Yeah i know but I've decided that Kevin is coming out for a spin tomorrow come rain or shine!

Don't tell me I have a caravan as my namesake? :o

Oh! The shame!... ;)
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 29 May 2011, 21:23:20
Quote
Not sure of your towing experience (and not trying to be big headed or anything) but may I suggest that if you haven't towed before you take it very gently to begin with, especially going down hill!

I'm guilty of not using towing mirrors. Hate seeing double of everything...  :-[

Thanks VXL V6, I didn't get grandfather rights so had to do my trailer test  :( although i haven't towed in a while! It still shifts with a van on the back, although it only weighs 630 kg! I can tell the difference on hills, but on a flat it's almost as if it wasn't there! It's the fastest van in the west! :y
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 29 May 2011, 21:23:47
Quote
Quote
Yeah i know but I've decided that Kevin is coming out for a spin tomorrow come rain or shine!

Don't tell me I have a caravan as my namesake? :o

Oh! The shame!... ;)

Unfortunately, yes  :D ;D :y
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 29 May 2011, 21:24:25
Got my mirrors and cable sorted now, thanks peeps!
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: VXL V6 on 29 May 2011, 22:14:47
Quote
Quote
Not sure of your towing experience (and not trying to be big headed or anything) but may I suggest that if you haven't towed before you take it very gently to begin with, especially going down hill!

I'm guilty of not using towing mirrors. Hate seeing double of everything...  :-[

Thanks VXL V6, I didn't get grandfather rights so had to do my trailer test  :( although i haven't towed in a while! It still shifts with a van on the back, although it only weighs 630 kg! I can tell the difference on hills, but on a flat it's almost as if it wasn't there! It's the fastest van in the west! :y

Make sure you don't let the tail wag the dog when you descend a hill! It really isn't fun!

 :y

Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Andy B on 30 May 2011, 00:18:24
Quote
Quote
Quote
Not sure of your towing experience (and not trying to be big headed or anything) but may I suggest that if you haven't towed before you take it very gently to begin with, especially going down hill!

I'm guilty of not using towing mirrors. Hate seeing double of everything...  :-[

Thanks VXL V6, I didn't get grandfather rights so had to do my trailer test  :( although i haven't towed in a while! It still shifts with a van on the back, although it only weighs 630 kg! I can tell the difference on hills, but on a flat it's almost as if it wasn't there! It's the fastest van in the west! :y

Make sure you don't let the tail wag the dog when you descend a hill! It really isn't fun!

 :y


I doubt that 630kg will have much effect on an Omega either up or down hill.  ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: henryd on 30 May 2011, 12:50:25
I bought mirrors for my mig on fleabay,milenco ones that clip to the top surface on the mirror housing as due the shape of the mirrors my old ones wouldn't fit
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Ian_D on 31 May 2011, 12:28:04
Quote
Quote
... Hate seeing double of everything...  :-[

I use the extened mirrors to see as much as I can of behind the caravan & tip the car mirrors down a little to aid positioning in my lane, especially useful on small country lanes.  :y

I do that too Andy, it also stops me from looking in the 'car' wing mirrors and seeing very little! Centre mirror works well when towing too... NOT!  :y

Second time I towed my van, I remember glancing in the mirror and thinking 'F***in hell, there driving a bit close' then remembered ::)! (I was on the motorway at the time)  ;D
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Ian_D on 31 May 2011, 12:47:29
Quote
Quote
.....
Just been looking on the caravan club website.
This bit? Page 6  :y
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1022883/hints-for-trailer-caravanners-mo.pdf


I like the bit at the top of page 2 that says:
'1111bhp is adequate to pull the caravan'

 ;D
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 31 May 2011, 13:16:02
Quote
I like the bit at the top of page 2 that says:
'1111bhp is adequate to pull the caravan'

 ;D

 ;D

.. and 40BHP per tonne sounds like the makings of a particularly tedious holiday. Perhaps they meant 400 BHP per tonne. That'd be more like it. :D
Title: Re: Towing mirrors!
Post by: geoffr70 on 31 May 2011, 21:58:17
Quote
Quote
Quote
... Hate seeing double of everything...  :-[

I use the extened mirrors to see as much as I can of behind the caravan & tip the car mirrors down a little to aid positioning in my lane, especially useful on small country lanes.  :y

I do that too Andy, it also stops me from looking in the 'car' wing mirrors and seeing very little! Centre mirror works well when towing too... NOT!  :y

Second time I towed my van, I remember glancing in the mirror and thinking 'F***in hell, there driving a bit close' then remembered ::)! (I was on the motorway at the time)  ;D

Hahahaha!

I did this the other day! i gave myself a right shock and thought i was about to be rear ended!