How is a Trailer Safety Cable Correctly Attached to the Towbar?
According to reports, the lack of or incorrect attachment of an additional safety rope (or a breakaway rope) in certain car combinations is criticized and punished with high fines. Just in time for the holiday season, Westfalia-Automotive is clarifying the matter so that you can go on holiday safely and properly:
For trailers with a permissible total weight (GVW) of over 750 kg to 3,500 kg, which are therefore in the "medium weight class", overrun brakes are usually used: When the vehicle brakes, the trailer runs into the ground and the trailer brakes are automatically triggered. If the trailer comes loose, the safety rope should bring the trailer to a stop as quickly as possible by triggering the brakes.
Basically, the following variants are possible with regard to the safety eyelet:
Towbars that have a national type approval from the KBA or an approval in accordance with the 1st European approval directive EEC94/20 do not necessarily have a safety eyelet for the breakaway cable.
Towbars that are tested and approved in accordance with ECE 55 R have such a safety eyelet.
If there is no safety eyelet, it is sufficient to loop the safety cable around the ball of the trailer coupling (note: in some countries there are different regulations for this). If there is a safety eyelet, it must be used.
Important: The original spring hook must not be clipped directly into an eyelet or hole, but must be hooked into the rope as a loop. This is the only way it meets the 7500 Newton standard. Direct clipping is only permitted if a breakaway rope with a so-called fire brigade carabiner is retrofitted instead of the original hook. If this is certified according to DIN 5299, it can withstand the force that occurs when the brake rope is used.
Find further information on regulations for various countries on the ADAC website
Regulations in the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland
The legal regulations provide for special safety devices, which require a precautionary measure to ensure that if the trailer breaks away, it does not move on its own but comes to a stop immediately.
This means that attaching the rope through an eyelet is mandatory!
Information on correct installation in the Netherlands can be found on the ANWB website: Click to access the link
Information on correct installation in Switzerland can be found on this website: Click to access the link
Easy to Retrofit Securing Clamps/Eyelets
If you are missing a required eyelet, you can easily order the safety clamps from Westfalia-Automotive and retrofit them. There are different solutions for fixed and detachable towbars:
Part no.: 935211627001
For detachable Westfalia towbars:
Ø ball bar receiving tube = 50 mm: Article no. 921540627001
Ø ball bar receiving tube = 56 mm: Article no. 905243627001
Ø ball bar receiving tube = 84 mm: Article no. 905276627001
