BANGING THE DRUM
Caravan brakes aren’t an exciting or regular topic of conversation at Happy Hour — or any other time for that matter — unless, of course there’s been a problem, like an emergency braking or a loud squeal that suggests maintenance is necessary.
That said, caravan brakes are very much a safety feature, and when set up correctly, they can mean the difference between a controlled stop and one where something unfortunate happens. I’m not a total expert on brakes, so I had a chat with Chris Assat from Couplemate Trailer parts. Couplemate has a large range of caravan and trailer parts available, particularly those items relating to towing — chassis, tow hitch, suspension, brakes and wheels.
Just about all caravans used in Australia today have a braking system fitted in accordance with Australian Design Rule (ADR) 38, because all trailers/caravans with a GTM over 750kg are required to have a braking system, in addition to a parking brake. The braking system could be a
