Faulty Brakes on Caravans

Submitted: Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:34
ThreadID: 27615 Views:3896 Replies:10 FollowUps:12
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12 months ago my wife and I purchased the Peak Hill Caravan Park. As ours is a small park we do not have all the roadways sealed and this has enabled us to observe caravans with faulty electric brakes. We estimate that 5% of the caravans that we guide into their site have only one wheel with a break operating, causing this wheel to lock up and skid on the gravel surface. The big problem is that when we discuss this with the driver they are completely unaware of the situation and in most cases say that they have “adjusted the breaks up a bit” so the van still slows them under normal breaking. This action only makes the situation even more dangerous as now under heavy breaking the van will push the rear of the car sideways causing it to either run off the road or out into the oncoming traffic.
I have attempted to contact different people and organisations regarding this situation without any reply. I believe that with the ever increasing number of caravan that are now travelling our highways at or even above the 110km speed limit that there has probably already been some accidents caused by this situation.
There must be a monitoring device available that will alert the driver when this fault has occurred, just like there is available on some cars an indication when tail or brake lights have failed. Does anyone know of such a device or how I can get this issue raised at an organisation that both cares and has the ability to act?
Leighton

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Reply By: gramps - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:40

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:40
I'd suggest speaking to the various state motoring organizations (NRMA, RACQ, RACV, etc). They may highlight it in their regular publications and do a feature article. As to the ability to act, that falls into state legislation etc. Good luck :)
AnswerID: 136694

Follow Up By: gramps - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:42

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:42
You could also try the magazines currently available for caravanning etc. I've seen them but don't read them - no caravan so not bothered.
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Follow Up By: Leighton from Peak Hill Caravan Park - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:47

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:47
Hi Gramps.
So far I have mailed
'eddie.wheeler@act.gov.au' goverment road safety
'caravanworld@apaction.com.au'
'open.road@mynrma.com.au' who told me that "Your query falls within the area of RTA inspections" which I did and even though it has been read no reply as of today.
bmurray@motormouth.com.au. who have replied and said that I should make a post here so here I am....
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Follow Up By: gramps - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:57

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 21:57
Leighton,

Well so much for the NRMA caring about it's members! A reasonable proportion of them being "migrating turtles" as I view them on the road :)
Nothing like passing the buck, eh.

Mate, it depends on how strongly you feel about the subject and how persistent you are prepared to be.

Try the other state motoring organizations and see how you go.
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FollowupID: 390467

Follow Up By: Member - Ross P (NSW) - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:51

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:51
Give caravan and motor home magazine a go. they have a couple of sections in their mag which could use this sort of input. Letters to the editor and questions to "Old Dog" or Roothy.
Have to say that most brake assemblies on caravans are a bit agricultural. I have mine checked before any big trip or once a year regardless!
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Reply By: Leighton from Peak Hill Caravan Park - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 22:03

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 22:03
Hi Gramps I will not give up on this until I am either proven wrong or get some one to listen, I will try the others as you suggested. We usually refer to them as "Grey Nomads" as they are our business so we "never upset the customers"
AnswerID: 136699

Follow Up By: gramps - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 22:06

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 22:06
LOL Grey nomads vs migrating turtles

Appreciate you will have to tread warily with this subject. All the best.
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Follow Up By: GOB & denny vic member - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 06:40

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 06:40
hey gramps
truckster just calls us mobile roadblocks and i resemble his remarks lolololol

steve
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Reply By: eerfree - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 22:46

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 22:46
Leighton
Could you post your query to- Caravanersforum.msn.com-lots more "grey nomads" on there and they may be more interested in this topic.

Cheers

eerfree
AnswerID: 136705

Follow Up By: Leighton from Peak Hill Caravan Park - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:55

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:55
Hi eerfree

I have just done as you suggested lets see what we can "shake out of the woodwork"?
Thanks for your advice
Leighton
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FollowupID: 390508

Reply By: troopy_wonderer - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 05:00

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 05:00
Hi Leighton,
I am a "grey nomad" or "migrating turtle" with electronic background.
Most interested in the issue you have raised.
I may be able to come up with a design for a device to monitor braking as you have suggested.
Regards
troopy_wonderer
AnswerID: 136727

Follow Up By: Leighton from Peak Hill Caravan Park - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:30

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:30
Hi Troopy.
Go for it and then take out a patent as I am pushing that it becomes compulsory for such a device to be fitted to all electric braked vans.
Leighton
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Reply By: GOB & denny vic member - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 06:43

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 06:43
goodday leighton
i dont know about the braking situation (mine always seem to operate ok ) but the current speed limit when towing a caravan in all states is 100kph
steve
AnswerID: 136731

Follow Up By: Leighton from Peak Hill Caravan Park - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:38

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:38
Hi Steve.
Yes the speed limit when towing may be 100 Km, however ask the road patrol on the Newell Highway and they will tell you that they have clocked caravans doing 110Km in a 50 Km zones and 135Km on the open road. Just consider the problems with a van travelling at this speed with faulty brakes as you're being passed or coming the other way when he/she hits the brakes?
Unfortunately people do not abide by the speed limits, and that is why cars and vans are actually manufactured to travel at greater than speed limits for safety reasons.
Leighton
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Reply By: traveller2 - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:40

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 08:40
Another name for caravanners used by a lot of truckies is 'Wobblies' for obvious reasons.
AnswerID: 136740

Reply By: nrb1748 - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 10:30

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 10:30
I have a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller. When a wire to one wheel was damaged the Prodigy indicated an abnormal power display, so I was immediately aware something was wrong. However a good understanding is needed on what the different displays on the controller mean.
nrb1748

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AnswerID: 136761

Reply By: Alan H - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 12:22

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 12:22
From what I've seen of other drivers when on my travels pulling a van, those that consider us as "mobile roadblocks" etc. aren't very competent drivers themselves!

The performance of drivers when attempting to overtake anything which impedes them in their headlong rush to get where ever is amazing.

There are those that just pop out from close behind for a look to see if it's clear, those that creep past so slow in an effort not to break the speed limit that they put themselves and all others at risk, and then there's those that have a look and then because their thought processes are just a bit slow, decide when it's far too late to go anyway!

When I come to a place where it's safe for others to pass, such as a floodway in the North, I indicate and pull over as far as I can but don't stop, but the slow realisation that they can now pass from those behind is incredible.
Instead of abusing others or calling them silly names, some drivers should take a close look at their own abilities (or lack of them) on the road, but that would never do because they're all such good drivers aren't they.
Aren't they?
Happy motoring.
Alan H.
AnswerID: 136778

Follow Up By: gramps - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 12:48

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 12:48
Calm down Alan H. If you don't have a sense of humour you should seriously look at acquiring one :) Talk about defensive.
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Follow Up By: Alan H - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 12:59

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 12:59
Not defensive Gramps, but sometimes frightened at the performance on the road when being overtaken!
If it was funny I'd laugh but it ain't.
Alam H.
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FollowupID: 390548

Follow Up By: gramps - Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 13:11

Friday, Oct 28, 2005 at 13:11
Alan H,

I see your point. You get those situations even if you're not towing. It's always that nut behind the wheel that causes accidents or makes our hearts pump a little harder :)
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FollowupID: 390551

Reply By: Jarse - Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 17:16

Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 17:16
Actually, the speed limit when towing in NSW is the posted speed limit.
AnswerID: 137036

Reply By: prado_95 - Monday, Nov 07, 2005 at 23:56

Monday, Nov 07, 2005 at 23:56
Electric brakes are a known problem item on trailers that leave the tar.

The brake assy wears excessively, and the cables can be snagged too easily, BUT they can work well if maintained properly ($$).

Hydrauldic / air brakes do not have quite the issues, but are more expensive in the first place.
AnswerID: 138369

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