In order to increase the possibilities of transportation by conventional vehicles, you can use a towed platform on which you can place various cargo depending on the specifics.

You can attach it for towing using a special design called a hitch for a car trailer. The safety and reliability of the road train movement depends on its characteristics, purpose and quality.

Trailer hitch mechanism for a car trailer

The towing device for a car is a metal structure of two connecting elements, one of which is called a hook. It attaches to the rear of the car (often referred to as a towbar). The second element is located on the front of the tug (lock).

WATCH THE VIDEO

The connection point for all existing models is made in a spherical shape. It is on it that the locking device for the car trailer is fixed. It compresses the ball, providing a stable connection, while still being able to pivot while moving.

Classification and characteristics

What models are most often used on vaz cars

A trailer without a towbar is sold because of the variety of different hooks and balls that fit some vehicle models and are not at all suitable for installation on others.

Towbars for cars are divided into different classes depending on the attachment, the shape of the hook, whether the tow hitch can be adjusted, and also into categories depending on how much weight can be towed with them.

The following attachments of non-removable hooks can be distinguished (such hooks either cannot be dismantled, or for this you need to use a tool - unscrew the bolt fasteners):

• Designation and type of ball "A". It is one of the most popular because of its low price and simplicity of design. It is very easy to assemble it with your own hands, since the mount itself consists of two bolts, for which there is a separate place on modern vehicle brands. The towing hitch for a light trailer with such a towbar is designed for a tug with a mass of 1-1.5 tons, and the maximum pressure on the ball should not exceed 100 kg if the hitch is planned to be used for a long time. Exceeding this parameter can lead to rapid destruction of the structure and rendering it unusable.

Designation and type of ball "F". A special type, the adjustment of which assumes two possible levels of height and requires a pre-installed special socket with 4 holes.

Designation and type of ball "G". The installation location for it is the same as for the previous “F” type, the same 4 bolt holes, but they are all used during installation. In this regard, there is no possibility of height adjustment. Thus, for types "F" and "G" the installation location can be of the same type and they can be used in different cases, depending on the needs.

• These towing devices for passenger cars differ from standard systems with increased characteristics. With their help, you can safely tow as many as 2 tons, and the maximum possible pressure on the ball is 150 kg. It is quite difficult to install it yourself and it is better to entrust this procedure to car service specialists.

Conventional designation and type of ball "H". A rare hitch for a passenger car trailer, which can be found on domestically produced cars, including the VAZ brand. Assumes the use of a welded joint. It will be impossible to dismantle it in the future. It is usually part of a structure that is bolted to the body. Typically, it can be used to tow cargo weighing no more than 900 kg. You cannot install such a structure yourself; you will need the help of a welder.

Detachable mechanisms used in domestic and foreign machines are mainly represented by mechanisms for manually unscrewing nuts or fixing hooks using switches.

It is a good choice for car enthusiasts who do not want to spoil the day-to-day look of their car and can remove or replace the towing hook. However, such systems usually do not allow towing cargo weighing more than 1 ton.

Coupling

Coupling device for a trailer, which is fixed to the ball of the tow bar. Its replacement is usually required only in the event of a breakdown or the need to increase the size of the permissible weight.

These lock designs are also designed for towing various loads, weighing from 750 kg to 3.5 tons. The capabilities of such a lock must match the characteristics of the hook installed.

How to make the right choice at a reasonable price

Coupling mechanisms produced by various domestic companies are presented on the Russian market. Among them:

1. Baltex is a manufacturer from St. Petersburg, which is famous for towbars with stainless pads for off-road vehicles.
2. The plus leader is the Taganrog company, which has been operating for over 20 years. Offers various types of towing devices at an optimal price-quality ratio.
3. Union - 96 - the enterprise is located in St. Petersburg. Its products are represented by towing devices with stainless hooks, single and double plates.
4. Products from foreign manufacturers have also gained the greatest popularity. Among them Aftohak, Brink, Westfalia.
5. Avtohak is a Polish company that quickly organizes the production of towing devices for all foreign-made vehicles, including trucks.
6. Brink is a Dutch manufacturer that offers many convenient quick-release hooks in its range.
7. Westfalia is a German manufacturer trusted by motorists around the world. It is he who holds the world brand of leadership in the production of high-quality couplings. It was this company that first introduced to the world the removable tracop devices.

The price of a hitch for a light trailer, depending on the characteristics and brand, can vary significantly and on average vary from 2 to 15 thousand rubles.

Moreover, options for brands of foreign production usually cost 1.5-2 times more than domestic ones.

To choose the right hitch for a light trailer, you must first of all decide on the purpose of use.

If it is supposed to carry out rare flights for the transportation of household and construction supplies several times a year, models costing from 2 to 5 thousand rubles will do.

If you need regular trips with a towed load, you should pay attention to the towing hitch for a light trailer on a model at a price of 5-10 thousand rubles, since they will last much longer and their use will reduce the risks of breakdowns to a minimum.

Tsu for a car trailer, which allows you to move loads and vehicles weighing 3.5 tons, is usually used only by large companies on special purpose vehicles. Its cost is on average 15 - 20 thousand rubles.

It is important to choose towing devices for passenger cars not only on the basis of their own characteristics. It is worth considering the type of vehicle. For example, it makes no sense to put an expensive mechanism with great transportation capabilities on a small car. Its capacity is still not enough to safely transport heavy cargo.

The specific model is also selected based on the capabilities of the machine and the purposes of use. When choosing a more expensive imported model, do not forget that replacing parts, for example, springs for a car trailer, will be very expensive, unlike most domestic counterparts.

Is it worth doing the installation and adjustment yourself

It is also worth considering several times before using homemade couplings. In most cases, such use leads to significant damage to one's own and other people's property, life and health of people.

Power socket

If, nevertheless, it becomes necessary to carry out the installation yourself, then you can use the following algorithm of actions.

Hello dear friends! Many of you are going to install a towbar on your vehicle to enhance its transportation capabilities. Therefore, I recommend that you first find out what the coupling head is and what the coupling device is. Two concepts about which there is a lot of controversy, discussion and conversation.

I will try to tell you in detail about each device and help you choose.

Coupling devices

To be more precise, traction-coupling. Does not forget about the seat-couplings, which are also used for towing loads. Only they are relevant for tractors, that is, large trucks for transporting containers and other trailers. There are also trailing devices for a walk-behind tractor, which is also important for owners of summer cottages. But let's move on to the main topic of conversation.

We are interested in the traction-coupling version of the device (HF). We use them for a passenger car. But what kind of gibberish is this? This intricate name hides your familiar towbar. Yes, it is correct to call it a towing device, although in fact everyone is accustomed to the simple concept of a towbar.

The following towers are popular:

• Bosal;
• Leader-Plus;
• Trailer;
• Thule, etc.

When planning to buy them and install your own car with your own hands, I would recommend choosing high-quality products that will last more than one season.

Tow hitch is used for coupling with different types of trailers. With their help, we carry several sacks of potatoes from the dacha, independently transport building materials and use them for various other tasks, saving money on the services of freight carriers. I put it on my Renault Duster or Niva, and you don't know the problems. In this case, you do not need to dirty the interior or trunk.

But TSUs are different. Some are designed for the carrying capacity of 3500 kg of the installed trailer (by the way, this is the maximum load for passenger cars), while for others it is a couple of times lower. This parameter imposes restrictions on the weight that the element can withstand.

Structurally, the towing hitch consists of two elements:

• crossbars;
• ball joint (fixed on the beam).

There are three types of this device, each of which has its own characteristics and functions:

• welded;
• removable;
• flanged.

Let's figure out who is who. Welded tow hitch is highly reliable, but you cannot disconnect it. That is, the hitch will be constantly present on the car. It used to be relevant and common. But now there are alternative solutions in the form of removable and flanged towbars.

Detachable easily removable as needed. Although this is clear from the name. But they are more expensive than welded ones. In terms of reliability and strength, when choosing a quality product, there are no complaints about removable mechanisms.

Flanged towing hitch units are mounted on a special, pre-prepared platform. This must be considered before installation. Although I would call them the best solution in the modern automotive world and what is happening on the roads. But you choose in any case.

The price for them is different, as well as quality, reliability, durability. Buy only certified devices. They are manufactured according to the current official standards to ensure that they match the selected trailer and coupling head.

This is how we smoothly move on to the topic of coupling heads. And you didn’t notice.

Coupling heads

It is logical that the towing hitch and the coupling heads are somehow connected with each other. But how?

Imagine you have a new or old model of a welded or detachable type. This hitch must be connected to your trailer. But you won't just throw on the hook and go. Nothing good will come of such a trip. History clearly showed this when the first prototypes of towbars and car trailers appeared.

This led to the creation of a locking hitch, that is, coupling heads. They serve to ensure a safe and secure connection between the towbar and the trailer. The lock is located on the trailer itself (on the drawbar).

Among the demanded SG (coupling heads), I would include:

• Alko Knott;
• Chooyo;
• Winterhoff.

But before buying them, let's examine the key features of the devices.

A modern locking device for trailers or just a lock consists of three components:

• detachable coupling mechanism;
• depreciation system;
• fasteners.

The first element serves directly for the connection between the towbar and the trailer for the machine. If the ball diameter is 50 mm or you have a diameter of 60 mm, then the dimensions of the coupling head must be appropriate.

Coupling heads are available in different shapes, so they can easily be connected to shaped and round pipes, ideally lying under the ball. They also differ in diameter and section. That is, choosing an SG for a pipe with a cross section of 60 × 60 mm will not be difficult. Everything is standardized, and therefore strictly corresponds to each other.

Damping elements are always present here in order to damp the forces acting on the car during hard braking and jerking. If there is no damping device, there is a high probability of an imminent breakdown of the entire trailer and, at the same time, the towbar (hitch, you remember) installed on the car.

The role of fasteners is very clear, since they are responsible for the simplicity and reliability of the connection. The heads differ from each other depending on which trailer they are intended for. For example, for trailers for passenger cars, they are developed for lower loads, for trucks, the calculation is made for heavier structures.

If you bought a light trailer for a large SUV, it will probably be too low. This is due to the different installation heights of the towbar on a passenger car and a jeep. But here the spacer will help you. It adjusts the height and achieves an optimum level ratio between the towbar and the towing head.

You can purchase coupling heads from us. They cost about 1 thousand rubles. The assortment is large, which will allow you to choose the best model for your car. If necessary, we will help you make the right choice by answering your questions.

Features of production and operation

Keep in mind that a large mass of cargo behind the machine is a potential hazard. For this purpose, a roll-over brake is provided on modern trailers. When you brake, the whole mass of the trailer starts to put pressure on the car, pushing it. It's like in a minibus, when the driver brakes sharply, you seem to keep yourself straight, but another person is falling on you from behind. There is nothing pleasant and safe here.

Therefore, when transporting a large amount of cargo on tractors or even passenger cars, the presence of an inertial brake on the trailer will help you. How it works? When braking, the inertia force acts on the trailer, which rolls over the vehicle itself. This force is proportional to the deceleration. Force acts on the hitch head, pressing it down and transfers the force to the brakes of your trailer. For this, a hydraulic or mechanical brake system is used. This reduces the risk of the trailer skidding, increases the efficiency and safety of braking while maintaining stability on the road.

As part of the production of trailers, they are tested on special stands using a loader and auxiliary mechanisms. Without it, the design cannot be approved for sale.

Actively operating the towbar and the trailer itself with a coupling head, it is strongly recommended to always have a repair kit on hand. It can come in handy on the road, going on a long journey. Who knows, maybe you are going to your parents in the village to harvest potatoes at your dacha to finish building a bathhouse, simultaneously loading a ton of wood into the trailer.

It is not enough just to choose a good trailer. An appropriate towbar is required for it. Oh, sorry, towing hitch. Although, what's the difference? Well, do not forget about a reliable coupling head. The main thing is that they match each other and provide a high-quality, reliable and secure connection.

Good luck to everyone on the roads, good harvest and quality construction! Or why are you using your towbar with a trailer there ?!

Subscribe, leave comments, ask your questions and tell your friends about us!

Many car owners sooner or later face the issue of transporting bulky goods. It can be personal belongings, building materials, crops from the garden, furniture, goods for sale, etc. Naturally, not everything can be packed in the salon or trunk of your car, especially if it is not a minibus, van or minivan. In such cases, the best solution to the problem is to use a trailer. It can be either personal or rented. Of course, to tow it, you need such a thing as a towing device, or as it is also called, a hitch.

What is a towing hitch (Hitch)

Trailer (towing) device is a device for towing a trailer or trailer by a vehicle (tractor). Most modern cars have the provided mounts for the tow bar, or are equipped with them from the factory. The hitch is attached to the car body or its elements by means of a bolted or welded connection, and can have both rear (most often) and front (for special cases) location. Usually, the towbar is located at the rear of the car. A car equipped with it can be recognized by a ball or hook protruding from under the bumper, to which, in fact, the trailer is attached.

But it's perfectly fair to say that evolution has taken place. The device has fallen prey to great criticism, rumors and even promises of ban or regulation a year, no wonder the putsch began for some time to be directed and set outside of its purpose. Motorists from all over Brazil are looking for a safety device that contains and protects the rear of the car from "collision", but incorrectly, as this could cause more serious damage as the bumper damping function is canceled, giving the chassis the impact of the impact.

Types of hook-on devices by fastening method

Towbars by type of installation and fastening are divided into three types:

• removable;
• conditionally removable;
• non-removable.

The first type provides for quick dismantling (folding) not of the device itself, but of the towing hook using a specially provided latch. This is the most convenient option that allows you to install or dismantle (fold) the protruding element of the hitch at any time. The cost of such a removable towbar is, of course, two to three times more expensive than a fixed one.

With this fact, the true function of the clutches, i.e. towing, became secondary. Few home accessories include poor quality hardware with poor wiring. Some couplings can only be secured with screws attached to the spare tire box, which can cause serious damage in the event of a collision. In addition to not playing the role of a hitch, the accessory can be used at any time to tow a trailer or trailer, resulting in serious disaster as it will not be prepared due to its physical resistance or fixation.

Conditionally removable devices make it possible to dismantle the trailer hook by unscrewing a few bolts. It takes a little longer, but the functionality of the structure does not suffer from this.

A non-removable (stationary) hitch differs from the above devices in that its hook is tightly welded to the structure of the hitch.

Another allegation was that pedestrians kicked their feet and permanently injured parked cars. One of the most disastrous consequences of this measure, if approved, would be unemployment, according to engineer Michel Ebel, director of the Simefr Trailers and Trailers Department.

Today in the clutch industry there are approximately 20,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout Brazil. In any case, the most disadvantaged will be the trailer owners, who would have to spend twice or three times what is usually spent to adapt to the new regulations that had to be installed in vehicles ah, only replaceable couplings. One part, already attached to the vehicle chassis, ends with a slot behind the last bumper line. The driver would then only place the ball assembly to the ground during towing.

Types of towbars by design

There are two types of towing devices, differing in configuration:

• european;
• american.

The European type of towbars is characterized by the usual configuration of the hitch with a trailer - a metal ball. In Russia, according to GOST - 28248, the diameter of the coupling ball has a fixed diameter (50 mm). All domestic trailers are equipped with a drawbar for this standard.

In addition to hampering the process, this would be another blow from the many trailers already provided to owners. Vehicles that have already had a clutch to date will be released if they contain: a solid sphere, a socket fitted with an electrical installation, a place to fix the chain and no sharp ends.

Under these regulations, transit agencies are trying to save the correct use of equipment and non-compliance by those using the connection for other purposes. There are cars that even have hollow and glowing ball couplings, even with no output and no electrical wiring.

Why exactly a ball? The fact is that this form allows to perceive not only horizontal loads, but also vertical ones (for single-axle trailers), which makes it more versatile.

In Europe, ball joint standards may have slightly different dimensions, for example:

Manufacturers and importers of vehicles covered by this Resolution shall notify the Union executive body responsible for the transit of vehicle models that are capable of towing trailers and should include the following information in the user manual. Article 8º This resolution shall enter into force on the date of its publication in effect in the following periods. It is important for the tourist to know that most of the issues addressed in the resolution are addressed to manufacturers.

For drivers who already have a hitch in their vehicle, there are only 4 things to consider. Hard ball for connection. - Socket and electrical installation for towing. - Chain fastener - No sharp surfaces. All of these items are already present for those who actually evacuate trucks, tents, trailers or boats. The big question is such "lighting fixtures, correctly adjusted" and "nameplate". According to Alfredo Perez da Silva, President of the National Highway Council and Director of the National Highway Department, the quote refers to the care that a driver must have with the lighting standards in a vehicle.

• 47.6 mm (1 7/8 ");
• 50.8 mm (2 ");
• 58.7 mm (2 5/16 ").

Towbars with ball coupling are used to transport trailers with a total weight of up to 3500 kg.

The American type of towbar has a slightly different form of clutch. It is a quadrangular shaft, into which the corresponding end of the trailer drawbar enters with a characteristic locking mechanism in the form of a hook-shaped handle.

He states the same, that whoever has the headlights of the car in order will not need the measures and still says that by standards there should be no existing lighting in the clutches. A license plate is mandatory from this date only for those who manufacture, discharging vehicles that already own the equipment. This Regulation No. 55 replaces the term “correctly adjusted lighting device” in Resolution 197 “Without lighting device”. Note that the problem of lighting and "hard surfaces" is still confusing and ambiguous.

The general classification of towbars looks like this:

• class "A" - the hook with the clutch ball is fixed on 2 bolts (the load on the ball is not more than 150 kg with the total mass of the trailer up to 1500 kg);
• class "B" - removable hook with a ball (fastened with a nut);
• class "C" - removable (folding) hook on the eccentric;
• class "BMA" - coupling ball with quick release coupling (for luxury cars);
• class "E" - connection under the American standard (up to 1500 kg);
• class "H" - non-removable (welded structure);
• class "FC" - ultralight (up to 750 kg);
• class "GC" - with 4-bolt fastening;
• class "F" - removable forged ball with 2 bolts and the ability to adjust vertically;
• class "G" - analogue of class "F" with 4-bolt fastening;
• class "V" - analogue of class "F" without regulation.

Anyone who does not comply with the decision will receive a five-point penalty and a penalty. They are prohibited from using clutch vehicles that are part of the list of models that will be released by the National Highway Department on Monday for all Brazilian children. Since the end of July last year, when the deadline for all manufacturers and importers of cars sold in Brazil will send a list of models technically capable of using the accessory to the department, dealers and vehicle owners are waiting for the list to be released, which will allow checking the use of the equipment.

Classification of trailers by weight load

Naturally, any hitch is designed for a certain mass of the transported cargo (trailer). Using a hitch that is not suitable for the towed weight can lead to unpredictable consequences. For this reason, towbars are usually divided into three classes:

However, Denatran said that the list should be expanded after clarifying doubts with some manufacturers and importers. This means that not all vehicles on the list are free to use the connection, but those that are part of a relationship are already banned. The problem was that after the deadline for manufacturers and importers to ship the lists in July, Denatran did not disclose the relationship for fear of possible inspection issues. However, he reported that he had come to the conclusion that the resolution had already given several deadlines and that there had been no adjustment period.

• for passenger cars (the maximum weight of the towed trailer is 1500 kg);
• for minivans and station wagons (2500 kg);
• for SUVs and minibuses (3500 kg).

Features of the electrical connection of the trailer

The towed trailer or trailer must be connected to the vehicle's electrical circuit. Its optical signaling devices are required to work clearly and promptly warn other road users about the maneuvers being made. For this, the towing hitch is equipped with a special wiring kit. Some towbar manufacturers offer wiring harnesses for the towbar, while others sell separately.

The agency also said the list is on an upward trend, as some manufacturers were not clear on the specifications of each model that the compound might use. Thus, they will be consulted again and new relationships, according to each brand, may be disclosed as doubts are clarified.

As for the models that cannot use the hitch there is no doubt and the prohibition is already clear as the car manufacturer itself does not recommend using it. When traveling or transporting objects, it is often necessary to have extra space in the vehicle. For vehicle owners who are tired of going through the "squeeze" when transporting baggage, a towing rig is the way out.

The design of the wire, designed to connect the electrics of the car and the trailer, consists of two parts, one of which has a plug, and the second has a socket (socket). In order to connect the towed vehicle to the on-board circuit of the machine, it is enough to plug the plug into the socket. However, here it should be borne in mind that the connecting elements for towing devices are of two types: for 7 contacts and for 13. In other words, if you purchase a trailer already equipped with 7-contact wiring, and the hitch installed on your car provides a 13-pin connection, you will have to get a special adapter (adapter).

The car accessories market offers several options for transport trolleys according to the desired utility. But owners should be aware of the manufacturer's regularity and the requirements of road traffic laws. A trailer or coupling is considered a vehicle accessory and its use is indicated for people who want to increase the vehicle's carrying capacity.

The price varies depending on the vehicle category. Recreational vehicles with trailers carry from 400 kg to 500 kg and utilities up to 500 kg. The clutch must have a plate and its own documentation, registration certificate and vehicle license. Therefore, the driver has up to 30 days after installing the accessory to report changes in the car to the Transit Department of the region in which he lives. A car owner who has an associated transport cart pays a license fee annually and is exempt from the cost of motor vehicle property tax and compulsory insurance.

Homemade tow hitch

Often on the roads you can find cars equipped with homemade towing hitch devices. It is easy to visually distinguish them from the factory ones: non-standard sizes, shape, quality of welds, etc. The use of homemade towbars is not prohibited, but also not recommended. This is not to say that all traction control systems made in artisanal conditions are unreliable, but there are certain requirements that it is undesirable to neglect. One of these requirements is OST 37.001.299, according to which each factory hitch undergoes a technical test for the fatigue strength of its structure. It is impossible to carry out such tests at home. Naturally, none of the home-grown TSU manufacturers will give you any guarantee for their product.

The National Transportation Board establishes some mandatory equipment for the use of a transportation cart. These are: rear bumper, mud flaps, lights, arrows and a parking brake connected to the towed vehicle. In addition, they must have reflective stripes at the back and side to avoid accidents on the move. Penalties for non-compliance with this definition vary according to article 230 of the Brazilian Transport Code.

The question of whether a trailer protects a vehicle from damage in collision situations is an ongoing controversy. Therefore, engineer Gildson Dantas explained that this is a myth. A trailer in a collision event can cause further damage to the vehicle train because it is not designed to absorb the impact. In a collision, it can cause a defect in the body and in the car unit.

Installing the tow bar

For most passenger cars, installing the towing hitch requires removing the rear bumper and its amplifier. The latter is usually not mounted backwards, since its role is perfectly performed by the TSU beam. In the lower part of the bumper, a cutout is made for the beam and the towbar hook.

You want to buy hitch for your car, there are different systems. We will help you choose the one that suits your needs! On the website, simply enter your vehicle registration plate and the auto-compatible connectors will be offered to you directly.

Find a trailer hitch for your vehicle now

The best guarantee for finding compatible accessories.

Removable nut with tool

Would you like to buy an auto coupling? Choose a detachable goose loop with a tool, ideal for frequent use. It may happen that the ball of the trailer is identified as an obstacle by the recoil sensors if the vehicle is equipped with one. In this case, it is preferable to use a detachable hitch without tools.

Most often, the towbar is bolted to the side members of the vehicle. In some cases - to the longitudinal beams or the body. It is recommended to seal the holes for the towbar attachment with anti-corrosion agents.

TSU service

Like any other design, the towbar requires timely maintenance. The ball of the towbar must be constantly lubricated. Only then will he be able to ensure the correct operation of the hitch. To prevent mechanical damage to the ball, it is better to protect it with a special cap, and the electrical connector with a plug. If the ball is worn out, it should be replaced using a part of the same manufacturer with the same dimensions.

Detachable standard tool trailer

Rod, vertical or horizontal, detachable without tools

The detachable towbar can be removed with a lever, the ball joint can be locked and removed in seconds. The hitch of the car seat is secured with an anti-theft wheel. called a retractable hitch, it is almost invisible when its ball joint is disassembled.

The condition of fastening the towbar to the car body must be checked every 1000-1500 km of run.

Towing hitch manufacturers

Traction coupling devices are produced by dozens of companies, both domestic and foreign. Here are just a few of them:

• Bosal is a Dutch company that produces more than 200 types of towing hitch of different series for cars and trucks;
• Brink is another Dutch manufacturer with subsidiaries all over Europe. European market leader;
• VFM - a number of enterprises in Russia and Turkey that are part of the Bosal group of companies;
• Westfalia is the largest German manufacturer of towbars, trailers and trailers. Produces more than 800 types of towing hitch for all brands of cars and trucks;
• Aragon is a large Spanish manufacturer of towbars, one of the leaders in the European market;
• HiddenHitch is one of the leaders in the trailer coupling market in North America;
• AvtoS is a Russian company (Kolomna, Moscow region) for the manufacture of budget towbars for domestic and imported cars;
• BALTEX is a Russian company (St. Petersburg) specializing in the development, production and sale of towing couplers.

The horizontal removable ball joint is differentiated, the mount remains visible behind the vehicle when the ball is removed, the most aesthetic vertical removable ball joint, the invisible knee cap mount is removed. Looking for aesthetics and usability? Choose a high quality retractable ball bearing. The advantage of this self-tightening hitch is that its ballpoint pen fits easily under the bumper when not in use thanks to its swivel mechanism.

What is a self-help vehicle tailored to my needs?

Towing a trailer, boat trailer or cyclist

The couplings are supplied individually or in packages with a universal or specific wiring harness in 7 or 13 pins, adapted to the vehicle. In case of casual use, it is recommended to opt for a detachable vertical ball joint without tools, which will be much more practical to use and also more aesthetic than removable shooting with a tool. Trailers for cars
(With the official permission of the collection "Useful pages" )

When operating a trailer, the owner will not only need specific driving skills, but also some knowledge about its structure will be useful.

Basic concepts

Trailer - a vehicle not equipped with an engine and intended for movement in a convoy with a power-driven vehicle.
Towing vehicle (hereinafter - a car) - a power-driven vehicle towing a trailer.
Unladen weight of the trailer - its own weight with a spare wheel (if the trailer is equipped with it), without load.
Permitted maximum or full mass - the mass of the equipped vehicle with cargo, driver and passengers, set by the manufacturer as the maximum permissible.

light and heavy.
Lungs - trailers with a maximum permissible weight not exceeding 750 kg.
Heavy - trailers with a maximum permissible weight of over 750 kg. Mandatory equipped with a braking system.

Rules for the registration of trailers for passenger cars in the Russian Federation

Trailers for passenger cars are subject to mandatory registration with the traffic police. When selling through a retail trade network or during customs clearance, a vehicle passport (PTS), an invoice certificate and a "Transit" license plate are issued to the trailer. PTS contains information about the brand and model, and 1 identification number (VIN), year of manufacture, gross weight, body and / or frame number. A certificate of account is a document confirming the ownership of a trailer. Transit numbers give the right to transport it to the place of permanent registration. The trailer must be registered at the owner's place of residence no later than 5 days after its purchase, deregistration or customs clearance, or during the validity period of the "Transit" registration mark. When registering at the place of residence, the owner is issued a certificate of registration and a registration mark.

Trailers are subject to technical inspection once every two years if no more than 5 years have passed since the year of their production (including the year of production), and once a year if more than 5 years have passed. The month the trailer is presented for inspection is indicated in the technical inspection coupon. As a rule, it is installed the same as that of the car with which the trailer is operated, or it is selected in accordance with the last digit of the state registration plate.

Operating rules

Drivers with a category "B", "C" or "D" driving license may operate a light trailer. In category "B", you can use a trailer only if its permissible maximum mass does not exceed the mass of the equipped vehicle, and the sum of the permissible maximum mass of the vehicle and the trailer does not exceed 3500 kg. Otherwise, as well as for towing a heavy trailer, it is required to open a category "E" driver's license.

Equipment of the towing vehicle

To tow a trailer, the towing vehicle must be equipped with a special towing hitch (hereinafter referred to as TSU) and a plug socket for powering the trailer electrical equipment. There are two main types of tow barriers:

• clip loop with lock... Consists of a bracket into which a ring is inserted, fixed on the trailer hitch assembly and a pin that fixes the ring in the bracket. Widespread in trucks and off-road vehicles;
• backlash-free ball hitch... It consists of a coupling ball with a diameter of 50 mm (standard in the Russian Federation OST 37.001.096-77, international standard ISO-1103-76) and a metal structure with which the towbar is rigidly attached to the rear of the car body.

Various models of towing hitch can be attached to the car body through the bumper brackets and (or) directly to the load-bearing elements of the body and the trunk floor. Among domestic cars, only the VAZ-2108-15 family has standard attachment points for the towbar. When installing the device on other vehicles, it is supposed to independently mark and drill the mounting holes. On most vehicles, you usually have to remove the rear bumper before installing the towbar.

There are demountable towbar structures that allow you to remove the hook with the coupling ball.

The socket is fixed on a special bracket for the tow bar. It connects to the appropriate wires in the vehicle's rear wiring harness (in the trunk near the reversing lights). The colors of the harness wires leading to the corresponding lamps are indicated in the car's wiring diagram. The most common connection diagram of a trailer hitch socket for cars is shown in Fig. 1.

If the trailer is wider than the tractor and obscures the view through the standard rear-view mirrors, then the car on both sides must have rear-view mirrors on elongated brackets. The trailer must be equipped with two wheel chocks for installation under the wheels when stopping on slopes.

Trailer classification by purpose

Trailers for passenger cars are divided into universal cargodesigned for the carriage of various goods, and trailers for special purposes.

Special purpose trailers include:

• dump trucks for the transportation of bulk cargo;
• cisterns for transportation of liquids;
• trailers for transporting equipment - boats, hydro- or motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc .;
• car transporter trailers for car transportation;
• tourist trailers for luggage and comfortable rest of tourists;
• caravan trailers - with a voluminous body, intended for rest and overnight stays of tourists in parking lots. They are usually equipped with a gas stove, water tanks, dry closet, etc .;
• commercial trailers - mobile pavilions for trade, equipped with the necessary equipment (refrigerator, showcase, etc.);
• animal trailers (for example, racehorses).

Trailer device

The main components of the trailer - frame, drawbar, body and suspension.

Frame universal cargo trailers are usually made in the form of a metal welded structure, consisting of two longitudinal spars and two to four cross members. Trailers for transporting equipment have a spatial frame.

Drawer - A-shaped or I-shaped horizontal arm attached to the front of the trailer frame. On the drawbar are hitch assembly, safety cables, foldable stand (on some trailers).

The drawbar can accommodate the spare wheel of the trailer. The drawbar can be folding (when folded, it is removed under the bottom of the trailer) or removable and equipped with an extension for transporting long loads. Some types of folding drawbar allow, without disconnecting the trailer from the tractor, tipping the body backward, which is convenient when unloading bulk goods, such as sand.

Body universal cargo trailers are welded metal or prefabricated galvanized or painted. There are also models with a metal frame and wooden floor and sides. The tailgate, and sometimes the rest, can be folded back, making it easier to load and unload the trailer. Some models have extensions that increase the useful volume of the body. Most universal trailers are equipped with a removable rubberized tarpaulin, which is mounted on a collapsible metal frame.

Trailers for transporting equipment, instead of a body, are equipped with special, as a rule, adjustable lodgements (skids), on which the transported cargo is placed. The most expensive models have a fiberglass floor and roof, and are also equipped with winches and a lowering platform for convenient loading and unloading of equipment.

In car transporter trailers, the body is a massive platform adapted for reliable fastening of the transported vehicle. These trailers are equipped with a powerful winch, thrust struts that prevent the platform from lowering during loading, and perforated ladders that prevent the wheels of the car from sliding.

Bodies of caravan trailers and commercial trailers are made of multi-layer panels (the so-called sandwich panels 2 ) fixed to a metal frame.

The body of a tourist trailer is a plastic or metal box with a folding tent house inside.

Suspension

Trailers for passenger cars can be uniaxial or biaxial... A trailer with two axles, the distance between which is less than 1 m, is called a trailer coupled axle... On single-axle trailers, the following types of suspensions are most common.

Hubs and wheels

Manufacturers equip trailers with hubs of their own design or use a unit similar to the hub of a passenger car (as a rule, Zhiguli, Moskvich-2140 or GAZ-31029). Some trailers allow the use of two types of wheels, both "Zhiguli" and "Muscovite". Trailer wheels are usually fitted with tube tires, for which the norms for the residual height of the tire tread pattern are set, similar to those for the tires of tractor vehicles (respectively 1.6 mm for passenger cars). It is not allowed to install diagonal tires together with radial tires on one axle of the trailer, as well as tires with different tread patterns. The required tire pressure at different load levels of the trailer is sometimes indicated in the operator's manual of the latter.

Brakes

Trailers can be equipped with the following types of braking systems.

Service brake system - designed for braking the trailer when towing. It is not tied to the working braking system of the car, but comes into operation depending on the load acting on the coupling unit (the so-called overrun brake). The system consists of a control device (fig. 2) located on the hitch assembly and wheel brakes (usually drum brakes). When the car brakes, the trailer begins to "catch up" with it, resting on the hitch assembly. This force through the piston and the system of levers and rods actuates the wheel brakes. When the vehicle stops braking, the "pushing" force on the hitch assembly disappears and the brakes stop working. Longitudinal vibrations of the trailer, which can trigger the braking system, are damped by a horizontal shock absorber. This design allows the braking force to be transmitted to the trailer wheels proportional to the vehicle deceleration. When reversing, most trailers require forced disengagement of the service brake system, however, there are models, the mechanics of the service brake system of which "distinguishes" between braking and reversing modes.

Parking brake system - designed for braking the trailer in the parking lot, both with the car and separately from it. Consists of a parking brake lever, similar to the hand brake of a car, which acts on the drive of the service brake system.

Emergency brake system - designed for emergency braking of the trailer in case of violation of the coupling with the tractor. It is made in the form of an additional safety cable, which includes the drive of the wheel brakes in the event of a break in the towbar while driving.

red colors 4 ;

two back triangular reflector red (the vertices of the triangles should be directed upwards);

two front ones are white;

two side non-triangular reflector orange.

In addition, trailers wider than 1.6 m must have two front marker lights white, and trailers longer than 6 m - two side marker lights orange.

Power supply of electrical appliances is carried out from the car through the socket on the towbar. For this, a plug is attached to the drawbar of the trailer. As a rule, the wiring of trailers is carried out according to a single-wire scheme: minus ("mass") - on the trailer body, and plus - via wires).

Caravan trailers and commercial trailers are equipped with internal electrical equipment: interior lighting (emergency lighting 12 V), an on-board plug and a cable socket for connecting to an external 220 V network, a switchboard, showcase lighting, forced exhaust ventilation and other additional equipment. The electrical equipment of such trailers is usually carried out in a two-wire circuit.

Recommendations

When choosing a trailer pay attention to the following for a passenger car:

• its dimensions must correspond to the intended storage location of the trailer;
• the same standard size of the wheel hubs of the trailer and the car will make it possible to get by with one spare wheel. Otherwise, you will have to carry an additional spare wheel.

The trailer must be equipped with a jack immediately after purchase. Many trailers do not have standard jacks on the body, and the use of most regular car jacks is difficult. These trailers are best lifted with a hydraulic telescopic or rhombic jack with an extended crank, placing it under the arm or suspension beam of the trailer.

When installing the hitch for a car it is desirable:

• treat the holes for its fasteners with an anti-corrosion agent (for example, "Movil");
• connecting the TSU socket to the car wiring, solder and carefully insulate all connections;
• liberally lubricate the coupling ball with grease (for example, "Litol-24");
• close the ball with a cap, which will reduce the adhesion of dust and sand on it, leading to abrasive wear of the ball and the hitch assembly. In addition, it will help you avoid getting dirty when loading or unloading the trunk of your car. A homemade hat can be made, for example, from a tennis ball.

largely determines traffic safety. Place the load evenly so that its center of gravity is above the axle (or between the axles) of the trailer. Shifting the center of gravity forward will put unnecessary stress on the towbar and the entire rear of the vehicle, reducing the traction of the steered wheels. Moving backwards will raise the rear of the vehicle, which will reduce traction on the rear wheels. The higher the center of gravity of the load, the more prone the trailer is to longitudinal and lateral swing, impairing handling. All cargo must be securely secured.

The maximum permissible load on the ball of the trailer hitch is indicated in the operating instructions for the trailer and the vehicle and, as a rule, ranges from 30 to 90 kg. The load can be easily measured with a floor scale. To do this, install a board 35-45 cm long with one end under the hitch assembly, and the other on the floor scale. To adjust the weight distribution of a loaded trailer, you can use a small load and a spare wheel.

Driving with a trailer has a number of significant differences from normal driving.

When servicing the trailer pay particular attention to the hitch assembly. The knocking noise in the hitch area may be due to play between the hitch assembly and the ball. If there is no wear indicator, then the backlash is determined on the trailer connected to the vehicle by a sharp vertical swing of the drawbar.

Before every departure it is necessary:

• check the presence of grease in the hitch assembly mechanism;
• check and, if necessary, eliminate by adjusting the play between the hitch assembly and the coupling ball;
• adjust tire pressure;
• make sure the connection of the safety cables or chains is reliable;
• check the operation of the trailer warning lights.

The editors would like to thank the trailer manufacturers who provided technical data for the help in preparing the materials. pivot table.

1 Some manufacturers did not assign VINs to trailers; the entry "year of issue not established" is possible; in the absence of information from the manufacturer, the total weight may not be indicated; the number of the body and / or frame may be absent (in this case, the mark "w / n" is put).
2 For example, the outer side is painted aluminum or plastic, the filler is heat-insulating material, the inner side is plywood.
3 For vehicles, the production of which was started before 01.01.1981.
4 It is allowed to operate previously produced trailers, in which the device is not provided by the manufacturer.

Many modern cars are not equipped with a tow hitch, which sometimes creates a lot of inconvenience. The hitch is designed to expand the functionality of the vehicle. This mainly applies to the movement of goods and additional vehicles.

In this article we will try to understand what trailers are, what they are, and also outline their features, characteristics and capabilities.

1. What is a hitch

The hitch has several names, including the towing hitch, as well as the well-known name - the hitch. A towbar is a device designed for towing cargo and light trailers using a tractor.

In other words, the tow hitch is designed to securely attach the trailer to the vehicle while correctly distributing the load.

Moreover, the towbar must ensure safety and reliability during transportation, as well as not spoil the appearance of the vehicle.

It is also interesting that the true origin of the word towbar has not been established. Many believe it is of German origin. However, it can be found in German terminology in the meaning of the working part of a railway rail. If you combine two German words, such as go and head, you can get the sound of a hitch, which is where the abbreviation of hitch comes from. One way or another, this is one of the explanations for the existing word.

Another meaning of the word towbar is a device on a horse-drawn cart, which was intended for hanging luggage. There is another version of the origin of the word towbar, which supposedly comes from the German word "workopf", which means before or before.

In any case, the word has become so commonplace that some drivers do not even know what it means a tow hitch.

2. Types of hook-on devices, their advantages and disadvantages

More recently, on cars that have off-road properties, a towing hook was installed as a towbar, to which the trailer drawbar was attached. The main disadvantage of this device was that shock overloads occurred during transportation, which led to a quick exit from service of the hook. Moreover, the coupling itself involved a number of difficulties.

Modern towing devices have the form of a ball, with a radius of 25 millimeters to 58.702 millimeters. In this case, the trailer drawbar is also equipped with a corresponding coupling head. The advantage of modern towing devices is the possibility of accepting traction, braking and overhead forces, if the trailer is equipped with one axle.

Towbars for passenger cars can be divided into types, depending on the type of construction, the method of attachment, as well as the maximum permissible load. Also, towbars are divided into groups, depending on the type of ball. Among them, the most common are towbars with a rigid welded ball joint. These devices are installed on the car on a permanent basis. This can be inconvenient if the car is of an executive class, and the hitch spoils its appearance.

There are also towbars with removable balls, manual removable devices (the ball-shaped hook is clamped with bolts), as well as semi-automatic (the hook is fixed with a special lever). There is also a separate type of towbars - this is a towing device for walk-behind tractors.

In general, the hitch consists of two elements - a hitch ball (on the car body) and a hitch head (for mounting on a trailer drawbar). Among other things, you should pay attention to the technical characteristics of the towbar. Also, when choosing a towbar, you need to know the model, release date and body type of your car. You also need to know the maximum weight of the trailer itself.

3. The appearance of the first car trailers

The history of the appearance of the first car trailers goes back to the appearance of the first trucks and dates back to the 1880s, although the facts speak of the use of the first steam tractors already in 1853.

In general, the Austrian company is considered the main developer of the first trailers. Wilhelm Schwarzmuller, which since 1870 was engaged in the development and manufacture of carts and agricultural machinery. In 1921, the first trailer for a truck was produced, and in 2012, the production of semi-trailers began.

One way or another, the production of trailers was founded by the needs of the army during the First World War. With the onset of peacetime, they began to gain popularity in everyday life.

4. The cost of trailers for trailers and their manufacturers

To date, it is not difficult to acquire a towbar. In order to purchase a high-quality and reliable towbar, you must follow some rules, namely:

Make sure there are certificates of conformity;

Refine several times the technical characteristics of the towbar, the complete set and delivery time.

It's no secret that the more questions you ask, the more information you will have at your disposal. And the more information you have, the more chances you have to choose a quality product.

A large number of manufacturers, mainly European, are represented on the modern towbar market. The largest and most popular are:

Thule - is considered the oldest and has been on the market for more than 50 years, and in 2006 this company acquired such a brand as Brink. The company also has the largest model range of towbars and produces removable, welded and conditionally removable devices;

Auto Hak is a Polish company and has been operating on the market since 1976. The lineup is about 700 models;

Bosal differs in a variety of types of towbars, from vertically removable to flanged. They also manufacture premium towbars.

The estimated cost of a high-quality tow hitch ranges from $ 50 to $ 110. There are, of course, budget devices, the cost of which does not exceed $ 10, but their quality and reliability are highly questionable. Prices depend on the manufacturer, brand name, device functionality, as well as its technical characteristics.

The purchase of a hitch will allow you to expand the capabilities of the car and add useful equipment to it. Before purchasing the selected towbar, compare prices from different sources. The easiest way to do this is on the Internet, so you will not waste extra time visiting car dealerships and services.

Also, it is worth indicating the purpose of the towbar. If you do not plan to use it often, you should not spend a lot of money and choose popularized brands, but if a towbar is necessary for frequent use and transportation of heavy goods, preference should be given to well-known companies that have established themselves in the market not only as stable, but also reliable and quality manufacturers and suppliers.

When operating a trailer, the owner will not only need specific driving skills, but also some knowledge about its structure will be useful.

Basic concepts

Trailer - a vehicle that is not equipped with an engine and is intended for movement in a convoy with a power-driven vehicle.
Towing vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle) is a power-driven vehicle towing a trailer.
Unladen weight of a trailer is its own weight with a spare wheel (if the trailer is equipped with it), without load.
Permitted maximum or full mass - the mass of the equipped vehicle with cargo, driver and passengers, set by the manufacturer as the maximum permissible.

Passenger car trailers are divided into light and heavy.
Light - trailers with a maximum permissible weight of not more than 750 kg.
Heavy - Trailers with a maximum MPW of over 750 kg. Mandatory equipped with a braking system.

Rules for the registration of trailers for passenger cars in the Russian Federation

Trailers for passenger cars are subject to mandatory registration with the traffic police. When selling through a retail trade network or during customs clearance, a vehicle passport (PTS), an invoice certificate and a "Transit" license plate are issued to the trailer. The PTS contains information about the make and model, as well as 1 identification number (VIN), year of manufacture, gross weight, body and / or frame number. A certificate of account is a document confirming the ownership of a trailer. Transit numbers give the right to transport it to the place of permanent registration. The trailer must be registered at the owner's place of residence no later than 5 days after its purchase, deregistration or customs clearance, or during the validity period of the "Transit" registration mark. When registering at the place of residence, the owner is issued a certificate of registration and a registration mark.

Trailers are subject to technical inspection once every two years if no more than 5 years have passed since the year of their production (including the year of production), and once a year if more than 5 years have passed. The month the trailer is presented for inspection is indicated in the technical inspection coupon. As a rule, it is installed the same as that of the car with which the trailer is operated, or it is selected in accordance with the last digit of the state registration plate.

Operating rules

Drivers with a category "B", "C" or "D" driving license may operate a light trailer. In category "B", you can use a trailer only if its permissible maximum mass does not exceed the mass of the equipped vehicle, and the sum of the permissible maximum mass of the vehicle and the trailer does not exceed 3500 kg. Otherwise, as well as for towing a heavy trailer, it is required to open a category "E" driver's license.

Equipment of the towing vehicle

To tow a trailer, the towing vehicle must be equipped with a special towing device (hereinafter referred to as the towing hitch) and a plug socket for powering the electrical equipment of the trailer. There are two main types of tow barriers:

• loop-clip with a lock. Consists of a bracket into which a ring is inserted, fixed on the trailer hitch assembly and a pin that fixes the ring in the bracket. Widespread in trucks and off-road vehicles;
• backlash-free ball hitch. It consists of a coupling ball with a diameter of 50 mm (standard in the Russian Federation OST 37.001.096-77, international standard ISO-1103-76) and a metal structure with which the towbar is rigidly attached to the rear of the car body.

Various models of towing hitch can be attached to the car body through the bumper brackets and (or) directly to the load-bearing elements of the body and the trunk floor. Among domestic cars, only the VAZ-2108-15 family has standard attachment points for the towbar. When installing the device on other vehicles, it is supposed to independently mark and drill the mounting holes. On most vehicles, you usually have to remove the rear bumper before installing the towbar.

There are demountable towbar structures that allow you to remove the hook with the coupling ball.

The socket is fixed on a special bracket for the tow bar. It connects to the appropriate wires in the vehicle's rear wiring harness (in the trunk near the reversing lights). The colors of the harness wires leading to the corresponding lamps are indicated in the car's wiring diagram. The most common connection diagram of a trailer hitch socket for cars is shown in Fig. 1.

If the trailer is wider than the tractor and obscures the view through the standard rear-view mirrors, then the car on both sides must have rear-view mirrors on elongated brackets. The trailer must be equipped with two wheel chocks for installation under the wheels when stopping on slopes.

Trailer classification by purpose

Trailers for cars are divided into universal trucks designed for the transportation of various goods, and trailers for special purposes.

Special purpose trailers include:

• dump trucks for the transportation of bulk cargo;
• tanks for transportation of liquids;
• trailers for transporting equipment - boats, hydro or motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc.;
• auto transporter trailers for car transportation;
• tourist trailers for luggage and comfortable rest of tourists;
• caravan trailers - with a voluminous body, intended for rest and overnight stays of tourists in parking lots. They are usually equipped with a gas stove, water tanks, dry closet, etc .;
• commercial trailers - mobile pavilions for trade, equipped with the necessary equipment (refrigerator, showcase, etc.);
• trailers for transporting animals (eg racehorses).

Trailer device

The main components of the trailer are frame, drawbar, body and suspension.

The frame of universal truck trailers is usually made in the form of a metal welded structure, consisting of two longitudinal spars and two to four cross members. Trailers for transporting equipment have a spatial frame.

Drawbar - An A-shaped or I-shaped horizontal arm attached to the front of the trailer frame. On the drawbar there is a hitch unit, safety cables, a folding stand (on some trailers).

The drawbar can accommodate the spare wheel of the trailer. The drawbar can be folding (when folded, it is removed under the bottom of the trailer) or removable and equipped with an extension for transporting long loads. Some types of folding drawbar allow, without disconnecting the trailer from the tractor, tipping the body backward, which is convenient when unloading bulk goods, such as sand.

Bodies of universal cargo trailers are welded metal or prefabricated galvanized or painted. There are also models with a metal frame and wooden floor and sides. The tailgate, and sometimes the rest, can be folded back, making it easier to load and unload the trailer. Some models have extensions that increase the useful volume of the body. Most universal trailers are equipped with a removable rubberized tarpaulin, which is mounted on a collapsible metal frame.

Trailers for transporting equipment, instead of a body, are equipped with special, as a rule, adjustable lodgements (skids), on which the transported cargo is placed. The most expensive models have a fiberglass floor and roof, and are also equipped with winches and a lowering platform for convenient loading and unloading of equipment.

In car transporter trailers, the body is a massive platform adapted for reliable fastening of the transported vehicle. These trailers are equipped with a powerful winch, thrust struts that prevent the platform from lowering during loading, and perforated ladders that prevent the wheels of the car from sliding.

Bodies of caravan trailers and commercial trailers are made of multilayer panels (so-called sandwich panels 2) fixed on a metal frame.

The body of a tourist trailer is a plastic or metal box with a folding tent house inside.

Suspension

Trailers for passenger cars can be single-axle or two-axle. A trailer with two axles, the distance between which is less than 1 m, is called a twin-axle trailer. On single-axle trailers, the following types of suspensions are most common.

Hubs and wheels

Manufacturers equip trailers with hubs of their own design or use a unit similar to the hub of a passenger car (as a rule, Zhiguli, Moskvich-2140 or GAZ-31029). Some trailers allow the use of two types of wheels, both "Zhiguli" and "Muscovite". Trailer wheels are usually fitted with tube tires, for which the norms for the residual height of the tire tread pattern are set, similar to those for the tires of tractor vehicles (respectively 1.6 mm for passenger cars). It is not allowed to install diagonal tires together with radial tires on one axle of the trailer, as well as tires with different tread patterns. The required tire pressure at different load levels of the trailer is sometimes indicated in the operator's manual of the latter.

Brakes

Trailers can be equipped with the following types of braking systems.

Service brake system - designed to brake the trailer when towing. It is not tied to the working brake system of the vehicle, but comes into operation depending on the load acting on the hitch unit (the so-called inertial overrun brake). The system consists of a control device (fig. 2) located on the hitch assembly and wheel brakes (usually drum brakes). When the car brakes, the trailer begins to "catch up" with it, resting on the hitch assembly. This force through the piston and the system of levers and rods actuates the wheel brakes. When the vehicle stops braking, the "pushing" force on the hitch assembly disappears and the brakes stop working. Longitudinal vibrations of the trailer, which can trigger the braking system, are damped by a horizontal shock absorber. This design allows the braking force to be transmitted to the trailer wheels proportional to the vehicle deceleration. When reversing, most trailers require forced disengagement of the service brake system, however, there are models, the mechanics of the service brake system of which "distinguishes" between braking and reversing modes.

Parking brake system - designed to brake the trailer in the parking lot, both with the car and separately from it. Consists of a parking brake lever, similar to the hand brake of a car, which acts on the drive of the service brake system.

Emergency braking system - designed for emergency braking of the trailer in case of violation of the coupling with the tractor. It is made in the form of an additional safety cable, which includes the drive of the wheel brakes in the event of a break in the towbar while driving.

According to traffic rules, the braking distance of a car with a trailer, both equipped with a working braking system and without it, when braking on smooth dry asphalt from a speed of 40 km / h to a full stop, should be no more than 13.6 (14.5) m 3.

Light signaling and electrical equipment of trailers

All trailers are equipped with light signaling devices. Mandatory devices include:

• two rear direction indicators in orange;
• two rear brake lights in red;
• two red rear marker lights;
• white license plate lamp;
• one or two red rear fog lamps 4;
• two rear triangular reflectors of red color (the tops of the triangles should be directed upwards);
• two front non-triangular reflectors in white;
• two side orange non-triangular reflectors.

In addition, trailers wider than 1.6 m must have two white front marker lamps, and trailers longer than 6 m must have two orange side marker lamps.

Power supply of electrical appliances is carried out from the car through the socket on the towbar. For this, a plug is attached to the drawbar of the trailer. As a rule, trailers are wired according to a single-wire circuit: minus ("mass") - on the trailer body, and plus - via wires).

Caravan trailers and commercial trailers are equipped with internal electrical equipment: interior lighting (emergency lighting 12 V), an on-board plug and a cable socket for connecting to an external 220 V network, a switchboard, showcase lighting, forced exhaust ventilation and other additional equipment. The electrical equipment of such trailers is usually carried out in a two-wire circuit.

Recommendations

When choosing a trailer for a passenger car, you should pay attention to the following:

• its dimensions must correspond to the intended storage location of the trailer;
• the same standard size of the wheel hubs of the trailer and the car will make it possible to get by with one spare wheel. Otherwise, you will have to carry an additional spare wheel.

The trailer must be equipped with a jack immediately after purchase. Many trailers do not have standard jacks on the body, and the use of most regular car jacks is difficult. These trailers are best lifted with a hydraulic telescopic or rhombic jack with an extended crank, placing it under the arm or suspension beam of the trailer.

When installing the trailer hitch on a car, it is desirable:

• treat the holes for its fasteners with an anti-corrosion agent (for example, "Movil");
• connecting the TSU socket to the car wiring, solder and carefully insulate all connections;
• liberally lubricate the coupling ball with grease (for example, "Litol-24");
• close the ball with a cap, which will reduce the adhesion of dust and sand on it, leading to abrasive wear of the ball and the hitch assembly. In addition, it will help you avoid getting dirty when loading or unloading the trunk of your car. A homemade hat can be made, for example, from a tennis ball.

Correct loading of the trailer largely determines road safety. Place the load evenly so that its center of gravity is above the axle (or between the axles) of the trailer. Shifting the center of gravity forward will put unnecessary stress on the towbar and the entire rear of the vehicle, reducing the traction of the steered wheels. Moving backwards will raise the rear of the vehicle, which will reduce traction on the rear wheels. The higher the center of gravity of the load, the more prone the trailer is to longitudinal and lateral sway, which impairs handling. All cargo must be securely secured.

The maximum permissible load on the ball of the trailer hitch is indicated in the operating instructions for the trailer and the vehicle and, as a rule, ranges from 30 to 90 kg. The load can be easily measured with a floor scale. To do this, install a board 35-45 cm long with one end under the hitch assembly, and the other on the floor scale. To adjust the weight distribution of a loaded trailer, you can use a small load and a spare wheel.

Driving with a trailer has a number of significant differences from normal driving.

When servicing the trailer, pay special attention to the hitch assembly. The knocking noise in the hitch area may be due to play between the hitch assembly and the ball. If there is no wear indicator, then the backlash is determined on the trailer connected to the vehicle by a sharp vertical swing of the drawbar.

Before each departure you must:

• check the presence of grease in the hitch assembly mechanism;
• check and, if necessary, eliminate by adjusting the play between the hitch assembly and the coupling ball;
• adjust tire pressure;
• make sure the connection of the safety cables or chains is reliable;
• check the operation of the trailer warning lights.

The editors would like to thank the trailer manufacturers for their help in preparing the materials for providing technical data for the summary table.

1 Some manufacturers did not assign VINs to trailers; the entry "year of issue not established" is possible; in the absence of information from the manufacturer, the total weight may not be indicated; the number of the body and / or frame may be absent (in this case, the mark "w / n" is put).
2 For example, the outer side is painted aluminum or plastic, the filler is heat-insulating material, the inner side is plywood.
3 For vehicles, the production of which was started before 01.01.1981.
4 It is allowed to operate previously produced trailers, in which the device is not provided by the manufacturer.

"Useful pages", 2001, issue 9, p. 202

Catalog of trailers for passenger cars

Drawbar catalog