The caravan’s tow hitch is the device that connects the tow ball of your vehicle to your caravan, creating an articulated, secure connection that allows for secure towing.
There’s something more at the rear of a caravan’s exterior that just an A-frame connection.
Technology can stop the caravan from sliding from side to side when driving, and clever pieces of equipment put the brakes automatically when and when required and electrical components ensure that everything is running smoothly in the roadway for your safety and the other road motorists safety (and to keep your milk cold in the fridge obviously).
Check out the following article for a brief overview of everything caravan hitch-related…
Drawbar
The drawbar is compressed and expands when you brake or accelerate. To ensure that your brakes of your caravan aren’t turned to the side when it is pitching (to avoid them from becoming stuck) It’s recommended to move forward and extend the drawbar prior to unhitching your caravan before pressing the handbrake.
Hitch-head stabiliser
The majority of caravans today (apart from a few lightweights where they’re not necessary) have hitch-head stabilisers. They help reduce the chance of instability during towing. They are produced through AL-KO (or from Winterhoff on a chassis designed by BPW.
The stabiliser is often equipped with stability control systems that switch on the caravan brakes in order to stop snaking if it should occur. They are referred to as ATC (active controlling the trailer) to refer to AL-KO and the BPW iDC (intelligent drive control).
Handbrake
The equivalent handbrake for cars is used to when you’ve pitched your caravan.
Cable breakaway
It is perhaps the most crucial component of your touring vehicle for security. Should your hitch become well, not hitched the breakaway cable is the final piece of equipment that will stop your caravan from rolling away. Stunningly, should the breakaway cable become pulled to the side, it’ll put the brakes to your caravan.
Jockey wheel
Third (on single axles) or the fifth (on twin axles) wheel of a caravan lets you lift or lower the head of the hitch to level it and tying up.
Jockey wheel clamp
This keeps the wheel of the jockey from moving across the road when towing.
Electricity
The lights on the road of your caravan (and other lights) when towing , brakes and indicators, reversing and more – are linked to your vehicle via an 13-pin plug that is plugged in a socket on the towbar. The older tourers use seven-pin systems.
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