Buyers Products BDL253 Drawbar Lock, Silver

Product Information

The coupling is far closer to the road surface than a fifth wheel is, he points out, and that means it is closer to all the dirt and grit that highway surfaces generate. Combine all this detritus with grease, and you have a recipe for trouble. Grease is not necessarily harmful, argues Andy Walton, technical manager at Marcar Steel and Engineering, which distributes V.Orlandi drawbar equipment in the UK. It all depends on how much is used. “Orlandi couplings have a grease nipple and all you need to do is give them a shot of grease once a year,” he says. Turning to the couplings themselves, V.Orlandi is now supplying them with a cast steel rather than a cast iron jaw. “Cast steel is standard on the 57mm coupling and optional on the 50mm model,” says Walton. “It’s harder to break than cast iron.” Agricultural equipment is hauled by a tractor-mounted drawbar. Specialist agricultural tools such as ploughs are attached to specialist drawbars which have functions in addition to transmitting tractive force. This was partly made redundant with Ferguson's development of the three-point linkage in his famous TE20.

Other brands are heading down the cast steel route, too – but no matter whether cast steel or cast iron is involved, drawbar couplings have to be treated with consideration. If you’re parking at night on a road, you must use the parking lights on your vehicle. You do not need to use lights if you’re parked off-road, eg in a lorry park. In foggy weather you should avoid parking on the road; if you must park on the road, leave your parking lights on. Parking on a hill If your vehicle has air suspension, remember that it may move when you park it or when you start it: make sure you’re not parked too close to other vehicles, buildings, street furniture, etc, which the vehicle body could collide with if it moves.Howard Ostle does not mince his words. “We’re terrible at drawbar coupling maintenance in Britain,” he states; and as UK sales and marketing manager at VBG Group Sales, he has seen the consequences of a lax approach taken by too many operators. Before you leave your vehicle, make sure the engine has stopped, the ignition system is switched off and the parking brake is on. With the exception of the partners mentioned above, we will under no circumstances pass on your personal data to other companies or institutions, except if we are legally obliged to do so (for example, if the police requires it in the case of suspected crime). A drawbar is a solid coupling between a hauling vehicle and its hauled load. Drawbars are in common use with rail transport, road trailers, both large and small, industrial and recreational, and with agricultural equipment. Leave the vehicle in gear: if the parking brake fails, the engine should stop the wheels turning. (This only applies to an HGV with manual gears.)

Turn the steering wheels slightly towards the kerb: if the vehicle rolls, it will steer into the kerb and stop. You’ll need to think carefully about where you stop or park your heavy goods vehicle (HGV) to make sure it will be safe, legal and will not cause an obstruction to other road users. use the equipment provided to avoid working at height; if you cannot avoid it, use fall arrest systems, especially when roping and sheeting If you’re stopping overnight in a lorry park, it’s a good idea to park with the rear doors close to another lorry to keep the load safe. Always park in a secure, well-lit, reputable lorry park or designated parking area if possible.Use plenty of lubricant instead,” Ostle advises. “Oil is a cheap mechanic, and if you lubricate a coupling, then you won’t get a problem.” Although in a distant second place compared to fifth wheels, drawbar couplings are used in the UK and must be properly cared for to continue to serve in the long term, finds Steve Banner

convenient – you’re more likely to cause damage, either to your vehicle or another vehicle, if it’s an awkward spotIt uses a crosshair which enables the driver to aim for the towing eye when reversing (pictured). Green guiding lines indicate the optimum height range of the vehicle in relation to the eye. When you’re parking on a hill, you can use the wheels and the engine to make sure your HGV cannot roll away in case the parking brake fails.