Starting with the tow hitch, which is worn to the limit (still works fine but, you know, it's not something you want to keep risking
)It's this;
A Bradley Doublelock Mk3 CU60, which is a spring damped over-run coupling rated at 3500kg, with reverse brake lockout.
These type of couplers (spring damped) are illegal to sell and fit to new trailers within the EU (have been for years) but you can replace like-like on an old trailer.
I couldn't find out anything useful on line from after market places, or from the Bradley website, so I dropped them an e-mail.
They were back within an hour (amazing
) and we've been e-mailing back/forth quite a bit over the last few days. I have to say, they've been absolutely brilliant responding to questions etc. You don't normally get this these days, IME.Where I've got to after discussions with Bradley is this;
That coupling dates from at least the 1980's (last time they were made).
They don't do the hitch as a replacement/repairable/serviceable item (bet they used to!)
They've said I can buy this to replace it;
Which has a different bolt pattern so they sell this adapter plate;
But then I'd need to relocate the jockey wheel (not the end of the world, but not ideal, because it means the loading on the front of the trailer is then unbalanced onto one side of the frame, which will encourage twisting) but more annoyingly, it means some kind of bracket would have to fabricated to take the handbrake (all that is currently part of the existing head).
A bit of a pain. Plus the replacement head is about £200 from what I can see, which is a lot more than I was hoping to pay for repairing it. That's into complete new hydraulic damped head territory.
I've gone back and asked if I can buy the replacement head, unbolt the hitch from it and swap that into my existing head which, looking at this pic on ebay;
looked eminently possible to me.
I didn't expect they'd 'recommend' doing that (and they haven't) but worse, they've said it definitely wont' fit
I did also ask which of the modern hydraulically damped couplings would be the nearest direct replacement (and how much of a direct replacement it would be). I'd rather not do this tbh because a) the cost/potential aggro, b) I don't like the new over-centre handbrakes (I prefer the old type, which doesn't have a horrible spring load and isnt' just either 'on' or 'off'). But anyway, they've said they're a completely different fitting system and wouldn't be compatible
We're still in discussions, so we'll see what else comes up, but just wondering if anyone else on here has dealt with this problem before?
@jjmartin349571 I seem to recall you changed the coupling head on your new trailer when you got it, is that right? What did it have before and what has it got now? BTW are you still excommunicado?
I tried texting you today.
).
45"
