A tow hitch is a towing device designed for transporting trailers or trailers with a car. TSU is installed on many vehicles by the manufacturer. However, some motorists mount these elements on their own. Before performing the installation, you need to know what the requirements of the traffic police are for the towbar in 2019.

Towbar on a car, has several types:

• Welded.

Attaches firmly to the vehicle. Most dangerous for participants traffic, its use on passenger cars mobile phones are prohibited.

• Folding.

This device has hinges in its design, thanks to which the device is easy to fold and put away under the car bumper. Some companies produce electrically operated folding towbars that are controlled directly from the passenger compartment.

• Removable.

TSU is installed by snapping a special lock. Removable towbar is the safest towing device for operation. The part is easy to install and also easy to remove, so this type of hitch is popular with motorists.

When choosing a TSU, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the part. Otherwise, the vehicle may not be allowed to operate.

Can it be installed on a car

The law does not prohibit the installation of a TSU on a car, however, this is a change in the design of the vehicle that needs to be legalized. Otherwise, the driver is punished by the traffic police.

Modified trunks and towbars will be approved by the traffic police. This is done so that the changes made to the design of the car do not threaten the safety of the driver and other road users. When installing the TSU on your own, you should take into account the requirements of the rules of the road regarding the installation of additional equipment on the vehicle.

Legal installation rules

The provisions for installing the towbar and its subsequent registration with the traffic police are regulated technical regulation"On the safety of wheeled Vehicle» TR TS 018/2011. This traffic rule entered on January 1, 2015.

If the manufacturer has provided places for attaching the tow hitch, and also included this equipment in the list of additional devices for the machine, then its installation is not a change in the design of the vehicle and does not require registration. However, when checking, the inspector will need to present a passport for the towbar, and its certificate of conformity.

If the car is converted on its own, then for this, it is necessary to obtain the appropriate permission from the traffic police. Otherwise, the car will not be allowed for operation, since its use without a trailer will reduce the safety of other road users. Therefore, after making changes, they are put on record.

After the conversion, you will need to carry with you the TSU passport, a mark on its installation, a copy of the certificate of conformity, as well as an act of work done.

When is installation prohibited?

The legitimacy of operating a car equipped with a towbar is regulated by employees of the State Inspectorate for Road Safety. If additional equipment is not installed on the car according to the rules, or poses a potential threat to the life and health of road users, then a driving ban is imposed on such a car. In accordance with the traffic rules, a car with trailed equipment cannot be used if:

1. The installation was not carried out according to the rules, serious interference was made in the design of the car. When installing traction devices not provided by the vehicle manufacturer, the part is connected to the car body by welding or self-tapping screws, the holes for which are made independently. However, this is prohibited by traffic rules.
2. The hitch protrudes strongly beyond the bumper. This poses a threat to vehicles driving behind, in a collision, the vehicle behind will receive much more damage.
3. The inability of the machine to tow trailers or trailers. Each car has a maximum load capacity, on some models, manufacturers do not provide for the use of trailers or trailers. Installing a towbar, and using it for its intended purpose, can reduce the life of the car, and lead to emergency situations.
4. Absence necessary documents. Provided that the installation and type of trailer equipment complies with the rules, you need to acquire the relevant documents and put changes in the design into account. Otherwise, such tuning will be considered illegal.

Required documents

After registering the converted car, the motorist receives a number of documents that he needs to have with him to confirm the legality of the installation of the TSU:

• Certificate of conformity for towbar.

Changes are approved by the state traffic inspectorate. After successful registration with the traffic police, the driver receives a certificate of registration of the modified vehicle.

• Certificate of completion.
• Passport for traction additional equipment, with a note from the car service where the installation took place.

Also in the glove compartment there should be a driver's license, documents for the car and the TCP, notes on the passed technical inspections are entered into it.

If the driver refuses to register changes in the design of the car, then an administrative fine is imposed on him.

fines

At self installation TSU, you need to know what punishment awaits the driver for using a traction device without registration. Violation is punishable by a warning or a fine.

Installing an additional traction device on the machine allows you to use the vehicle as a tractor for trailers and trailers. However, installation must be carried out in accordance with all the rules. Only in this case it will be possible to avoid constant fines, and harm to the life and health of other road users.

Hello dear friends! Many of you are going to install a tow bar on your car to increase its ability to carry cargo. Therefore, I recommend that you first find out what a coupling head is and what a coupling device is. Two concepts about which there are many disputes, discussions and conversations.

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

Coupling devices

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

We are also interested in the traction-coupling version of the device (TSU). We use them for cars. But what kind of abracadabra is this? Under this intricate name hides the towbar familiar to you. Yes, that's the correct name towing device, although in fact everyone is used to the simple concept of a towbar.

The following TSUs 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.

TSU are used for coupling with different types 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 carriers. I put it on my Renault Duster or Niva, and you don’t know the problems. At the same time, it is not necessary to dirty the interior or trunk.

But TSU are different. Some are designed for a load capacity of 3500 kg of the trailer to be installed (this, by the way, 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 support.

Structurally, the TSU consists of two elements:

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

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

• welded;
• removable;
• flanged.

Let's see who is who. Welded tow bars have high reliability indicators, but you cannot disconnect them. That is, the towbar 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.

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

Flanged coupling devices are mounted on a special, pre-prepared site. This must be considered before installation. Although I would call them the optimal solution in the conditions of modern automotive world and what is happening on the roads. But the choice is yours anyway.

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, which guarantees conformity with 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 hitch and coupling heads are somehow connected with each other. But how?

Imagine that you have a new or old towbar of a welded or removable type. This hitch needs to be connected to your trailer. But you won't just hook up 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 entailed the creation of a locking coupling device, 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 popular SG (coupling heads), I would include:

• Alko Knott;
• Choyo;
• winterhoff.

But before buying them, we will study 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 car. 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 produced in different shapes, so they can easily be connected to profile and round pipes, ideally lying under the ball. They differ in diameter and cross section. That is, it will not be difficult to select a SG for a pipe with a cross section of 60 × 60 mm. Everything is standardized, and therefore strictly corresponds to each other.

Depreciation elements are present here necessarily to dampen the forces acting on the car during sudden braking and jerking. If there is no shock-absorbing device, there is a high probability of an early breakdown of the entire trailer and at the same time the tow bar (hitch, you remember) installed on the machine.

The role of fasteners is extremely clear, since they are responsible for the simplicity and reliability of the connection. Heads differ among themselves depending on what trailer they are intended for. For example, for trailers for passenger cars, they are developed for smaller 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 explained different height installation of a towbar on a passenger car and a jeep. But a spacer will help you here. With its help, the height is adjusted and the optimal ratio of levels between the towbar and the coupling head is achieved.

You can purchase coupling heads from us. They cost about 1 thousand rubles. The range 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

Be aware that a large load behind the machine is a potential hazard. Especially for this, modern trailers are provided with an overrun brake. When you brake, the trailer's entire mass begins to put pressure on the car, pushing it. It's like in a minibus, when the driver slows down sharply, you seem to hold on evenly, but another person falls on you from behind. There is nothing pleasant and safe here.

Therefore, when transporting a large amount of cargo on tractors or even cars, Availability inertia brake on the trailer will help you. How it works? When braking, the inertial force acts on the trailer, which rolls onto the car itself. This force is proportional to the deceleration. The force acts on coupling head, pressing it, and transfers the force to the brakes of your trailer. For this, a system of hydraulic or mechanical brakes. This reduces the risk of trailer skidding, improves braking efficiency and safety while maintaining road stability.

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

Actively exploiting 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 the bathhouse, simultaneously loading a ton of wood into the trailer.

It is not enough just to choose a good trailer. Under it, you will need an appropriate towbar. Oh, sorry, tow hitch. Although, what's the difference? Well, let's 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 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!

When it comes to trailers, novice motorists confidently discuss the issues of carrying capacity and maneuverability. But the questions of the towing device are perplexing only because of the definition of the concept. Is it a hitch for a light trailer, or a trailer coupling head, or maybe a drawbar - is it a tow bar ?!

The benefit of acquiring a branded towbar for a car is understandable. What is a towing hitch (drawbar) or a towbar - this is a hook with a metal ball sticking out below the bumper for throwing a hitch head on it, mounted on the end of a straight or V-shaped trailer drawbar. When there is a need to transport cargo that does not fit in the passenger compartment or trunk, the choice of a trailer is accompanied by questions about the tow bar. Indeed, depending on the fastening, it is calculated permissible load on the car frame. Of course, the weight tables are on the certificates and on the back of the bonnet. But what if the hitch is not installed?

Definitely:

• Look for a suitable or native brand;
• In the absence of custom-made or independently.

What is a tow hitch

In practice, two types of TSU have taken root in Russia:

The advantage of this design is the possibility of equipping the trailer braking system, which will work by means of transmitting mechanical vibrations through the ball to the coupling head and ensure leveling of high-speed differences on the road: the car slows down, the trailer presses the lever on the ball by inertia, the brakes are turned on.

Homemade TSUs try to fit into the specific features of the destination. Otherwise, operation may be prohibited. There are many models on the market. All of them are different:

• By weight classification;
• By design;
• fastening method;
• Electrical fastening features.

Towing with non-standard values ​​can lead to bad consequences. Therefore, the classification of towbars begins with the weight load. Fitting in with your group will ensure long-term viability.

1. For passenger cars with a permissible trailer weight of 1.5 tons;
2. For station wagons, minivans with a similar value up to 2.5 tons;
3. For minibuses, SUVs up to 3.5 tons.

TSU classification:

European design. The difference from domestic ones is the size of the ball, which is marked in inches:

• 1- 7/8 is equal to 47.6 mm;
• 2 is equal to 50.8 mm;
• 2-5/16 - 58.7 mm.

American design. It's a slightly different story. They have the shape of a quadrangular shaft, into which a drawbar tip is inserted with a lock in the form of a hook-shaped handle.

The mounting method involves three types of devices:

Classification of towbars:

The tow hitch is the meeting point of the automotive electrics and the trailer. A socket with 7, 13 or 15 pins is usually mounted on the towbar, and the trailer wiring assumes a similar plug. It happens that the plug and socket turn out to be with different contact options. Choosing a trailer with the right pinout in advance will eliminate the problem. But if this happens, an adapter comes to the rescue.
Manufacturers of towbars, offering their products to the mass consumer, are responsible for the quality of the material and the resistance of the elements in the assembly, which can only be checked in the factory. The requirements of OST 37.001.299 regulate the characteristics. Handicraft towbars live and successfully disguise themselves as original samples. It is good if the craftsman knows the formula for the distribution of weight relative to the car body and the installation of fastening points, but no one guarantees the reliability of the metal.

How to install a hitch

Mounting a towbar on a car

TSU is attached to the frame or body of the car. The bumper is usually removed and its role goes to the main beam of the trailer. In some cases, it is necessary to drill a spar and install embedded plates. But installing a native towbar is a simple matter. If the car manufacturer has provided mounting points, holes and other elements for installing the towbar, and there is also a document (usually a certificate upon purchase) with the characteristics of the original device, then self-assembly is quite legal and logical. The service will offer a certain price. This will pay off if it is planned to drill additional holes or install a non-native towbar, but suitable in terms of characteristics. The service will issue a written opinion on compliance with the standards.

The condition of the ball and the TSU itself requires constant checking for the presence of:

• Loose, stripped nuts or bolts (grover will prevent loosening, but not stalling);
• ball lubricants;
• Cleanliness of the outlet;
• Weld seams.

The ball experiences critical loads and is subject to wear. It is necessary to measure the diameter every 1-1.5 thousand kilometers.

Tow hitch manufacturers

Finally, a list well-known manufacturers TSU:

• Bosal - 200 samples for cars and trucks from Belgium;
• Brink - the leading position from Holland;
• VFM is a Russian association under the flag of Bosal;
• Westfalia is a large German company. More than 800 items;
• Aragon - Spanish leader;
• HiddenHitch is a North American company;
• AvtoS - Russian company produces trailers and towbars;
• BALTEX is a domestic company from St. Petersburg.

Video review of towbars Bosal

When the picture is clear, there is no point in wasting time inventing what is already in the best option. A sound approach to the solution of cargo transportation and competent installation of the towbar will certainly lead to success. And lovers of inventions should at least focus on the owners of golden hands.

trailers to cars
(Courtesy of the collection "Useful pages" )

When operating a trailer, the owner will not only need specific driving skills, but some knowledge about its device will also come in handy.

Basic concepts

Trailer- a vehicle not equipped with an engine and intended to be driven in combination with a power-driven vehicle.
Tractor vehicle(hereinafter - the car) - a mechanical vehicle towing a trailer.
Trailer curb weight- its own weight with a spare wheel (if the trailer is equipped with it), without load.
Permissible maximum or full mass - the mass of the equipped vehicle with cargo, driver and passengers, set by the manufacturer as the maximum allowable.

Trailers for passenger cars are divided into light and heavy.
Lungs- trailers with a maximum authorized mass of not more than 750 kg.
heavy- trailers with a maximum authorized mass of more than 750 kg. It is mandatory to be equipped with a brake system.

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

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

Trailers are subject to technical inspection once every two years if no more than 5 years have passed since the year of their manufacture (including the year of manufacture), and once a year if more than 5 years have passed. The month of presentation of the trailer for inspection is indicated in the coupon technical inspection. As a rule, it is set the same as that of the car with which the trailer is operated, or 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. With category "B" you can use a trailer only if its permitted maximum mass does not exceed the mass of the equipped vehicle, and the sum of the permitted maximum masses car and trailer do not exceed 3500 kg. Otherwise, and also for towing a heavy trailer, a category "E" driver's license is required.

Tractor vehicle equipment

To tow a trailer, the tractor vehicle must be equipped with a special towing device(hereinafter - TSU) and a socket for powering the trailer's electrical equipment. There are two main types of TSU:

• loop-clip with lock. It consists of a bracket into which a ring is inserted, fixed on the trailer hitch assembly and a pin fixing the ring in the bracket. Widespread on trucks and off-road vehicles;
• backlash-free ball coupling. 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 hitch is rigidly attached to the rear of the car body.

Various models of the tow 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 TSU. When installing the device on other vehicles, self-marking and drilling of mounting holes is assumed. On most vehicles, it is usually necessary to remove the rear bumper before installing the hitch.

There are collapsible designs of the hitch that allow you to remove the hook with the coupling ball.

The socket is fixed on a special bracket of the TSU. 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 going to the corresponding lights are indicated in the car's electrical diagram. The most common contact diagram of the TSU socket for passenger cars is shown in fig. one.

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

Classification of trailers by purpose

Trailers for passenger cars are divided into universal trucks designed for the transport of various goods, and trailers special purpose .

Special purpose trailers include:

• dump trucks for the transportation of bulk cargo;
• cisterns for the transport of liquids;
• trailers for transporting equipment- boats, hydro or motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc.;
• car transporter trailers for transportation of cars;
• travel trailers for luggage and comfortable rest of tourists;
• caravan trailers- with a three-dimensional body, intended for rest and overnight stay of tourists in the parking lots. 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(e.g. 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 crossbars. Trailers for transporting equipment have a space frame.

drawbar- A-shaped or I-shaped horizontal arm mounted on the front side of the trailer frame. On the drawbar are hitch, safety cables, folding stand(for some trailers).

On the drawbar can be placed spare wheel 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 you to tip the body back without disconnecting the trailer from the tractor, which is convenient when unloading bulk cargo, such as sand.

bodywork universal cargo trailers are metal welded 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 down, making it easier to load and unload the trailer. Some models have extension boards, increasing the useful volume of the body. Most universal trailers are equipped with a removable rubberized awning, which is mounted on a collapsible metal frame.

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

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

The bodies of caravans and commercial trailers are made from sandwich panels (so-called sandwich panels 2 ) mounted on a metal frame.

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

Suspension

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

Hubs and wheels

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

brakes

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

Service brake system - designed to brake the trailer when towing. It is not linked to the working brake system of the car, but comes into operation depending on the load acting on the hitch assembly (the so-called overrun brake of inertial type). The system consists of a control device (Fig. 2) located on the hitch assembly and wheel brakes (usually drum brakes). When the car slows down, the trailer begins to "catch up" with it, resting against the hitch assembly. This force through the piston and the system of levers and rods actuates the wheel brakes. When the braking of the vehicle stops, the "pushing" force on the hitch assembly disappears and the brakes stop working. Longitudinal vibrations of the trailer, which can cause the brake system to work, are damped by a horizontal shock absorber. This design allows you to transfer to the wheels of the trailer braking force proportional to the deceleration of the car. When driving in reverse Most trailers require a forcible disengagement of the service brake system, however, there are models whose service brake system mechanics “distinguishes” between braking and reversing.

Parking brake system - designed to brake the trailer in the parking lot, both together with the car, and separately from it. Consists of a lever parking brake, similar hand brake 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 carried out in the form of an additional safety cable, which includes the drive of the wheel brake mechanisms in the event of a break in the tow hitch during movement.

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

Light signaling and electrical equipment of trailers

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

• two rear direction indicator orange;
• two rear stop signal of red color;
• two rear position lamps of red color;
• license plate light white;
• one or two rear fog light red colors 4 ;
• two rear triangular reflector red (the vertices of the triangles should be directed upwards);
• two front white;
• two side non-triangular retroreflectors orange.

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

Electrical appliances are powered from the car through the socket on the TSU. To do this, a plug is attached to the drawbar of the trailer. As a rule, trailer wiring is carried out according to a single-wire circuit: minus ("ground") - on the trailer body, and plus - through wires).

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

Recommendations

When choosing a trailer For cars, please note the following:

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

Immediately after purchase, the trailer should be equipped with a jack. Many trailers do not have standard jack sockets on the body, and the use of most standard car jacks is difficult. Such trailers are best lifted with a hydraulic telescopic or rhombic jack with an extended handle, substituting it under the trailer suspension arm or beam.

When installing TSU per car preferably:

• process the holes for its fasteners with an anti-corrosion compound (for example, "Movil");
• connecting the TSU socket to the vehicle wiring, solder and carefully insulate all connections;
• generously lubricate the coupling ball with grease (for example, "Litol-24");
• close the coupling ball with a cap, which will reduce the adherence of dust and sand to it, leading to abrasive wear of the ball and the coupling assembly. In addition, it will help not to get dirty when loading or unloading the trunk of the car. A homemade cap can be made, for example, from a tennis ball.

largely determines traffic safety. The load should be placed 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 cause excessive load on the towbar and the entire rear of the vehicle, reducing the traction of the steered wheels with the road. Moving rearward will cause the rear of the vehicle to rise, which will reduce traction. rear wheels. The higher the center of gravity of the load, the more prone the trailer is to pitch and roll, which impairs handling. All cargo must be securely fastened.

The maximum permissible load on the tow ball is indicated in the trailer and car manual and, as a rule, ranges from 30 to 90 kg. The load is easy to measure with a floor scale. To do this, install a board 35-45 cm long with one end under the hitch assembly, and with the other - on the floor scales. 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 conventional driving.

At trailer service Special attention should be given to the hitch assembly. The cause of knocking in the area of ​​the hitch may be the play between the hitch assembly and the hitch ball. If there is no wear indicator, then the play is determined on the trailer connected to the vehicle by a sharp vertical swing of the drawbar.

Before every departure necessary:

• check the presence of lubrication in the hitch assembly mechanism;
• check and, if necessary, eliminate by adjusting the play between the coupling unit and the coupling ball;
• adjust tire pressure;
• make sure that the safety ropes or chains are connected securely;
• Check the operation of the trailer lights.

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

1 Some manufacturers did not assign VINs to trailers; it is possible to record "the year of issue is not established"; in the absence of information from the manufacturer, the gross weight may not be indicated; body and / or frame number may be missing (in this case, the mark "w / n" is put).
2 For example, the outer side is painted aluminum or plastic, the filler is a heat-insulating material, inner side- plywood.
3 For vehicles whose production 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.

Decided to buy a hitch for imported trucks? Then we are ready to offer you a lot of attractive options. Any coupling device that is offered in our catalog is of excellent quality, affordable cost, high strength characteristics. We offer a huge selection of products that will allow you to use trailers for the transport of goods, as well as transport cars like a tractor.

Why are couplers needed?

We always have coupling devices in stock, for such famous brands trucks and buses like MAN, DAF, Iveco, Scania, Mersedes, Volvo. In the catalog of the ATI online store, you can find products from reliable manufacturers that are already known on automotive market, these are SAMPA, Rostar, FEBI, SEM LASTIK, ONYARBI. With the help of such products, you can use trailers, and they also provide protection for the surface of the car. This will exclude damage that is possible in case of accidental collisions, improper parking.

Trailer hitch selection

Remember that it is important not only to choose the right hitch, but it is also important to follow certain rules of use. This will affect the life of the product. There must be a certain load on the product, and it is important to properly distribute it. It is worth choosing exactly the product that will match the model of your car. Motorists know that imported freight transport is rather capricious, because any trailer is not suitable for it. When choosing, it is worth remembering that the device must have a high-quality king pin. The strength of such a component as a kingpin is quite important.

Buy a hitch for a cargo trailer

To buy a hitch, you should think about the issue of cost, while the price will depend on the model for which the choice is made. The price may be different, it is better to protect yourself and purchase a repair kit just in case, you never know what can happen on the road. The fact that delivery is carried out to any region of our country will also seem to be an advantageous moment. We decided to order a coupling for freight transport, rest assured, we will promptly ship it.

If you want to buy a coupling, then take a closer look at the advantages of working with our store:

1. We offer exceptionally competitive rates.
2. You can choose the necessary products in the catalog either on your own, or get advice from our representative.
3. We strive to provide detailed product information.
4. We guarantee high quality and reliability of products, we check the goods before shipment.
5. A wide range, you can choose products for any model.

Delivery by transport companies

Please note that they do delivery transport companies with whom we cooperate. You can always rely on them as they deliver goods on time. Payment is made in any way convenient for you, we try to offer as many options as possible. We are focused on long-term cooperation, so we try to offer the best conditions.