Disaster Averted!

[Dax SC]

Hired a trailor to take the Cobra to the DVLA/VOSA in Shrewsbury to get it registered. 1 mile from the test centre the trailor decides to unhitch itself from the car! Thankfully the safety chain pulled the brakes on and I was only doing about 20mph at the time.

With the help of passers by, I managed to get the trailor re-hitched, and assumed that the ball hadn't located properly.

Got to the test station and no problems there, and had a good chat with Dave Brooks who was in for an SVA.

On the way back, went over a level crossing and the same thing happened, only this time the trailor hitch slammed into the back of my tow vevicle (Jeep).

No damage to the Cobra, and the safety chain did its job again. Phoned the trailor hire company, who came out with another trailor, so I had to swap the Cobra over.

Upon inspection, the half-moon piece in the hitch which pivots to locate under the tow ball had worn sufficiently to allow the hitch to jump off the ball. How often do these rental trailors actually get serviced? My route takes me along the M54, and if it had happened at speed, trailor and Cobra would have been wiped out!

[tarmacscratcher]

Originally Posted by Dax SC

Hired a trailor to take the Cobra to the DVLA/VOSA in Shrewsbury to get it registered. 1 mile from the test centre the trailor decides to unhitch itself from the car! Thankfully the safety chain pulled the brakes on and I was only doing about 20mph at the time.

With the help of passers by, I managed to get the trailor re-hitched, and assumed that the ball hadn't located properly.

Got to the test station and no problems there, and had a good chat with Dave Brooks who was in for an SVA.

On the way back, went over a level crossing and the same thing happened, only this time the trailor hitch slammed into the back of my tow vevicle (Jeep).

No damage to the Cobra, and the safety chain did its job again. Phoned the trailor hire company, who came out with another trailor, so I had to swap the Cobra over.

Upon inspection, the half-moon piece in the hitch which pivots to locate under the tow ball had worn sufficiently to allow the hitch to jump off the ball. How often do these rental trailors actually get serviced? My route takes me along the M54, and if it had happened at speed, trailor and Cobra would have been wiped out!

Someone up there must like you
Maybe God drives a Cobra and not a Harley
Hope you gave the hire company hell

[kayjayd]

You were lucky there Mark, very dodgy indeed. The trailer I hired last year to pick up my kit looked in serious need of service but the hitch was OK. I hope they repair the Jeep.

[BenBaron]

Scary stuff, I Sh*t my pants everytime I tow my car (done it a few times now) and if I thought that could happen as well EEEKKK

[wilf]

Mark - glad that major disaster was averted.

I know a guy who trailered his Cobra from California to Utah, only when he got there and was backing it up did the hitch gently fall off the tow ball - metric and imperial don't mix!

Did the registration go OK? Go easily with that new car for a while.

[crmcatee]

Mark,

Whilst you saw Dave there let's have an unbiased opinion on the colour of blue it was.

Glad your's went well at the SVA...

Craig