GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #60 | Page 10

2 . EXTENSION MIRRORS
It absolutely staggers me just how many caravanners refuse to fit extension mirrors when towing their vans . Apart from the obvious safety benefits they offer , if your van is 2.5m wide , you ’ re probably breaking the law by not fitting them . A simple test is to measure the distance between the outer edges of your car ’ s side mirrors and compare that distance with the full width of your caravan ( including the awning arms ). If the distance between the mirrors is less than the width of your van , you must fit extension mirrors by law .
BMPRO Sway Control is a sophisticated unit featuring seperate left and right braking and automatic off road disable .
If you intend to do a lot of towing , fitting Clearview mirrors is a smart and convenient choice .
3 . TRAILER SWAY CONTROL
This is one of those accessories you should fit that you hope you never need to use . Trailer sway control works in a similar way to the traction control on your tow vehicle .
A sensor mounted to the van detects the G forces created by a swaying trailer and applies the trailer ’ s brakes to pull the rig back into line .
These systems are typically fitted when the van is being manufactured but they can also be fitted as an after-market accessory if your van has electric brakes .
It s not always this clear when reversing onto a site .
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