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How truck drivers damage trailer drawbars and couplings

A full trailer differs from a semitrailer in that it has an A-frame drawbar attached to a dolly at the front of the trailer, rather than a kingpin and skidplate.

Full trailers (also called pull trailers) are coupled using a bolt and pin coupling on the rear of the truck whereby a pin drops through a towing eye on the drawbar trailer. Backing into this too quickly or at the wrong angle can cause damage, as can manoeuvring outside of the range of motion of the coupling, or not maintaining the parts.

Drivers must know how to couple the trailer, as well as how to do manoeuvres like jackknifing (if relevant).

Damage to cables, air lines and connectors

When a trailer is parked, the cables should be draped over the drawbar, inserted into dummy sockets (if available) or tied or clipped under the drawbar. Leaving them on the ground causes problems:

  • Dirt can get into the hydraulic line coupling
  • The electrical and EBS sockets can become soaked with water, which can cause connectivity issues
  • Corrosion is accelerated
  • They can be trodden on or run over, which damages the outer sheath
This is poor treatment of the lines. The air lines are on the ground. Fortunately the EBS and the hydraulic line are not in the gravel. The drawbar leg seems to have slumped slightly, meaning the towing eye might not be at the right height when recoupling. As these drawbars can weigh over 100kg, lifting it with one person presents a health and safety risk.
Another example of poor cable storage. Everything’s on the wet ground and someone has put a cone on some of the lines.
This is better storage – the cables are draped over the drawbar

Damage to the drawbar

This drawbar towing eye had so much pressure put on it, it didn’t only bend the towing eye, but the A-frame, too
When a drawbar is bent like this, it must not be used on the road.

Bends like this are caused by jackknifing the trailer and it costs several thousand dollars to repair and recertify.

Jackknife sensors are available which can warn a driver before the drawbar is damaged.

The white arms either side of the coupling are the jackknife sensors. The if the drawbar moves these, an alarm or light displays in the cab

Damage to the funnel and other coupling parts

Backing in a trailer too quickly can cause damage to the funnel – the bit that guides the towing eye into the coupling.

If the pin is dropped before the towing eye is inserted, damage can occur to the pin.

Damage to the towing eye

The towing eye wears over time, becoming wider. This is accelerated if you try to use a 50mm towing eye with a 40mm pin because it moves around a lot.

The towing eye can also be stretched if shock-loaded by dumping the clutch with a heavy load.

How to avoid damaging a drawbar coupling

  1. Make sure the pin is up before reversing in
  2. Make sure the towing eye lines up with the funnel
  3. Reverse towards the drawbar slowly
  4. Keep cables and air lines off the ground and out of the way when coupling
  5. Don’t over-extend the trailer coupling while jackknifing the trailer
  6. Don’t shock-load the coupling
  7. Maintain the coupling
  8. Don’t use a 50mm towing eye with a 40mm pin
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Darren has written over 3000 articles about driving and vehicles, plus almost 500 vehicle reviews and numerous driving courses. Connect with him on LinkedIn by clicking the name above

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