Dangers seen in using coiled brake system air hoses on drawbar-type trailers
The use of ‘suzi coils’ for trailer brakes are under a cloud in certain circumstance, following a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) warning.
The alert follow incidents where plastic coiled brake system air hoses, commonly known as suzi coils, have detached on particular combinations.
“To ensure trailers that have unintentionally disconnected can stop within the shortest possible distance, the NHVR strongly recommends that trailers, other than semitrailers, are not fitted with suzi coils,” the national regulator says in a safety bulletin.
“Traditional rubber hoses are more appropriate in these applications as they do not stretch and deform in the same way as suzi coils.
“This typically results in quicker application of emergency brakes, hopefully minimising the damage these trailers may inflict.”
Read about the NHVR’s recent PBS braking standard call, here
The bulletin aims to highlight the dangers of inappropriately using suzi coils for air supply to the brake system on self-supporting trailers, such as a dog, pig or tag type trailers, which use an ‘A’ type coupling system.
It advises rubber hoses meeting the SAE J1402 or equivalent standard be used.
The full bulletin can be found here.