How old is my Bradley boat trailer?

[Jeepster]

I have a brake problem with my Bradley boat trailer (the brakes come on when reversing up a slight incline and this causes the clutch to burn on the car.
I found the following info on the NTTA website, quote:

"Many pre-1989 trailers have a lever that prevents the brakes from operating during reversing.
All trailers built after March 31st 1989 have auto-reverse brakes."

I cant find a lever anywhere except for the handbrake lever so I am guessing it was built after March 31st 1989, but I cant say for sure as dont know how old the trailer actually is. On the trailer manufacturers info plate, under the heading "Date", it gives the date code as "G2". So does anyone here know what year G2 signifies?

 

[hlb]

You should have a hinged metal thingy that swings round and stops the over run brakes coming on. If you have not, find a bit of metal about the right size and hold it in place with mole grips. You will find the place just behind the tow hitch. Looks a bit like a piston. Take it off when you've finished reversing.

 

[VicS]

The part shown blue is the part hlb is referrring to on a simple Bradley spring damped overrun coupling. It the position shown it prevents the brakes being applied. When swung out of this position the brakes will be applied on the overrun or when reversing.

The principle of "auto reverse" is explained HERE

 

[Jim@sea]

It isn't how old your Bradley trailer is that matters. Its WHO made the axle. From the photo it looks like the coupling which was fitted to "Rice Horse Trailers" and of course "Rice" would not make the axles themselves. I would suggest you have a ring round people who repair and service horse trailers as there are literally thousands of second hand Rice trailers still being used all the time.

 

[me2]

The trailer will not be made by Bradley just the hitch . G2 is year 2000 week 2 so it is auto reverse and a pole mount hitch . You need to look inside the hub to make sure that it has a sliding shoe as in VicS's link , if not then thats why you cant reverse it .

 

[Jeepster]

Thanks...so it probably is auto reversing. Heres a pic of the hitch:

You can see that there is no lever to stop the brakes operating on reverse.
Looks like I will have to adjust the brakes as per the info on that website.