Old Italian trailers with a wheel for brakes

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS EURO DRIVING FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

On the side or back of the trailer i would see a large wheel of some sort,to turn the trailer brakes on and off,any reason why they had that system,only on Italian trailers,it was the size of a large dinner plate.?

2

That was the old braking systems, before auto slack adjusters and spring brakes. Most trailers used a ratchet handle to wind on the trailer brakes, the Italians used a wheel, they did this because they’re Italian and for no other reason :wink:

3

newmercman:
That was the old braking systems, before auto slack adjusters and spring brakes. Most trailers used a ratchet handle to wind on the trailer brakes, the Italians used a wheel, they did this because they’re Italian and for no other reason :wink:

The real reason was that you can turn a wheel backwards just as fast as you can forwards. Perfect for the Italian drivers :stuck_out_tongue:

4

Talking of old Italian stuff… does anyone recall the older Fiats and Ivecos in RHD spec.■■
Not been to Italy for almost 4 years now but seem to remember seeing a few still working in Veneto.
Btw, is it me or is the area between Mantova, Vicenza, Padova and Bologna an Italian version of Lincolnshire/East Anglia??
Used to go to Montagnana, Legnago, Casale di Scodosia and Bergantino a lot… [zb] me they would be boring towns to live in. Another destination was Ostiglia…home of the Red Fox Pub and “Hotel California”… :laughing: :laughing:

5

Wheel Nut:

newmercman:
That was the old braking systems, before auto slack adjusters and spring brakes. Most trailers used a ratchet handle to wind on the trailer brakes, the Italians used a wheel, they did this because they’re Italian and for no other reason :wink:

The real reason was that you can turn a wheel backwards just as fast as you can forwards. Perfect for the Italian drivers :stuck_out_tongue:

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

6

Duck:
Talking of old Italian stuff… does anyone recall the older Fiats and Ivecos in RHD spec.■■
Not been to Italy for almost 4 years now but seem to remember seeing a few still working in Veneto.
Btw, is it me or is the area between Mantova, Vicenza, Padova and Bologna an Italian version of Lincolnshire/East Anglia??
Used to go to Montagnana, Legnago, Casale di Scodosia and Bergantino a lot… [zb] me they would be boring towns to live in. Another destination was Ostiglia…home of the Red Fox Pub and “Hotel California”… :laughing: :laughing:

Remember seeing about that in truck years ago wasn’t it do they had a better veiw of the edge of the mountain roads?

7

Heard it was something to do with the mountains in Northern Italy too but not sure if it was drivers talking ■■■■■■■■ or if there’s any truth in it… :question: