Can anyone out there tell me what I need to pipe my lorry for air to the trailer? The lorry is an ERF EC10 8x4 and has never been fitted with trailer braking. I’ve had a fitter down to do an pre-MOT check and to look at piping the lorry for trailer brakes. He wasn’t sure as that’s not his specialty. He reckons I need a trailer control valve. Can I get one from a ERF tractor unit and get it fitted on my lorry? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi.
A trailer control valve is the 1st thing you will need. Then you will need somone that knows how to pipe it and then get into the pipeing on the truck. I would think you might just need and extra air tank too.
You need to make sure it is Bob on and not somone that thinks they know what to do.
This a is a bigger job that you think.
Cheers
Peter
You will also need ABS if your truck is newer than april 1992, and your trailer is over 10tonnes design weight.
I dont think I`ve seen an ec10 rigid with ABS unless it was a factory built prime mover, but could be mistaken on that.
Also you may need a different foot vavle as well as the trailer control valve, and possable extra air capacity.
Retro fitting ABS would be expensive and time consuming.
Thanks for the replies. I’ve got the schematic diagrams in a service manual and apart from the air tank and control valve there doesn’t seem to be any difference between a rigid and a tractor unit. The lorry doesn’t have abs and the trailer is a 4 wheel drawbar that weighs around 4 tons. I’ll have another word with the fitter. He says he can do the work if he has the diagrams.
Try this company:
Very likely more knowledge on this in the owner drivers/fleet operators forum. A kind word in a mods ear might get it moved.
Yes, I only realised that I’d posted in the wrong area after I’d pressed the button. I’ll have a word. Thanks. 
it’s moved 
Before you start spending cash, does the vehicle have a design and plated train weight? If neither is shown on your plating certificate you may well have problems that you can’t overcome.
. I removed it as it was overly complicated
I think this is being over-complicated it sounds to me like an historic type vehicle as the op has said it doesn’t even have ABS. If you contact the company on the link I gave on the post above they will make sure you get everything component-wise needed, I’m guessing but I would think they have supplied to showmen doing this exact thing loads of times.
Own Account Driver:
I think this is being over-complicated it sounds to me like an historic type vehicle as the op has said it doesn’t even have ABS. If you contact the company on the link I gave on the post above they will make sure you get everything component-wise needed, I’m guessing but I would think they have supplied to showmen doing this exact thing loads of times.
OOOOPS my fault thanks for pointing that out
I’ve managed to get a proper diagram and had someone who knows what’s what down today. I know what parts I need now. The lorry does have a design GTW on the plate. The trailer is about 4 tonnes weight. Thanks for the replies, much appreciated!
i think you might find any alteration to the braking system would be classed by vosa as a notifiable alteration and may need testing before use?
xamtex:
i think you might find any alteration to the braking system would be classed by vosa as a notifiable alteration and may need testing before use?
Adding additional equipment to the braking system is I think what it generally says but I bet it would never be mentioned at annual test if you didn’t bother though.
xamtex:
i think you might find any alteration to the braking system would be classed by vosa as a notifiable alteration and may need testing before use?
I’m sure any alteration to the braking system is notafiable, will need to fill out a gv10 I think. Send it to Swansea, they will let you know if it needs inspecting or not. Have done a couple in the past, not a lot of hassle really, and better to be safe than sorry.
Well we’ve put a trailer valve and air tank from a ERF EC tractor unit and piped it up. A fitter with over 40 years experience has done the work. Not tried the trailer yet.
Thanks again for the advice and replies!