Anderson Plug – Anderson plugs are the most used and popular solution to power charging a trailer, caravan or camper while driving. Their main purpose is to transfer the power supply to the battery charge system of your towed vehicle.

ATM – Aggregate Trailer Mass. The ATM is the MAXIMUM LEGAL weight of the trailer / caravan fully loaded when it is unhitched from the tow vehicle whilst sitting on its jockey wheel or stand.

Ball Mount (Drawbar) – The triangle made of metal at the front of the trailer. This is the most visible part of the chassis.

Bearing – A bearing is a mechanical element that allows for the smooth rotation of wheels on the axle. Bearings are typically located within the hub and are crucial for safe and efficient towing.

Brake Controller – The brake controller is fitted inside the car and power is fed from the vehicle’s brake light circuit into the controller, then back to the caravan through the connecting plug and socket to the (usually drum) brakes which are activated by electromagnets .

Breakaway Controller – If the trailer disconnects from the tow car by accident, then it’ll separate and the breakaway controller wire will stretch tight, pull out the controller and apply the trailer brakes.

Boat trailer – A boat trailer is designed to launch, retrieve, carry and sometimes store boats.

Box trailer – Box trailers, also known as enclosed trailers or cargo trailers, are enclosed vehicles used to transport goods.

Camper trailer – a trailer towed behind a road vehicle to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable and protected than a tent.

Caravan – a vehicle equipped for living in, typically towed by a car and used for holidays.

Chassis – The chassis of a vehicle is the load-bearing part of the frame, which in turn is the structural element of the body of the vehicle.

Coupling – Also known as a hitch, a coupling links your van to the tow ball on your vehicle.

Cross Member – A structural member that connects two opposite sides of a frame or chassis. In towing vehicles, the cross member can be a point where towing attachments are connected.

Disk Brake pads – These are consumable components within a disc brake system. They press against the rotating disc (rotor) to slow down the wheel.

Gross Combined Mass – the maximum combined mass of your loaded tow vehicle and your loaded caravan hitched together specified by your tow vehicle’s manufacturer.

GVM – Gross Trailer Mass. The GTM is the total weight of a trailer, fully loaded when it is hitched to the tow vehicle.

Hubs – The central part of the wheel that connects it to the axle. Hubs contain bearings that allow the wheel to rotate smoothly.

Hitch – A tow hitch refers to the physical receiver hitch mounted to the rear of a towing vehicle. It is the part of the vehicle that provides the connection point for towing a trailer or other loads.

Jockey Wheel – A trailer jockey wheel is a simple mechanical device designed for lifting and lowering the coupling head off and on to the tow ball and for steadying the front of the trailer whilst manoeuvring it to and from the towing vehicle.

Safety Chains – If the hitch fails, the trailer may separate from the tow car. This is prevented by safety chains. All trailers need at least one

Single Axle, Dual Axle, Tandem Axle – Whether the trailer has two wheels (single axle) or four wheels (tandem, dual axle). Some trailers may have three axles (6 wheels).

Suspension – suspension absorbs the undulations and provide a smooth ride. The two main parts are the spring, which carries the load, and the shocks (dampers), which smooth out or dampen the bouncing from the springs as the vehicle moves along the road.

Tare Weight – Tare weight, sometimes called unladen weight, is the weight of an empty vehicle or Trailer.

Tow Ball Mass – Tow ball mass is the proportion of trailer weights applied to towing vehicles.

Trailer Sway – This occurs when the caravan wheels lock when braking or when the van slides or swings from side to side.

Tyres – The rubber ring that surrounds the wheel and makes contact with the road. Tyres provide traction, absorb shock, and protect the wheel from damage.

Vin Plate – A vehicle identification number is a unique code, including a serial number, used by the automotive industry to identify individual vehicles.

Wheels – The circular metal discs that tyres are mounted on. Wheels allow the vehicle to roll and provide a mounting point for the tyres and hubs.

Wheel Chocks – Wedges placed behind the wheels of a parked vehicle to prevent it from rolling. Wheel chocks are essential for safety during towing operations.

Winches – A mechanical device that uses a cable or rope to pull or wind in loads. In towing, winches are used to pull vehicles, trailers, or other objects.

Winch post – Trailer winches let you pull your boat onto the trailer while it’s on an inclined launching ramp.

5th Wheeler – Where the trailer connects to the tow car, which will be a Ute or a truck, by means of a hitch on the bed of the tow car. The design offers much better towing stability, but you need a truck or a Ute and lose a lot of space in the tow car.