Trailer Fires, Tyre Blow outs and Binding Brakes
Heavy Goods Vehicles
I am collating data on trailer fires that have resulted in partial or total loss of the trailer. The fires when investigated, resulted from the brakes / wheels area. Initially it was believed the problem was maintenance related or due to mechanical malfunction however we revealed the cause to be a defective male red emergency line coupling on the trailer and / or the mating female coupling on the tractor unit.

This caused the gradual application of the trailer brakes without the driver's knowledge. The heat build up either caused a tyre blow out or the driver stopped the vehicle due to smoking brakes or excess drag and the wheel/ tyre set on fire when stationary.

It is difficult to establish the true number of failures that related to this problem as it was misdiagnosed as binding foundation brakes; overheated axle bearings; lack of lubrication; sticking brake valves or under-inflated tyres. I believe that a larger number of tyre failures (blowout's) were also caused by this failure of the braking system.

Nigel Hinch I Eng MIRTE
Paddock Lodge
43c Berry Lane
Wootton
Northampton NN4 6JU
Email hinch@paddock43c.freeserve.co.uk

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