Brake emergency (breakaway) cable problem

Before proceeding, think about how many trailers actually come completely free of the tow vehicule. Then put this in perspective.
The breakaway is there for an oh sht moment of epic proportions. How and what will happen is unknown, so as long as it activates when the trailer parts ways with the truck, it's fine.
Regarding the cable and hook, shorten it, use a spring latch, whatever, to adjust it to your liking.

Ideally, trailer pops off ball, chains catch it. Do you want the breakaway to engage?
It's situational. Doubt it's going to keep the trailer off the back of the truck when the driver hammers the brakes, so at that point, stuffing the trailer under the truck to stop may help. Or some "automatic" trailer braking may help. Can't predict the situation.
By the same token, and I got blasted for this in the past.....Trailer comes unhooked going down a windy Mountian 2 lane. Worst case scenario right? Do you want the chains keeping you hooked to an errant missile and the trailer brakes trying to pull you in the truck wherever the trailer is headed?
My answer is no. I want the trailer to live the rest of its short life not attached to the steering wheel that may get me out of going over the cliff with the trailer.

So point is, too many potential scenarios for one right answer.
Keep the breakaway hooked up so its not dragging on the road and coupled so it doesn't pop the brakes when you do t want it to.

That coiled cable looks like a great idea. I'll get one.

The problem with the "some idiot" idea is that DW never got out of the truck during that stop. So unless someone messed with the hitch with someone sitting in the truck...

When I put the plunger back into the switch, it went in loosely. Enough to turn off the brake, but not really solid. After I got home and got under it, I was able to push the plunger in securely. So maybe it got pulled part way out earlier, like when I was hooking up, and worked its way out when I saw it.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Cable should just be slightly longer then the safety chains.

Should trailer become unhitched and chains still attached then the umbilical cord is still connected so you have control over braking...

IF trailer breaks free...unhitched/chains break/umbilical cord pulls out...then is when you want the Emergency Break Away cable to pull the pin out activating the trailer brakes during that runaway situation

My worry about braking with the trailer unhitched is that the truck will probably brake faster than the trailer, so the trailer will bang into the back of the truck. If I realize what is happening fast enough, I could brake with the controller's lever, but I'm afraid I would just think "something is wrong, hit the brake"

But now that I've seen how hard it brakes with the emergency pulled, that's not a good solution either.

you are probably not the only one there that found the break away on the ground. :h

I remember one time when i leaned against my spare. Whoah it was flt. i took it in for repair and they could not find a thing wrong except it had no air pressure in it. Hmmmmm

I use the coiled ETRAILER BREAKAWAY CABLE. Being coiled it doesn't drag on anything... My D-RING is actually mounted in the hole part of the hitch where the SAFETY CHAINS are connected. I have two eyelets on each side of the welded on bumper hitch receiver. This is a permanently mounted hitch assy to my bumper frame... Hooking up the D-RING is very easy to squeeze it open and clip into one of the eyelet holes you can see in the photos here.


ETRAILER image view


Google Image

I think the important thing here is you did your walk-around and found the problem right away...

Roy Ken

Bobbo wrote:

waynefi wrote:
I came back to the trailer, and saw the switch end of the cable sitting on the ground.

Maybe some joker pulled it for kicks while you were away.

that would be my first guess. not a joker but an a..h...
bumpy

Cable should just be slightly longer then the safety chains.

Should trailer become unhitched and chains still attached then the umbilical cord is still connected so you have control over braking...

IF trailer breaks free...unhitched/chains break/umbilical cord pulls out...then is when you want the Emergency Break Away cable to pull the pin out activating the trailer brakes during that runaway situation

BB_TX wrote:
That long cable can catch on many things when turning corners and may pull out. Get one of these

For sure get that 6 footer and not the 4 foot version.

Bobbo wrote:

waynefi wrote:
I came back to the trailer, and saw the switch end of the cable sitting on the ground.

Maybe some joker pulled it for kicks while you were away.

That was my thought too. Every village has an idiot.....Dennis

waynefi wrote:
I came back to the trailer, and saw the switch end of the cable sitting on the ground.

Maybe some joker pulled it for kicks while you were away.

That long cable can catch on many things when turning corners and may pull out. Get one of these to minimize the risk. I attached an eye bolt on my hitch handle to connect it to.