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broark01's avatar
broark01
Explorer
Oct 22, 2013

Whoa Nellie! Ever forget to Plug Trailer Into Truck???

I had the 5th at my house doing some winterization but still hitched to truck. Unplugged it from the truck and hooked up to shore power to charge batteries. Finished the winterization and buttoned everything up. Began towing it through the neighborhood and as I approached a stop sign at 25MPH going slightly down hill, it didn't want to stop. Went to full right leg pressure on the brake pedal and it stubbornly stopped before the stop sign. Once stopped, applied emergency brake, hopped out and plugged 5th back into truck.

As much as I doubted the usefulness of electric drum brakes (that I just rebuilt this year) I now have a renewed appreciation for them.
  • Am I the only one who checks the green light on the brake controller before pulling out??:h

    Also because the backup camera is hooked to the running lights, I would notice it wasnt working.
  • Nope......I never unplug trailer umbilical cord from truck unless I am unhitching trailer. If trailer is hitched up...umbilical cord is plugged in.

    If I overnight I leave it plugged in even when hooked up to shore power as it will have no affect on truck electrical system.

    Never driven away with any utilities still connected...GF double checks that we are disconnected.

    BUT I have left a couple water pressure regulators, a water filter, a sewer fitting and a couple of pliers behind. That's when she started checking me :S
  • I never forgot, but had the plug slip out a couple of times. Ruined the plug on the road, of course.
  • I have not, but a friend did. And he dragged his so long he had to replace the connector as it was destroyed from bouncing down the highway.
  • I did have the ground connection on my 7 wire plug quit working on a trip once. Definitely increases the braking distances. That was when I was towing with my wagon last summer.
  • Tachdriver wrote:
    Whole new love for drum brakes ;)

    i don't believe I have done that yet, but I am sure someone else has. I have accidentally pulled the breakaway wire to be some what stranded at a campsite. The wire got tangled around the front jack and pin.

    At least you didn't pull out of a campsite with the fresh water hose still connected.

    I feel better now, I'm not the only one that has done that.:B
  • Yes I have done that ONCE.And a little rain did not help..Slid and barely got to stop at a t section.
    Heart was racing was a understatement.
    Have a nice checklist now LOL
  • Whole new love for drum brakes ;)

    i don't believe I have done that yet, but I am sure someone else has. I have accidentally pulled the breakaway wire to be some what stranded at a campsite. The wire got tangled around the front jack and pin.

    At least you didn't pull out of a campsite with the fresh water hose still connected.