Forum Discussion
RoyB
Jun 07, 2015Explorer II
You should have a BREAK AWAY CORD coming from the trailer that you connect to the bumper of the truck that will pull out a KEY PIN from the breakaway switch if the trailer becomes disconnected from the truck when being pulled.
Should look something like this


I use a D-CONNECTOR on my truck setup attached to the bumper through an existing hole around the trailer hitch that makes it easy to slip the break-away pin cord into it.

This is a DOT SAFETY REQUIREMENT for all trailers that equipment with trailer magnet type brakes. Some Utility trailers are equipped with SURGE BRAKES and will not have this arrangement. All of the RV trailers I have ever seen all have the MAGNET TYPE BRAKES.
The 12VDc POWER to operate this BREAK AWAY SWITCH comes from the trailer battery. If the trailer gets disconnected from the truck then the 7-way cable will also be yanked out and will not be able to use the 12VDC coming from the truck side.
You should be able to see the Break away box and long coiled up wire cord that is suppose to connected to the truck...
Usually the only things direct connected to your battery will be the large cables going back into the trailer to the converter/charger distribution panel, the trailer break-away switch box connections, and the trailer tongue jack connections. there may also be a circuit breaker wired directly if your trailer has a slide-out.
Of course who knows what the previous owner has dreamed up with no documentation.
I found the cell phone camera being an excellent tool to take a picture of things like where the battery connections are before removing the battery. After you get things working again I would mark the cables that go to the POSITIVE side of the battery with RED TAPE or RED FINGERNAIL POLISH...
This happens alot to all of us getting in a big hurry and not knowing the trouble we are in until it comes time to hook it all back up. You are not the only one that has done this. Hopefully you can get your batteries connected correctly first and find the REVERSE POLARITY blown fuses that goes with that. That is the only thing that will make the trailer jack turn the wrong direction. Leads are reversed somewhere.
Roy Ken
Should look something like this


I use a D-CONNECTOR on my truck setup attached to the bumper through an existing hole around the trailer hitch that makes it easy to slip the break-away pin cord into it.

This is a DOT SAFETY REQUIREMENT for all trailers that equipment with trailer magnet type brakes. Some Utility trailers are equipped with SURGE BRAKES and will not have this arrangement. All of the RV trailers I have ever seen all have the MAGNET TYPE BRAKES.
The 12VDc POWER to operate this BREAK AWAY SWITCH comes from the trailer battery. If the trailer gets disconnected from the truck then the 7-way cable will also be yanked out and will not be able to use the 12VDC coming from the truck side.
You should be able to see the Break away box and long coiled up wire cord that is suppose to connected to the truck...
Usually the only things direct connected to your battery will be the large cables going back into the trailer to the converter/charger distribution panel, the trailer break-away switch box connections, and the trailer tongue jack connections. there may also be a circuit breaker wired directly if your trailer has a slide-out.
Of course who knows what the previous owner has dreamed up with no documentation.
I found the cell phone camera being an excellent tool to take a picture of things like where the battery connections are before removing the battery. After you get things working again I would mark the cables that go to the POSITIVE side of the battery with RED TAPE or RED FINGERNAIL POLISH...
This happens alot to all of us getting in a big hurry and not knowing the trouble we are in until it comes time to hook it all back up. You are not the only one that has done this. Hopefully you can get your batteries connected correctly first and find the REVERSE POLARITY blown fuses that goes with that. That is the only thing that will make the trailer jack turn the wrong direction. Leads are reversed somewhere.
Roy Ken
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