Does any not pull their emergency trailer brake cable?
I am now on my second trailer, and never have pulled it. I have always had a fear that the brakes would lock up. Any one else feel the same ! Guy
Forum Discussion
beemerphile1 wrote:oldtrojan66 wrote:
This might be the place to post a question I have had for a good while. Ok, you're bopping down the by-way at, let's just say 60 MPH. For some strange reason, your hitch pin lock comes undone, and the trailer starts into another lane or the side ditch. The other lane contains half million dollar, Mercedes, RollsRoyces, etc and the side ditch contains a school yard at recess. Instead of a rolling wrecking ball which could go on its way until the laws of nature, a Mercedes, or 75 grade school kids stop it, now, because of this wonderful (tested yearly!) emergency brake, you now have a locked-up, wheel-skidding, tire screeching like mad, wrecking ball. This second wrecking ball, will also go until the laws of nature, a Mercdes, or 75 grade school kids bring it to a stop. The ONLY difference I can imagine, is the noise of the screeching tires will enable the Mercedes driver, or the 75 grade school kids to look up just in time to see the instrument of their demise.
Bottom line, why have a lock-the-wheels trailer brake at all? What am I missing?
(I mean no disrespect to Mercedes or Rolls Royce drivers, and certainly none to the poor grade school kids!)
The theory is that stopping a runaway trailer as soon as possible will result in less damage. Seems like a good, simple theory.
That and along with the idea that on a bumper pull trailer the 'safety chains' will keep trailer attached to tow vehicle vs careening off into the Mercedes/school bus or even into side ditch.
Emergency Brake Cable (E BRAKE CABLE) is suppose to be shorter than safety chains so that it gets pulled out should trailer become un- hitched.
5th wheel....no safety chains so careening of trailer off by itself is possible but hopefully truck fenders/tailgate will capture 5vr and if not king pin/nose of 5vr will dig into pavement should it come un-hitched.
Still E BRAKE CABLE will get pulled and brakes go full ON
wanderingbob wrote:
I am confused , what is a 'E brake cable ' ? My trailer brakes are actuated by an electric current to a magnet .
Emergency Brake Cable.......cable attached to brake switch on trailer/5th wheel that gets pulled out in an emergency and allows full trailer battery voltage to be applied to trailer electric brakes causing them to go full on
