Does any not pull their emergency trailer brake cable?

I trip over mine at least once a year and pull it accidentally.

I pull mine when testing or adjusting brakes.

I am confused , what is a 'E brake cable ' ? My trailer brakes are actuated by an electric current to a magnet .

At speed when the trailer brakes lock it will still take a while for the whole rig to stop and the truck can steer VIA the chains . I have lost four trailers and never had any damage or injury to the equipment , except smokin tires . Also when pulling the brake pin while stopped nothing happens except that the magnets are turned on , it take movement to bring the brakes up !

Yep once a year.

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.

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!)

It is a good idea, but I have never tried it. I suppose I never really thought about it. Another TT project for this summer.

Kind of like the airbags, we just assume they will work.

budwich wrote:
I think the OP's fear comes from the "experience" gained using the emergency brake in a vehicle... which if not "exercised" on a regular basis may result in the brakes remaining lockup as the e-brake cable and / or brake components are "seized" such that the system does not release especially with a "shoe based e-brake" system. Since the trailer system doesn't rely on a "long run" of potentially rusted cabling, it is unlikely that setup will stay locked up (spring failure maybe). Further of course, if a lock up occurs, your vehicle does not become "useless" and can still be driven to get assistance or otherwise where on vehicle brake lockup, you are pretty much toast.

As other have indicated, the trailer ebrake should be tested "regularly" and fear of lockup should be the least of your worries.

ELECTRIC E brake on a trailer and a mechanical/cable E brake on a vehicle ARE two different beasts mechanically..

OP would have somewhat of a "pass" if they are "fearful" due to a vehicle E brake cable rusting and jamming in the Brake ON mode..

There is no fear for a ELECTRICALLY operated trailer E brake to get jammed in the ON position.. And if it did get stuck on you would have OTHER problems which would have happened WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING.

As far as vehicle E brakes, it is ALWAYS in your best interest to USE THE E BRAKE. My vehicles I always set the E brake every time I park, EVEN IN THE WINTER.. Using them frequently is the only way to prevent the cables from rusting in place.

Modern day vehicles the E brake cables are pretty well protected from moisture, manufacturers HAVE come a long way in making those reliable even in winter and high salt usage areas.

I should know, I LIVE in the northern RUST BELT..

I think the OP's fear comes from the "experience" gained using the emergency brake in a vehicle... which if not "exercised" on a regular basis may result in the brakes remaining lockup as the e-brake cable and / or brake components are "seized" such that the system does not release especially with a "shoe based e-brake" system. Since the trailer system doesn't rely on a "long run" of potentially rusted cabling, it is unlikely that setup will stay locked up (spring failure maybe). Further of course, if a lock up occurs, your vehicle does not become "useless" and can still be driven to get assistance or otherwise where on vehicle brake lockup, you are pretty much toast.

As other have indicated, the trailer ebrake should be tested "regularly" and fear of lockup should be the least of your worries.