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

That is just what the emergency trailer brake cable is supposed to do when pulled, lock up the wheels.And yes I pull mine once a year for a test. I only leave the clip out long enough to see if the wheels drag when I try to pull the trailer.

Pull it to test then push it back in immediately...once a year.Do not leave it out.

Yes, pulling the cable will engage the emergency brakes in the trailer. The brakes will continue to remain engaged until the pin is put back in. The brakes, when engaged, are drawing from the trailer battery. So if you leave the pin pulled, there will be a constant draw from the battery to the brakes until the pin is replaced.Unlike an automobile that has a manual parking brake that is engaged by a lever inside the cab of the vehicle to the vehicle wheels (all mechanical), in a trailer, it's all electric from the battery.If you need a mechanical parking brake in a camper. They do make them. There call, "chocks".

I check mine once a yer and lube the shaft. If it does not lock the brakes I adjust. One of my kids pulled the cable and I inly noticed it as my running lites came on in adition to the brakes.

I pull as a test occasionally to verify operation.Like anything else, if you don't test it occasionally how do you know it will work when needed?

Does any not pull their emergency trailer brake cable?

wanderingbob
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2016
mjbenedeik , Yes I pull commercially although very few RVs , mostly cargo trailers 16 to 36 feet , Jack Rabbit Express , hot shot , also autos on trailers for insurance companies and car auctions . For 50 plus
years , mostly last 20 years with Dodge fuel trucks , before that Fords .
Back then ya could get a drivers license in Florida at 14 years old . Restricted unless working !
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Feb 16, 2016
Nvr2loud wrote:
Gdetrailer wrote:
Guy Roan wrote:
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

It is a very important AND REQUIRED SAFETY DEVICE.

I agree it is very important, however it isn't REQUIRED by law everywhere.

OK, EXCEPT FOR CANADA..

It however IS REQUIRED BY LAW FOR ALL 50 US STATES PER FEDERAL LAWS FOR ANY TRAILER OF 3,001 lbs IN WHICH TRAILER BRAKES ARE ALSO REQUIRED.

Some US States have adopted a bit more stringent requirement of 2,001 lbs and higher..

But in Canada where YOU are, no, there are a couple of STUPID exceptions. But why put YOURSELF OUT and MAKE YOUR RIG SAFER FOR ALL DRIVERS AND USE THE BRAKES AND BREAKAWAY SYSTEM..
Nvr2loud
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2016
GaryWT wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:
GaryWT wrote:
Have never done it and have never thought of doing it.

Hopefully this thread has made you aware of why it should be tested.

I know my brakes work so pulling the e brake cable will not prove anything as far as I can see.

I had a switch go bad, only found it doing a test.
Nvr2loud
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2016
Gdetrailer wrote:
Guy Roan wrote:
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

It is a very important AND REQUIRED SAFETY DEVICE.

I agree it is very important, however it isn't REQUIRED by law everywhere.
mjbenedict
Explorer
Feb 16, 2016
timmac wrote:
wanderingbob wrote:
On my trip to Maine last summer we spent the nite in a Wal-Mart lot in New Hampshire . Had words with a drug peddler . No big deal !!! Next morn about seven miles into the ride all heck broke lose ! Trailer brakes locked , trailer stopped in the middle of the road . Chains stopped me . Lucky that we were going slowly up a hill ,in a small town , no traffic , no damage . Chocked the trailer un-hitched all the wires and chains and put her back together again . My hitch pin was missing , !

I always use a locking hitch pin because of Aholes in this world..

:R

I use a locking pin as well but still check everything every time I jump into the truck to tow. I check at gas station when filling as well. I can't imagine driving down the road questioning whether or not everything is hooked up right.
mjbenedict
Explorer
Feb 16, 2016
wanderingbob wrote:
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 !

Just curious, How do you lose 4 trailers? Do you tow commercially?
beemerphile1
Explorer
Feb 16, 2016
CavemanCharlie wrote:
I never pull mine. I'm afraid it will not go back in. First, that would ruin my weekend and second, I have 2 batteries that are hard to access. It would take me 10-15 minutes to get the batteries unhooked. No inspection in my area.
timmac
Explorer
Feb 16, 2016
wanderingbob wrote:
On my trip to Maine last summer we spent the nite in a Wal-Mart lot in New Hampshire . Had words with a drug peddler . No big deal !!! Next morn about seven miles into the ride all heck broke lose ! Trailer brakes locked , trailer stopped in the middle of the road . Chains stopped me . Lucky that we were going slowly up a hill ,in a small town , no traffic , no damage . Chocked the trailer un-hitched all the wires and chains and put her back together again . My hitch pin was missing , !

I always use a locking hitch pin because of Aholes in this world..

:R
Lynnmor
Explorer
Feb 16, 2016
CavemanCharlie wrote:
I never pull mine. I'm afraid it will not go back in. First, that would ruin my weekend and second, I have 2 batteries that are hard to access. It would take me 10-15 minutes to get the batteries unhooked. No inspection in my area.

That's why I hooked mine on the other side of my battery disconnect switch. I know it should be on the battery side, but if there is a switch or wiring fault it can be turned off. There are no fuses in this system so it is a fire hazard disguised as a safety system.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Feb 16, 2016
CavemanCharlie wrote:
I never pull mine. I'm afraid it will not go back in. First, that would ruin my weekend and second, I have 2 batteries that are hard to access. It would take me 10-15 minutes to get the batteries unhooked. No inspection in my area.

Honest to goodness folks.. these things ARE NOT LIKE A FIRE "EXTINGUISHER" (IE pull pin for "one time use").

They ARE designed as a REUSABLE device.

The pin IS designed to be able to be put back in to turn off the brakes..

It is nothing more than a weather resistant switch box and the pin clips into the pox to hold two contacts apart.

Here a few photos..

Plunger out

Contact view

Plunger partway out

On this model the pin is "keyed" to go in only TWO ways so if it doesn't "fit" you simply ROTATE the pin 90 degrees and it WILL fit..

It will have considerable resistance but it WILL "snap" back in.

Just make sure the pin is FULLY installed, if you can see the o ring it is not fully installed.