Where to attach the Breakaway Cable

Doug33 wrote:

Levidada wrote:

Doug33 wrote:

rbpru wrote:


If the chain breaks, the cable stays with the frame.

I would think that if the chain breaks, then most caribeners are also going to break.

Not sure what could ever cause the chains to break other then a violent wreck? The break away cable is in case the receiver comes of the ball for whatever reason. The cable is designed to disengage if the truck pulls it out of the trailer which only happens if bad things go down. The chains should still be connected and crossed so the tongue jack doesn't hit the ground

Exactly - I think people are getting too worried about an event that is extremely unlikely to happen, and if it does, you have bigger problems if your chain breaks or your whole hitch falls off the TV. I still question the practicality of an emergency brake, because if it engages and locks up the TT tires, I think you are in a situation where you will lose the TT anyway, and it will likely be unsalvagable.

I have yet to hear or see evidence that someone has actually been through an emergency brake situation. Towing accidents are usually caused by a flat tire or out of control sway.

I'm think the point of the emergency brakes are twofold.

First is if the hitch fails but the chains are holding you're going to be dragging a big anchor behind you. It's not going to be pretty, and things are going to get damaged, but hopefully you can get to the shoulder and save everything.

The second purpose is that if there is a catastrophic failure of the hitch, the trailer just transformed into a many thousand pounds unguided missile that is free to travel across the highway and injure or kill an unsuspecting family.

For me personally the second reason is why I made an effort to make sure that the cable is attached to the tow vehicle frame and not any part of the hitch.