Where to attach the Breakaway Cable

dodge guy wrote:

LarryJM wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Since we're going this far, my cable is a bit longer than the chains. No need to have the trailer try and stop with the safety chains still attached to the TV! I don't know if I want the trailer to have that kind of control over my TV. The breakaway system is for a complete breakaway, not a partial disconnect. Besides if the trailer were to become disconnected, when you touch the brakes the brake controller will actuate the trailer brakes. All this is dependent on how everything is set up! My 7-way is also longer than the chains. Everything needs to be set up properly for the safety systems to work!

I won't try and convince you otherwise, but a few comments that I feel are germane here.

1. A trailer only connected by the safety chains is an emergency situation and IMO considered to be totally disconnected and not a PARTIAL disconnect. The safety chains are in no way any type of normal connection for actually towing something.

2. I wish you GOOD LUCK fiddling with that brake controller with one hand while you trailer is only connected via the safety chains and adjusting it to something less than MAX just like the emergency brakeaway switch would do. Me I'm holding onto that steering wheel with BOTH HANDS trying to control it and not run off into a ditch until the fully engaged brakes on my trailer slow me down. If the trailer wants to flip on its side so be it since that will REALLY SLOW THINGS DOWN.

3. The very last thing I would want to even consider is touching my TV brakes which can really cause things to go south and sideways at the same time when that things 18" behind be that wants to run over me actually does that.

Finally things are going to happen so fast and be over so quick I sort of doubt one is going to have time to do much else than simply "HANG ON"

Larry

No need to touch the brake controller with your hand. Just barely touch the brake pedal and the trailer brakes actuate. So it will stop! Without the truck actually braking!
A trailer connected by the safety chains is still connected not disconnected.

If you know your setup, you'll know how it's going to act when something goes bad. Either way I've never had it happen, and I'm sure most of us never have. So saying one way will be better than the other has no meaning unless you've had it happen a few times each different setup. I don't plan on trying any of them.

My way has worked great so far, just as yours has!

Except for the fact that unlike your method at least one true Expert and maker of brakeaway switches that Ron quoted directly from mine has that endorsement. Good luck in your attempt to "feather" those TV brakes so that you maintain the proper tension on the trailer in a panic situation. IMO that method is a sure fire way to have that trailer rear end you and cause loss of TV control. You are the first person I think I have ever seen post that have considered using the foot to apply trailer only brakes in an emergency situation. That is a very unique and "uncommon" method to say the least.

Larry