5th wheel brakes and breakaway switch

[CoffeePat]

On my maiden voyage return trip, the "breakaway pin" inadvertenly falls out. I thought I was paying attention, but it seems to jerk quite a bit anyway so I didn't notice for maybe 30 miles. (don't know) This is on a 2010, 35 ft LZ 5th wheel. I'm pulling it with a 3/4 ton Power stroke diesel. I guess maybe the brakes weren't adjusted properly because 1 shoe was completely gone, but the other 3 still had almost 1/2 the pad left. Wierd. I plan to replace all 4 brake backing plates, but only 2 of the drums, others look fine. SOUND OK?
Also, should I be able to pull the breakaway switch pin out by hand? I cannot. Maybe its supposed to be really tight or it's melted into place.

[MarkTwain]

john&bet wrote:

djgarcia wrote:

john&bet wrote:
My cable hooked on the hitch one time in a parking lot and it locked up right now. Could not move the 5er.

Just unhook the battery cables until you get a new switch.

Just so you know it does not need a new switch. Thanks for your advice anyway.

Unhooking the battery will allow the trailer tires to roll free. Then you can figure out if you just need to rehook your brake cable or replace it if it is defective. Then just reconnect the battery cables.

[Wandy]

I was hauling the 5er about 150 miles away. Noticed the plug was sitting in the bed. Didn't notice any difference i believe. Is there a way to test the switch?

[john_bet]

djgarcia wrote:

john&bet wrote:
My cable hooked on the hitch one time in a parking lot and it locked up right now. Could not move the 5er.

Just unhook the battery cables until you get a new switch.

Just so you know it does not need a new switch. Thanks for your advice anyway.

[mgpassport]

Lesson I get from this is not put a lot of stuff in the bed of the TV.

[Flattop]

On our maiden trip home, we stop at a turnpike rest area. I was gassing up while the wife went inside to take the girls to the restroom.

After filling the tank, they were still gone so decided to pull past the pumps off to the side. Made a sharp left turn upon leaving the pumps and "bam" I stopped immediately. Thought I hit something with the back end swinging as I left the pumps. Got out, walked around the trailer, nothing. Got back inside, proceded to pull away to massive jerking. Pulled it 30 ft to get out away and off the side.

Got out again, looked in bed and saw the pin had pulled out. Was releived at that time. Wife came back with the kids.

I immediately left for the restroom to empty my pants.

[padredw]

Looks like many of us have had the same kind of experience 🙂

For most of us easy to fix--just plug the breakaway back in. But it is the surprise and the embarrassment that lingers in memory.

[Stranger]

Making a U-Turn in the middle of Sedona AZ. Quiet day, coming out of the U-turn the cable hung up on something (never hung before) and stopped us QUICK!

All of a sudden everybody in AZ was coming from 3 directions at us!

Plugged it back in, went on our way. Later that night at dinner and elsewhere, we heard about "The big 5th wheel trailer that stopped traffic!"

[MarkTwain]

john&bet wrote:
My cable hooked on the hitch one time in a parking lot and it locked up right now. Could not move the 5er.

Just unhook the battery cables until you get a new switch.

[rjsurfer]

And they do go bad....after I finished my disc brake install I pulled the pin on the breakaway switch and nothing happened. I went back over a!ll the wiring couldn't figure out what was wrong. Finally in desperation I shorted out the leads to the switch and the electric pump came to life.

I took the switch apart and found the welds holding the wires in place failed.

Ron W.

[Cummins12V98]

HA, I was lucky it was dark when it happened to me!

[padredw]

X 4!

It only happened to me once as I was leaving a campground and made a sharp turn. The cable got hung on something. The stop was sudden and complete. I thought I had hit something. It provided some amusement for some friendly folks who happened to be nearby.

I don't think I could have continued towing at all. But maybe if it happened while one was up to full speed it might not work the same--I don't know about that, fortunately.

[broark01]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

john&bet wrote:
My cable hooked on the hitch one time in a parking lot and it locked up right now. Could not move the 5er.

X2!!

I was backing uphill to the blind side BANG! Thought somehow I had hit the 5er with the LB truck. I looked once, didn't notice the pin sitting in the bed of the TV, spotted the second time. :h

Had mine pop out at the Keizer Elks RV Park. I was going slow and turned very tight and it popped and I about went thru the windshield!

X3

Ha! Thought I was the only one. I was turning in a parking lot and everything stopped rolling like right now. Thought I had hit something and got out and looked around...nothing. The cable had caught on the holding tank that I threw in the back of the truck and pulled out. What a relief but a little embarrassing.

[YZ]

I would also check the wiring..I know that little box heats up if you leave the pin out...better safe than sorry...

[Cummins12V98]

rhagfo wrote:

john&bet wrote:
My cable hooked on the hitch one time in a parking lot and it locked up right now. Could not move the 5er.

X2!!

I was backing uphill to the blind side BANG! Thought somehow I had hit the 5er with the LB truck. I looked once, didn't notice the pin sitting in the bed of the TV, spotted the second time. :h

Had mine pop out at the Keizer Elks RV Park. I was going slow and turned very tight and it popped and I about went thru the windshield!