Break away cable

[irish31790]

Hi folks,

I’m a long time travel trailer owner who just upgraded to a fifth wheel. I have seen multiple references to people incorrectly looping the breakaway cable over their hitch arm. My rv dealer did exactly that when I took delivery of the new 5er. My question is, where should I attach the breakaway cable?

Thanks,

Mr. B

[hotpepperkid]

mileshuff wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Been placing the loop in the cable over the arm of hitch for 20+ yrs.

Dang....didn't know it was 'incorrect'

BS!

Can be dangerous on some hitches. The cable can snag and pull the handle causing the hitch to release.

Really! how does that happen when you put a pin in the hole

[Cummins12V98]

The breakaway box is either attached with a pop river or a screw. It’s designed to rotate to where the cable will pull the pin. Only issue is the cable is attached to the hitch handle.

[hornet28]

bpounds wrote:
The coiled cables pretty much eliminate any chance of it snagging. Mine isn't hooked on the handle - it's hooked into the handle locking hasp with a carabiner. Serves to keep the handle locked as well as attach the brake cable.

The breakaway should be pointed towards the direction of pull. Not up as shown in this picture. If you loose the 5er the pin may stay in , break the loop off the pin or break the box. At best it will be delayed in activating the breaks

[Dtank]

BB_TX wrote:
I am going to go out on a limb and guess 90% or more hook the cable to the hitch arm.

My vote is with the.... "or more".

Whatever location - it needs to be where it won't "hang-up" or snag on something during normal driving and trigger an unnecessary braking "event"!

.

[Cummins12V98]

Tailgate down reach forward, hook to rail. Just a thought.

[bpounds]

I don't know about appropriate, but I know I cannot reach the rails without climbing up on something. I can reach that hookup standing on the ground, like a homosapien should.

It's only there because the law says it has to be.

[Cummins12V98]

More appropriate place would be straight down on the universal mounting rail.

[bpounds]

The coiled cables pretty much eliminate any chance of it snagging. Mine isn't hooked on the handle - it's hooked into the handle locking hasp with a carabiner. Serves to keep the handle locked as well as attach the brake cable.

[TXiceman]

laknox wrote:
Frankly, if the hitch comes out of the bed, you've got a lot bigger problem and I seriously doubt the e-brake on the trailer is going to make a hill o' beans difference.

Lyle

But even the slightest difference can mean the difference between an accident and a disaster.

Ken

[ZeeLet50]

Thanks for the reality check Lyle LOL

[laknox]

Frankly, if the hitch comes out of the bed, you've got a lot bigger problem and I seriously doubt the e-brake on the trailer is going to make a hill o' beans difference.

Lyle

[cummins2014]

SugarHillCTD wrote:
Just as you aren't supposed to attach the break away cable to the drawbar of a trailer hitch, I was under the impression that for a fifth wheel the cable is to be attached to the truck, and not any part of the hitch.

The theory is that if ANY part of the fifth wheel hitch fails, by attaching the cable to the truck (like one of the tie down loops that is in the truck bed) the entire fifth wheel hitch could be completely torn out of the truck bed but the break away switch would still be activated- however ridiculous that seems.

Now don't start confusing these experts on the right way to do it . :B

Sure makes sense to be to be connected to something besides the hitch in case the hitch came loose.

[TxGearhead]

Attach it wherever you want.
But, I got a small carabiner and connected 2 cables together and looped the end through the middle stake pocket.
Whatever works for you.

[ependydad]

I connect mine to the rear corner of the truck bed. In 7 years of travel, I did have it accidentally pull once.