Breakaway Cable

[RobWNY]

Like most people, I put my Breakaway Cable over the 5th Wheel hitch arm. On my last trip, when I reached my destination, the cable was just laying freely in the bed of my truck. At first I thought that maybe I had just forgotten to put the loop over the hitch arm so I took extra care to make sure it was on the arm when returning home. When I got home, sure enough, it was laying in the bed of the truck again. I know there's a lot of wind turbulence in a truck bed when traveling and the road was quite bumpy but a lot of good it does putting the cable over the arm if it doesn't stay there. Now I have to come up with another location to attach it. Any ideas?

[mhardin]

I guess I make it X5!

The service manager at my dealer told me to do that during the delivery walk through.

[wilber1]

I also have a padlock on the latch that keeps the release handle from being pulled. I attach the cable to that padlock.

[Allworth]

Times three!

[lazydays]

allen8106 wrote:
I attach mine with a small padlock to the hitch. There's a small hole for locking the release arm to the hitch so some idiot doesn't pull the locking bar open while I'm away from the rig during travel. I just use the hole with a small padlock to secure the cable.

I do the same. So far so good 10 years later.

[RobWNY]

Thanks everyone. I just ordered the coiled breakaway cable (6' length) and will go buy an eye bolt. I like that idea a lot! Thanks again!

[allen8106]

I attach mine with a small padlock to the hitch. There's a small hole for locking the release arm to the hitch so some idiot doesn't pull the locking bar open while I'm away from the rig during travel. I just use the hole with a small padlock to secure the cable.

[ACZL]

Never thought of the eye bolt on hitch handle. I just replaced the OEM cable w/ a coiled one w/ the large carabeaner clip, but it's just and I mean just large enough to wiggle over the 2 bolts on the handle. Think I'll be replacing 1 bolt w/ an eye bolt. Thanks for that tip BB.

[dieseltruckdriv]

I hook mine to the inside of the box, not the hitch.

[MFL]

Wherever you decide to fasten it, the coiled cable BB suggested is a good idea, especially for fifth wheel application. I, and I'm sure many others, have snagged the oem cable, while turning/maneuvering, and locked the brakes.

Jerry

[BB_TX]

I replaced one of the bolts in my hitch handle with an eye bolt. And bought a coiled breakaway cable. Ring is attached to the breakaway pin. And I hook the carabiner to the eye bolt so that it can't come off. Tension on the coil prevents it from flopping around in the bed of the truck and getting caught on anything.

[RollandB]

RCMAN46 wrote:
I attach my breakaway cable to the truck and not the hitch.

X2. I have a buddy, a retired police officer that informed ne in some states it’s a requirement to have it attached to the TV, not the hitch. I changed to having it on the truck

[RCMAN46]

I attach my breakaway cable to the truck and not the hitch.

[MarkTwain]

RobWNY wrote:
Like most people, I put my Breakaway Cable over the 5th Wheel hitch arm. On my last trip, when I reached my destination, the cable was just laying freely in the bed of my truck. At first I thought that maybe I had just forgotten to put the loop over the hitch arm so I took extra care to make sure it was on the arm when returning home. When I got home, sure enough, it was laying in the bed of the truck again. I know there's a lot of wind turbulence in a truck bed when traveling and the road was quite bumpy but a lot of good it does putting the cable over the arm if it doesn't stay there. Now I have to come up with another location to attach it. Any ideas?

Buy a clear 1/2" plastic tube 1 1/2 ft. long. and insert the break away cord through the tube. This plastic tube will add enough weight to solve the problem.

[Go_Dawgs1]

I had the same thing happen to me. I also thought I forgot to attach it. I loop mine through a coder pin at the top of my hitch and also over the release handle. It hasn't come loose since.