electric brake "breakaway" cable

[Fishermark]

I installed the fifth wheel hitch in my truck the other day and finally had a chance to pull our new (new to us ;)) fifth wheel. I put a new 7 blade connector in the bed of the truck:




I like being able to easily access the trailer wiring plug. But I have a question. Where is best to hook up the breakaway cable for the electric brakes?

[broark01]

I strap mine to my wrist so if the vehicle separates from the driver the 5th wheel will slow it down...or is it my boat lanyard i am thinking about?

[noteven]

Thats_Ok wrote:
I or me if you will hook to one of the chain holes on the 2 inch receiver with a chain connector.

When used on tire chains these are called a b**ch link.

[deleted-2]

I or me if you will hook to one of the chain holes on the 2 inch receiver with a chain connector.

[kc81c]

I have mine hooked to a tiedown point were my electrical connector is. I use a bunjie type cable I got from camping world and it doesn't get tangled up they have a version for bumper pull trailers that works a lot better then the regular ones to.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/fastway-zip-trailer-breakaway-cable-6-length/57846

[F105]

powderman426 wrote:

Traveler II wrote:
I was wondering if it wouldn’t be better to secure the cable to the truck bed and not the hitch. I’ve never heard of this happening, but what if the hitch came out of the bed rails and the cable is hooked to the hitch?

Hmmm. What if the bed came loose from the truck. Answer: same result. Also I have never seen or heard of either of those things happening.

That's exactly what I said earlier - this guy just needs to secure it good and proper and worry about other things - like the idiot who just passed. Him towing a RV and going 80 miles a hour.

[powderman426]

Traveler II wrote:
I was wondering if it wouldn’t be better to secure the cable to the truck bed and not the hitch. I’ve never heard of this happening, but what if the hitch came out of the bed rails and the cable is hooked to the hitch?

Hmmm. What if the bed came loose from the truck. Answer: same result. Also I have never seen or heard of either of those things happening.

[MarkTwain]

I lasso the loop on my cable onto the handle for the hitch release.

X2. After I unhook the truck from the 5th. wheel, I lock the break away cable to hitch with a regular lock. Believe it or not, I had a break away cable stolen from my 5th. wheel while parked in a RV park:( Now I carry an extra one just in case!

[joebedford]

Traveler II wrote:
I was wondering if it wouldn’t be better to secure the cable to the truck bed and not the hitch. I’ve never heard of this happening, but what if the hitch came out of the bed rails and the cable is hooked to the hitch?

Exactly what I do.

[F105]

Traveler II wrote:
I was wondering if it wouldn’t be better to secure the cable to the truck bed and not the hitch. I’ve never heard of this happening, but what if the hitch came out of the bed rails and the cable is hooked to the hitch?

And what if the truck bed separated from the chassis? It could happen, but I think you are over thinking this - just get a secure hitch point on your TV , hook the cable and be on your way.

[Traveler_II]

I was wondering if it wouldn’t be better to secure the cable to the truck bed and not the hitch. I’ve never heard of this happening, but what if the hitch came out of the bed rails and the cable is hooked to the hitch?

[Charlie_D_]

I put the eye of the cable on the lock that I lock the hitch handle to. I then make a loop and use a long twist tie that comes with the fresh water hose to secure it to the hitch handle.

[Fishermark]

Thanks for the quick replies - when I did the test drive, I put the clevis pin that secures the release handle through the end loop of the cable. There seems to be a lot of cable left over however. In an emergency, the whole fifth wheel would have to disconnect and come off the end of the truck before the cable would be activated. :eek: Perhaps time to shorten the cable! (Leaving plenty of room for slack when turning of course).

[jjj]

they now make a nice coiled wire for the breakaway switch it comes in a 4 ft. or 6 ft. length. I bought the 4 ft. and it is hooked to the release handle and it stretches and contracts when turning and stays out of the way. They best mod I did for the hitch. Camping world and others sell them. I think about 14.00 but well worth it.

[Traveler_II]

But be careful not to allow to much slack that the cable gets caught bewteen the bed rail and hitch. We had that happen and when we made a turn heading into fuel it pulled out.

[F105]

There is no best way or place to fasten the cable to the TV. I use one of those "D" shaped things that have a spring loaded piece that you press down to disengage it. Just be sure to allow for enought slack in the cable for the most extreme turning radius you are likely to encounter.

As far as the cable getting tangled up in something during windy conditions - I guess that could happen, but I have never seen,heard, or encountered it.

And of course, I am assuming that you are using a checklist that includes hooking and unhooking the cable as necessary.

Nice installation job BTW.