Emergency Brake Cable

[DaSu]

A Newbie here to TT forum , was a long time Fiver and Snowbird forum "troller" and poster. In the Fiver world the Emergency Brake Cable was hooked to the side of my box in the PU . It was not recommended to hook to the hitch in case of hitch failure , So where are you TT guys hooking this important line to? Thanks , Life is Good !

[Drew510]

I've been using my hitch because I thought, "That's where it goes", but understand the logic behind putting it somewhere else. Maybe that's why my cable was so damned long. I pinched/cut it on something the last time we were out and ordered a coiled one. Haven't put it on yet, but I'll have to climb under the TV to find a spot to clip it. Learn something new every day!

[deltabravo]

DaSu wrote:
So where are you TT guys hooking this important line to? Thanks , Life is Good !

Same place I hook my safety chains

[dodge_guy]

Yes we are out here. but we are quiet and then pounce when needed!

[troubledwaters]

omg - now we got the breakaway cable police.

[DaSu]

BarneyS wrote:
If your F250 is anything like my former 2002 F250, you will find a hookup point just to the left or right of the hitch. You can just see the bottom of it in this photo of my rig. This is an extension on the truck frame and is not a part of the hitch.
Barney

I did find this eyelet under my F250 and used this and the same clasp hook as you on our first outing . This worked just great. Thank You , Life is Good

[Bobbo]

rbpru wrote:
I hook it to the safety chain holes on the hitch. I suppose the entire hitch could break off, if it did I suspect it would be the least of my problems at the time.

I think the reason for the chains and break way switch are in case of ball failures.

If your hitch were to break off with the breakaway cable hooked to it, it is not your problem, it is the problem of everyone around you.

The chains are for a ball breaking or tongue coming off the ball. The breakaway cable is for chains breaking or hitch failure.

I once saw a picture in a towing forum of a car being towed with its tow bar still attached to the Class A's hitch, and the hitch laying on the road. It CAN happen.

Having the breakaway cable hooked to the hitch is negligence. Since you have been informed, that makes it willful negligence.

It is so easy, and free, to do it right. I see no reason to do it wrong.

[DaSu]

OP here . On this topic of hitch failure , the DW and I once did see a truck pulling a TT traveling the opposite direction on a divide highway with the TT only being pulled by the safety chains !For what reason this happened is unknown but does stress the factor of double checking our hitching procedure before hitting the road. Of course the safety chains are made for the ball failure or not "pinning" the hitch latch, but in case of hitch failure I believe the recommendation of hooking the "breakaway" cable to the frame someway is some solid advice . I was just wondering "how" and where some of you do this. I do have a eyelet off the frame ( which someone mentioned) of the truck that appears to be the best spot, if the cable length permits. Life is Good.

[NMDriver]

I had a "ball failure" (actually it was the mechanisms spring nut under the ball cup that is suppose to hold the ball in the cup) one day when I hit a bad bridge to roadway transition bump. The safety chains kept the trailer (boat not TT) attached and neither the power cable nor the breakaway switch pin pulled loose. No real damage but another item I check now each time I hook up.

The point being that unless you loose the whole hitch, the break away and your power cable are unlikely to come loose. Unless you have short cables or long safety chains.

[aftermath]

rbpru wrote:
I hook it to the safety chain holes on the hitch. I suppose the entire hitch could break off, if it did I suspect it would be the least of my problems at the time.

I think the reason for the chains and break way switch are in case of ball failures.

If your trailer were to come loose on the road, it would not be "your problem" but rather everyone around you who should be worrying. That said, I can't imagine how the brakes on your trailer would prevent a huge catastrophe. I mean, if the trailer is completely free of the TV then we all have problems. I clip mine to the frame of the truck to keep the lawmen happy and to help me sleep at night.

[rbpru]

I hook it to the safety chain holes on the hitch. I suppose the entire hitch could break off, if it did I suspect it would be the least of my problems at the time.

I think the reason for the chains and break way switch are in case of ball failures.

[DaSu]

Some good advice . I will have to try some of these to see what works the best for my situation.

[Huntindog]

CAUTION!!
I have seen the breakaway switch fail several times. I think it is because it's location means it is subject to a lot of road rash.

They tend to seize up, and become VERY difficult to pull. Often if you get them pulled, the switch falls apart.

Using a clip for conveinence will mean that the switch will rarely or never be tested.

I pull my cable every time I hook up. I then wrap the cable thru the hookup point, and then thru the loop on the cable, and plug it in to the switch

[Oasisbob]

Never heard of a hitch coming off a rig. That is where I hook mine. If the hitch came off I would think the force of the hitch flying off would pull the brake away cable one would hope.

[BarneyS]

If your F250 is anything like my former 2002 F250, you will find a hookup point just to the left or right of the hitch. You can just see the bottom of it in this photo of my rig. This is an extension on the truck frame and is not a part of the hitch.
Barney