Wire safety leash for towing?

[New2Rv_s]

Hi new owner here. Getting ready for my first road adventure tomorrow. Noticed that there is a wire cable, small thickness coming from under the tongue of my trailer. Is this supposed to be hooked to something on my truck?

It's to light of gauge wire to be anything that security related?

[Mark_and_Linda]

I have a clevis with a pin on my bumper. I have a small chain link on the end of my cable...so easy when hooking up, just pull the pin, insert link, put pin back in. It is not connected to my hitch either because it my break there connected to a part of the bumper.

[camperforlife]

HERE is a post that I made earlier complete with pictures of how I connect my emergency cable.

[CavemanCharlie]

You know, last summer my brother left on vacation with his 5th wheel from here in southern MN. He got as far as Nebraska and decided that his 5th wheel was not going to make it so he stopped at a dealer and bought a new one.

As they were hooking it up to his truck the dealer saw the Break Away Cable and said "You don't need this" then he rolled it up and zip tied it under the hitch. lol

My brother towed that 5th wheel all over the West without the cable being hooked up.

This year I helped him hook it up before he left on vacation.

[whjco]

Chuck and Di wrote:

Oasisbob wrote:
Yes, very important. It should be looped over the end of your safety chainwhere it connects to your truck on either side. Be sure it does not get pulled tight when turning. The trailer end pulls a pin in case of emergency locking the trailer brakes.

It should NOT be looped over the safety chain hook. Chains, towbars and even hitches can break free. It should be connected to a solid point on the vehicle.

I'll echo this advice. I keep a clevis in my glove compartment and just hook it through the safety chain loop on truck receiver and the break-away cable loop when I'm towing.

Bill J., Lexington, KY

[hohenwald48]

Some of the posters on these threads want to apply federal commercial towing regulations to recreational towing.

They attempt to do it regarding brakes, propane, speed, safety chains and weight. I suspect some of them are or have been commercial truck drivers and think the regulations that applied to them when they were driving commercial 18 wheelers also apply to recreational towing.

Recreational and commercial towing have similarities but they also have differences. As far as I know, there are no federal regulations that apply to recreational towing simply because recreational towing does not fall under federal jurisdiction. You know, that 10th amendment and all that constitutional stuff.

[Boon_Docker]

^^ X2

[wing_zealot]

The OP asked a question and when he found out the purpose he understood and was ameniable to usuing as intended. Can we move away from the dribble?

[Gdetrailer]

mike-s wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

mike-s wrote:
Some states require breakaways, others don't. There's no federal (DOT) requirement, at least for non-commercial trailers.

OK..

Perhaps you care to point out the EXACT Federal regulation that says this?

You were close, but wrong.

§ 393.1: Scope of the rules in this part.

(a) The rules in this part establish minimum standards for commercial motor vehicles as defined in § 390.5 of this title. Only motor vehicles (as defined in § 390.5) and combinations of motor vehicles which meet the definition of a commercial motor vehicle are subject to the requirements of this part.

ALL states must follow the Federal regulations as a MINIMUM REQUIREMENT.

However, it is left up to the states if they wish to EXCEED the Federal requirements AND MOST DO EXCEED the Federal minimum standards.

However, SOME states simply adopted the Federal language pretty much untouched leaving some open interpretation for local Authorities.

Under PA requirements RECREATIONAL (IE RV) and Utility trailers FALLS UNDER "SEMI TRAILER" rules when it comes to trailer brakes and emergency break away systems..

See HERE For PA requirements.

Note the areas I bolded..

"Subchapter G. RECREATIONAL, SEMI AND UTILITY TRAILERS

This subchapter cited in 67 Pa. Code § 175.202 (relating to conditions); 67 Pa. Code § 175.204 (relating to tires); and 67 Pa. Code § 175.209 (relating to chassis).
§ 175.121. Application.

Equipment standards set forth in this subchapter apply to trailers towed or operated on highways.

Source

The provisions of this § 175.121 adopted December 2, 1977, effective February 1, 1978, 7 Pa.B. 3499; readopted December 2, 1988, effective December 3, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 5362. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (101015).

§ 175.123. Braking systems.

(a) Condition of braking systems. Braking systems and components shall be in safe operating condition as described in § 175.130 (relating to inspection procedure).

(b) Service brakes. A trailer shall be equipped with a service brake system. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 4502 (relating to general requirements for braking systems).

(1) The service brakes shall act on all wheels upon application except for the following:

(i) On interconnected dual wheels, the brakes may act upon only one wheel.

(ii) A vehicle being towed in driveaway-towaway operation.

(iii) A trailer of a gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, if the gross weight of the trailer does not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the towing vehicle.

(2) The service brakes, when required, shall be capable of stopping the vehicle in not more than the maximum stopping distance prescribed in Table I.

(3) Surge or inertia type brake systems are authorized.

(4) The brake lining and brake fluids shall be of a type approved by the vehicle manufacturer or shall meet the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards (J998, January 1980)—see Appendix A (relating to minimum requirements for motor vehicle brake linings—SAE J998).

(5) Metal from the shoe may not contact the brake drums or rotors.

(6) A vehicle to which additional axles and wheels have been added shall be equipped with brakes on the additional wheels.

(7) Brake lines shall be approved for use as brake lines.

(c) Breakaway system. A trailer operated on a highway which is equipped with brakes or which has gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds shall be equipped with a breakaway system which shall stop and hold the vehicle automatically upon breakaway from the towing vehicle.

(d) Air chamber push rod. The air chamber push rod travel may not exceed the manufacturer’s specifications maximum stroke allowance. See Chart 4 (relating to brake chamber push rod travel (typical)) for a drawing of the air chamber push rod.

Authority

The provisions of this § 175.123 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 4103, 4301, 4501, 4521 and 6103.

Source

The provisions of this § 175.123 adopted December 2, 1977, effective February 1, 1978, 7 Pa.B. 3499; amended October 29, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3862; corrected November 12, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3947; readopted December 2, 1988, effective December 3, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 5362; amended November 13, 1998, effective May 13, 1999, 28 Pa.B. 5670. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (221278) to (221279).

I CAN assure you EVERY STATE WILL REQUIRE A WORKING BREAKAWAY SYSTEM IF THE TRAILER HAS BEEN EQUIPPED WITH BRAKES!

In PA, a non working breakaway system means your trailer WILL FAIL the state inspection. Fail the inspection and you CANNOT move the trailer on public roads, period.

Telling folks that a breakaway system is not required to be functional is just plain stupid. The breakaway system IS for yours and other motorists protection, has nothing to do with saving your trailer but saving LIVES.

Many years ago there was nearly an entire FAMILY KILLED when a chipper broke loose from a truck.. The chipper smashed into the van..

The chipper was improperly secured and had no brakes or breakaway system.

The driver was sentenced 9 to 18 months, max he could have gotten was 17yrs in prison and was ordered to keep a photo of the accident scene at his home!

HERE is news story..

"PITTSBURGH (AP) - A truck driver who improperly hitched a wood-chipper to his vehicle was sentenced Tuesday to nine to 18 months in jail for causing a crash that killed a Beaver Area Middle School teacher and two of his triplets. He also was ordered to keep a picture of the accident scene at his home.

The wood-chipper broke free from Bradley Demitras' truck on a busy highway, rolled across the median and slammed into the family's minivan.

Demitras, 35, of Pine Township, had faced a maximum sentence of up more than 17 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in March to three counts of involuntary manslaughter and other charges, and acknowledged that the wood-chipper wasn't properly hooked up to his truck before he left work on April 13, 2006.

Prosecutors said Demitras was speeding on Route 8 just north of Pittsburgh when the wood-chipper flew into the opposing lanes, killing Spencer Morrison, 37, of Cranberry Township and his 4-year-olds, Alaina and Garrett.

Demitras also pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment for critically injuring the third triplet, Ethan, and several lesser traffic citations.

Demitras' sentence also includes six years' probation and a requirement that he prominently display the accident-scene photo in his home. He apologized in court Tuesday.

"All I can say is I am sorry," Demitras said. "I know that sounds like the hollowest thing in the world, but I am sorry."

Allegheny County Judge Lester Nauhaus said imposing the sentence was "the worst decision I've ever had to make" in 40 years as a judge, attorney and public defender.

"I don't think you need to be punished to the maximum period," Nauhaus said. "I just think you need to be punished."

Morrison was a middle school social studies teacher in the Beaver Area School District. He began teaching in the district in 1993 and was the high school football team's equipment manager and an assistant baseball coach. Morrison himself was a baseball player when he attended Clarion University.

After the fatal accident, Beaver Area School District Superintendent John Hansen said young people were Morrison's passion, and Morrison was very dedicated to his family.

Times Staff Writer Kristen Garrett contributed to this story."

If a 3K lb chipper can KILL a family just that easy what do you think the odds of someone living after a 5K-10K lb trailer hits their vehicle?

Doesn't matter if it is a semi trailer or RV trailer, weight is weight and it CAN KILL.

The whole point of breakaway systems is to control and stop a runaway trailer.

[mike-s]

Gdetrailer wrote:

mike-s wrote:
Some states require breakaways, others don't. There's no federal (DOT) requirement, at least for non-commercial trailers.

OK..

Perhaps you care to point out the EXACT Federal regulation that says this?

You were close, but wrong.

§ 393.1: Scope of the rules in this part.

(a) The rules in this part establish minimum standards for commercial motor vehicles as defined in § 390.5 of this title. Only motor vehicles (as defined in § 390.5) and combinations of motor vehicles which meet the definition of a commercial motor vehicle are subject to the requirements of this part.

[Gdetrailer]

mike-s wrote:
Some states require breakaways, others don't. There's no federal (DOT) requirement, at least for non-commercial trailers.

OK..

Perhaps you care to point out the EXACT Federal regulation that says this?

Per HERE

It states specifically that EVERY trailer that is REQUIRED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKES that a breakway system IS required. See text below and I will bold that part..

" § 393.43: Breakaway and emergency braking.

(a) Towing vehicle protection system. Every motor vehicle, if used to tow a trailer equipped with brakes, shall be equipped with a means for providing that in the case of a breakaway of the trailer, the service brakes on the towing vehicle will be capable of stopping the towing vehicle. For air braked towing units, the tractor protection valve or similar device shall operate automatically when the air pressure on the towing vehicle is between 138 kPa and 310 kPa (20 psi and 45 psi).

(b) Emergency brake requirements, air brakes . Every truck or truck tractor equipped with air brakes, when used for towing other vehicles equipped with air brakes, shall be equipped with two means of activating the emergency features of the trailer brakes. One of these means shall operate automatically in the event of reduction of the towing vehicle air supply to a fixed pressure which shall not be lower than 20 pounds per square inch nor higher than 45 pounds per square inch. The other means shall be a manually controlled device readily operable by a person seated in the driving seat. Its emergency position or method of operation shall be clearly indicated. In no instance may the manual means be so arranged as to permit its use to prevent operation of the automatic means. The automatic and manual means required by this section may be, but are not required to be, separate.

(c) Emergency brake requirements, vacuum brakes. Every truck tractor and truck when used for towing other vehicles equipped with vacuum brakes, shall have, in addition to the single control required by § 393.49 to operate all brakes of the combination, a second manual control device which can be used to operate the brakes on the towed vehicles in emergencies. Such second control shall be independent of brake air, hydraulic, and other pressure, and independent of other controls, unless the braking system be so arranged that failure of the pressure on which the second control depends will cause the towed vehicle brakes to be applied automatically. The second control is not required by this rule to provide modulated or graduated braking.

(d) Breakaway braking requirements for trailers. Every trailer required to be equipped with brakes shall have brakes which apply automatically and immediately upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. With the exception of trailers having three or more axles, all brakes with which the trailer is required to be equipped must be applied upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. The brakes must remain in the applied position for at least 15 minutes.

(e) Emergency valves. Air brake systems installed on towed vehicles shall be so designed, by the use of “no-bleed-back” relay emergency valves or equivalent devices, that the supply reservoir used to provide air for brakes shall be safeguarded against backflow of air to the towing vehicle upon reduction of the towing vehicle air pressure.

(f) Exception. The requirements of paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section shall not be applicable to commercial motor vehicles being transported in driveaway-towaway operations.

Citation: 53 FR 49384, Dec. 7, 1988, as amended at 70 FR 48050, Aug. 15, 2005"

Where that "law" varies is what trailers are "required" to have brakes.

Typically MOST states only require a trailer to be equipped with brakes IF it is 3,001 lbs OR MORE GVWR.. Please note, SOME states are more stringent and require brakes at 2,001 lbs GVWR AND HIGHER.

This DOES apply to not only "commercial" (AKA business) but NON COMMERCIAL trailers (AKA PERSONAL USE)..

I for one would not like to have someones 2K or even 10K trailer flying my way without a operating breakaway system.

[hohenwald48]

Also, be careful and don't remove the pin from the breakaway switch unintentionally as it applies full battery power to the electric brakes and will run your battery down pretty quick. It's fine to pull it for a short period on a regular basis to test it but don't leave the pin out.

[New2Rv_s]

Thanks guys for the input. I did buy from a dealer, but it was delivered from out of state so I didn't get the standard walk through. I watched the DVD they made for us, but it wasn't mentioned.

I'll find a fixed point to attach to on my truck. Thanks for all the responses.

[JIMNLIN]

There are only about 10 states that don't have the break away switch requirements and their scattered all over the USA.
If the op plans on out of state trips he most likely will go through a state that requires the system.

If the wire or cable he is asking about is for that system I would hook it all up. Great safety devise.

[Chuck_and_Di]

Oasisbob wrote:
Yes, very important. It should be looped over the end of your safety chainwhere it connects to your truck on either side. Be sure it does not get pulled tight when turning. The trailer end pulls a pin in case of emergency locking the trailer brakes.

It should NOT be looped over the safety chain hook. Chains, towbars and even hitches can break free. It should be connected to a solid point on the vehicle.