Breakaway problem

[flynfrfun]

Originally Posted by escape artist

Hi: flynfrfun... Once I pinched the brake away wire in the rollers of our 5th. wh. slider hitch. Took a while and some serious revving to realize the rig wouldn't budge. What's that pin doing in the box of the truck? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

Alf...I always love reading your posts...they always make me smile or laugh out loud

[Mike G]

Something about the title of this thread makes my free-associating brain think of this song....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZvXGYO1axU

[ThomasG]

My understanding is the breakaway cable should be short enough that the switch should activate before the chains get tight. This way the trailer breaks activate before the trailer potentially totally leaves your tow vehicle. I had to shorten my breakaway cable to make this work.

Anyone have additional thoughts on this?

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

My understanding is the breakaway cable should be short enough that the switch should activate before the chains get tight. This way the trailer breaks activate before the trailer potentially totally leaves your tow vehicle. I had to shorten my breakaway cable to make this work.

Anyone have additional thoughts on this?

Personally, I wouldn't want it activating if the trailer is still attached by the chains.

I don't know if this is correct or not. But, I did have my boat trailer come in hitched at a relatively slow speed it was caught by the chains and I was able to bring it to a slow stop with no damage other than my heart racing.

If the brakes had slammed on, I'm not sure how it would have resolved.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

My understanding is the breakaway cable should be short enough that the switch should activate before the chains get tight. This way the trailer breaks activate before the trailer potentially totally leaves your tow vehicle. I had to shorten my breakaway cable to make this work.

Anyone have additional thoughts on this?

Thomas, this is an interesting topic IMO deserving of it's own thread. To that end, please see one I've taken the liberty of starting with your post quoted: (?) When a trailer separates from its TV while underway ...

[DWM3]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

My understanding is the breakaway cable should be short enough that the switch should activate before the chains get tight. This way the trailer breaks activate before the trailer potentially totally leaves your tow vehicle. I had to shorten my breakaway cable to make this work.

Anyone have additional thoughts on this?

The short answer here is Absolutely Not. Just think about what happens when a trailer comes off a ball hitch. You want to be able to slow your speed in a safe manner using your brake controller and service brakes. The last thing you want is for your trailer wheels to lock up while connected to the tow vehicle with the safety chains. You have now just lost all control. Imagine this happens on a curve and the trailer slides to the outside of the curve, taking the tow vehicle with it. You want the trailer brakes to come on only on full separation.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by DWM3

The short answer here is Absolutely Not. Just think about what happens when a trailer comes off a ball hitch. You want to be able to slow your speed in a safe manner using your brake controller and service brakes. The last thing you want is for your trailer wheels to lock up while connected to the tow vehicle with the safety chains. You have now just lost all control. Imagine this happens on a curve and the trailer slides to the outside of the curve, taking the tow vehicle with it. You want the trailer brakes to come on only on full separation.

Correct. It’s called a BREAKAWAY switch for a reason.

[Parker]

I read a very long and heated debate about this topic on an Airstream forum several years ago. I don't recall either side giving in, which seemed to be the nature of the forum. I fall into the camp of not wanting the brakes to activate as long as the chains are still attached. It would be helpful for the seven pin plug to remain connected at full extension of the chains, though.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Correct. It’s called a BREAKAWAY switch for a reason.

Hi: rubicon327... It's been so long since I had a break away all I can remember from back then was the part about "Get the puck outa there"!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie