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06-26-2021, 11:56 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Trailer: 2010 Escape 17B
Posts: 188
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Quote:
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
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Alf...I always love reading your posts...they always make me smile or laugh out loud
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06-26-2021, 12:13 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Trailer: 2012 E19
Posts: 1,769
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Something about the title of this thread makes my free-associating brain think of this song....
__________________
Losing weight puts one at much greater risk of becoming thin.
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06-26-2021, 02:10 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2017 5.0 TA
Posts: 146
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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 G.
2017 5.0 TA
2017 F-150, 5.0L, SuperCrew, 6.5' bed, 4x2, 6-speed, 1:3.55 rear axle; B&W Turnover Ball; Andersen Ultimate Aluminum Gooseneck; Fold-a-cover w/caddy
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06-26-2021, 02:19 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Venice, Florida
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,309
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Quote:
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?
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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.
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06-26-2021, 03:12 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,947
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Quote:
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?
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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 ...
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06-27-2021, 11:23 AM
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#26
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Trailer: 2021 21C
Posts: 65
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Quote:
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?
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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.
__________________
Don
2021 21C "Travels with Karma"
GMC Canyon Denali Turbodiesel Long-bed
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06-27-2021, 06:01 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,146
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Quote:
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.
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Correct. It’s called a BREAKAWAY switch for a reason.
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06-30-2021, 10:56 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Yellow Springs, Ohio
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 709
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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.
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06-30-2021, 12:40 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327
Correct. It’s called a BREAKAWAY switch for a reason.
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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
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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