Trailer break away cable

[Pslif]

Thank you now I understand. The way you explained it makes a lot more sense to me thanks.

[Persistent]

The emergency trailer brake wire is to be attached to the tow vehicle. It should not be attached to other hitch parts. I have mine attached to the hitch receiver which is in turn fastened to the tow vehicle frame. I would prefer attaching it directly to the frame, but do not have any way to do that.

It should only pull the brake when safety chains and ball hitch have become detached. It is not designed to protect the back end of the tow vehicle. It is designed to slow the trailer if it becomes detached from the tow vehicle.

Under some conditions, the brake wire may function if woven through the safety chain. Under other conditions it won't. For safe operation do not weave it through the chain. Make sure it is free and not in danger of becoming entangled with anything else.

eTrailer.com sells self coiling brake wire. Mine is red and works much better than the straight wire that came with the trailer. I had to replace the straight wire occasionally because it tended to get caught in bad places and was cut.

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!

[hohenwald48]

Seems to me that if the breakaway activates before the safety chains come into play there would a be a tremendous force involved for the chains to keep the trailer with suddenly locked brakes connected to something like a DRW F350 barreling down the road at 75MPH. I would think at least 1/2" chain would be needed to withstand that stress.

I always thought the propose of the breakaway system was to stop the trailer after it has come completely disconnected (including chains) from the towing vehicle. As long as the trailer is still connected to the tow vehicle (even if just by the chains) the tow vehicle is still in control of the trailer.