Emergency Trailer Brake cable-

[pmahoney]

Hey Forum...

First off.. a little appreciation to all those who have helped thousand of us kick start our RV adventures... Im a newbie and will gladly reciprocate with advice as my experience grows but until then, hanks in advance for your help.

So the question is in regards to the aircraft cable that runs from the front of the hitch to a simple plug switch near the front of the trailer that (I believe) helps to activate your brakes in an emergency separation. I noticed yesterday that my cable had sheared off somehow (I believe from dragging on the ground???)... YIKES!

Well I need to replace it and while I know where it connects to the little plastic plug / switch, Im not exactly sure where it connected in the front. I believe it was tied into a loop and connected / interwoven through one of the safety chains and then looped along with one of the safety chain clips that connect to the tow vehicle on either the left or right of the actual hitch.

Do I have this correct? Seems like a simple fix with AC cable and a couple of crimp clips...

Just want to do it right, since it's an important safety feature.

Thanks again for any responses...

Patrick

[TURBS]

your correct ! i had mine looped through my chain hook .

[Steve38]

I like this idea..

Fastway Trailer Products - Fastway Zip Breakaway Cable & Switch

[pmahoney]

Appreciate the advice....

[Old car]

Mine did the same thing but I had enough of the cable to make a new loop, bought a crimp ferrule at the hardware store and I slip it over the ball before lowering the trailer for final hookup. There appears to be enough space where the contact point of the hitch and ball won't pinch the cable.

[tomjsas]

I have one of the fastway cables mentioned above and love it. The dealer put in on free of charge (both for the cable and labor) since we were good customers so not sure how it was actually attached. So much easier to deal with than the old wire cable!

[pmahoney]

I think Im going to take the advice above for this weekend and just recrimp with new ferrule until I can purchase one of those "high tech" coiled cable deals...

Thanks again for all your replies to the original posting.

[TimeFurnace]

I have an excessively long breakaway cable. The way I keep it from dragging on the ground is to give it four to five twists before connecting it. The twists cause the breakaway cable to coil up upon itself. It then lays nicely atop the safety chains with little chance to droop to the ground. Consider it a poor-man's Fastway cable.

[prof_fate]

Remember to attach the end to the TV, NOT the chain hook. If the hook comes off the TV the brake cable will fall off too - and not activate the brakes as it should in such a situation. I picked up a carribiner at lowes like the link shows for the coiled wire.

[pmahoney]

understanding the details, probably makes better sense to connect to some part of the TV (not ball of hitch b/c it too, although highly unprobably, can become separated from TV).

Looking to connect into the actual part where safety cables connect underneath TV (steel). problem is it will take a little longer to do since 95% of that available space inside the opening in that plate is taken up with the safety chain hook.

I'll find a way... im sure...

Thanks for all the feedback, suggestions. much appreciated

[flyrotor]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

Remember to attach the end to the TV, NOT the chain hook. If the hook comes off the TV the brake cable will fall off too - and not activate the brakes as it should in such a situation. I picked up a carribiner at lowes like the link shows for the coiled wire.

To add to this, the breakaway cable should also be shorter than the chains, thus if the trailer ever leaves the ball, the breakaway will activate the brakes BEFORE the chains fail, a long cable is counterintuitive and will only activate if the ball disconnects and both chains fail. Be careful with the coil type cables as they appear to be connected correctly when in reality they may be too long.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by flyrotor

To add to this, the breakaway cable should also be shorter than the chains, thus if the trailer ever leaves the ball, the breakaway will activate the brakes BEFORE the chains fail, a long cable is counterintuitive and will only activate if the ball disconnects and both chains fail. Be careful with the coil type cables as they appear to be connected correctly when in reality they may be too long.

I agree 100%! Youroo!!