Emergency trailer brakes?

TURBS · 03-17-2014, 10:22 PM

Who periodically pulls there breakaway cable to check emergency trailer brakes?

I'll admittedly say I never have becuase the brakes work when applied . Why worry?

Well tonight I picked up my umbilical cord that fell out of the pin box and noticed a broken wire on the break away switch.

So I pulled the cable and guess what no brake actuation.

I will now check mine occasionally.

Fyi.

TURBS
Sabre owners united!

clange · 03-17-2014, 10:27 PM

Never did it intentionally, but turned pretty sharp in a gas station parking lot last summer and the cable got caught on a bolt on my hitch and pulled it for me. Found out that it worked well. Thought I had fallen off in a hole!

Scared the heck out of us!

QCCowboy · 03-17-2014, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clange

Never did it intentionally, but turned pretty sharp in a gas station parking lot last summer and the cable got caught on a bolt on my hitch and pulled it for me. Found out that it worked well. Thought I had fallen off in a hole!

Scared the heck out of us!

Had the same thing happen to me as I was making the turn out of the storage lot one time on may way to take the camper home to get prepped for a trip. Good news was they worked, but scared the heck out of me as well!

Turbs, to answer you question, guess I never really check to see that it works either, but always pull it after turning off my battery disconnect when storing the camper (don't want that darn thing to walk away while it is in storage either.)

Hmmmmm.......maybe would be a good thing to add to a test prior to leaving on a trip............

ironj · 03-17-2014, 10:39 PM

tripped over chains once while hopping tongue......did a tuck and roll across the lawn....hopped up like nothing happened jumped in the truck and proceeded to drag trailer across my golf course like hybrid bermuda lawn....needless to say, the breakaway works.....

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fonzie · 03-18-2014, 05:41 AM

I check system at beginning of the year when I do spring prep. to make sure switch works and that each wheel brake magnet operates.

**KyDan** · 03-18-2014, 06:28 AM

It's a good idea to check for the reason Turbs mentioned (broken wire) and also because of the way the pull cord switch is made.
It's cheap and it's not really weather proof.
The pull cord is just a plastic pin that is wedged between a pair of spring
contacts holding them apart.
When you pull the pin they are supposed to spring together and make
contact to apply full battery voltage to the brakes.
Well, if they are corroded or have road grime on them, they aren't going
to work well or possibly at all.
It's a good idea to check them every so often fer sure.

BTW, SOME brake controllers can be damaged by pulling the pin while
you are plugged into the tow vehicle. My advice to be safe is to always
pull your big trailer lights plug before testing the emergency switch.

rattleNsmoke · 03-18-2014, 06:35 AM

I had the same thing happen to 'The Beast' Turbs. I was turning tight in a dirt parking lot at a campground, the cable got caught on the slider and the pin pulled out. No wheel lock-up, no skid...nada. Evidently I was running with NO emergency break away for a whole season. The switch was fried. I replaced it with a nice coiled 4 ft wire and it doesn't get snagged on anything now.
Fastway Zip Trailer Breakaway Cable & Switch - 4' Length - Progress 80-00-2040 - Towing Accessories - Camping World

**wmtire** · 03-19-2014, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rattleNsmoke

I had the same thing happen to 'The Beast' Turbs. I was turning tight in a dirt parking lot at a campground, the cable got caught on the slider and the pin pulled out. No wheel lock-up, no skid...nada. Evidently I was running with NO emergency break away for a whole season. The switch was fried. I replaced it with a nice coiled 4 ft wire and it doesn't get snagged on anything now.
Fastway Zip Trailer Breakaway Cable & Switch - 4' Length - Progress 80-00-2040 - Towing Accessories - Camping World

I use the same Fastway cable that I bought at a local trailer supply house. I noticed the other day that Tractor Supply is also now carrying them in their stores.

OldCoot · 03-19-2014, 11:06 AM

One of the advantages of the Reese Revolution pin box. On mine, I shortened the emergency brake cable and loop it over the "T" shaped release handle I made. Can't get caught on anything as it doesn't move and is short enough to set the brakes before the pin hits the homemade "Butch's" hitch catcher. LIKE IT!

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