Fastways Zip coiled breakaway cable

[OKI Marine]

Is anyone using this on their fifth wheel. Need to replace standard braided wire one and came across this. Any comments please

[Jestercyco]

I am using the coiled up cable on my 5er so that it doesn't get caught up on the pin system. It has worked well.
Jester

[OldCoot]

Just keep in mind that it should be short enough to engage the brakes BEFORE the pin completely leaves the back of the hitch. You should try to keep the pinbox on the truck regardless of the damage. You sure don't want the trailer getting loose and hitting some innocent bystander.

[BigTJohn]

So Coot, how short is your cable? And will it make all turns? Seems it would have to be very short so as to pull the brake pin before the hitch pin is out of the pin box. Would think if the hitch pin is still within the pickup box, that would still keep the trailer from actually breaking away from the truck and the trailer brakes would still be actuated by the brake pin switch. I will have to really look at mine as it is how it came from the factory and seems too long to pull the brake pin before it does a lot of damage to the truck (least of my worries) or the trailer does a lot of sliding around and flips the truck. Right now the cable is 18-22 inches long and I have wondered about it being too long.

[OKI Marine]

Fastways recommends the 6 ft. Cable for fifth wheels. I have the gooseneck setup for my truck and camper. I understand what is said about the length and I would agree that there need to be some length for turning. For me, with all of the weight resting down on the gooseneck ball, if the camper should separate from it then I don't think the cable and breaking system will be enough stop a catastrophe. Hopefully safety chains will keep that from happening

[rattleNsmoke]

I'm using the Fastways 4 ft'er on The Beast. It uncoils just enuff to allow turning without pulling the pin and stays up and out of the way of cargo\wood in the bed.

[Happy Vibe]

Just curious, but if the pin comes detached from the hitch and the trailer brakes get but on at max (when the breakaway pin gets pulled) is the trailer not going to get pulled right out of the truck box because the trailer is braking faster than the truck?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by BigTJohn

So Coot, how short is your cable? And will it make all turns? Seems it would have to be very short so as to pull the brake pin before the hitch pin is out of the pin box. Would think if the hitch pin is still within the pickup box, that would still keep the trailer from actually breaking away from the truck and the trailer brakes would still be actuated by the brake pin switch. I will have to really look at mine as it is how it came from the factory and seems too long to pull the brake pin before it does a lot of damage to the truck (least of my worries) or the trailer does a lot of sliding around and flips the truck. Right now the cable is 18-22 inches long and I have wondered about it being too long.

Just barely long enough to hook over the hitch release bar. With the Sidewinder, the breakaway box does not swivel.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Happy Vibe

Just curious, but if the pin comes detached from the hitch and the trailer brakes get but on at max (when the breakaway pin gets pulled) is the trailer not going to get pulled right out of the truck box because the trailer is braking faster than the truck?

You are correct, but the whole idea is to stop the trailer immediately before it can travel very far and possibly into another vehicle.

[AVid]

I've been using one for several years and love it. No cable flopping around back there.