Towball and fittings - breakaway cable - trailer hitch (2024)

FAQs

Where do you connect trailer breakaway cable? ›

The breakaway system stops your trailer in the event of a hitch failure, so you shouldn't attach it to any part of the receiver hitch. Your cable should be attached to part of the tow vehicle that has no chance of coming apart - the frame.

Breakaway cables are a legal requirement for trailers. They are designed to pull the brakes on if you trailer was to become unhitched during travel. We stock various lengths and styles of cables, some being more heavy duty than others.

A breakaway cable is a legal requirement for all braked trailers and caravans. In the event of coupling detachment it is designed to apply the handbrake of the towed vehicle before allowing it to break away and come to a stop. A secondary coupling is a legal requirement for all unbraked trailers.

The lanyard should be long enough to allow for turning corners, yet short enough to disengage the pin from the switch before the safety chains on the hitch become taut in a trailer disconnect situation.

Using a vehicle-specific wiring harness, plug the brake controller into the vehicle. One end of the wiring harness plugs into the vehicle's factory harness under the dash, and the other end plugs into the brake controller.

A typical position is on the outside of the trailer frame between the trailer connector and the battery box. NOTE: The switch is held in place with only one screw. It needs to be tight but not so tight that it cannot rotate to allow the pin to be pulled out.

Trailer Brakes

In California, brakes are required on any trailer coach or camp trailer having a gross weight of 1500 lbs. or more.

Most trailer breakaway systems are powered off a 12 volt battery. These are usually housed in a black plastic case. The battery will need to be charged fully before it's first use and has an average life of two years.

What is a breakaway cable? The function of a breakaway cable is pretty much as the name suggests – it is a cable whose purpose is to apply the brakes and then break away should the caravan become disconnected from the towing vehicle.

What safety device must be fitted to a trailer? ›

When towing, you must fit a breakaway cable to your trailer's braking system. A breakaway cable activates the trailer's brakes if the trailer becomes detached from the towing vehicle. The breakaway cable will snap once the trailer has stopped.

The breakaway couplings have a predefined breaking point which will break at a determined break-load where upon the internal valves will automatically close flow on both sides.

the pin got pulled out of the switch and the wheels are locked so how do you unlock the wheels and reset the switch? Expert Reply: Pushing the pin back into the breakaway switch should allow the brakes of the trailer to release. You may have to back the trailer up slightly to get the brakes to release.

It is an auxiliary wire typically used to connect the reverse lights from the tow vehicle to the reverse lockout solenoid located directly behind a surge brake actuator. When properly connected it allows you to disengage the trailer brakes in order to back the trailer up (without getting out of the vehicle).

Note: The ground wire color for a 4-flat plug is white and should be properly grounded at the trailer tongue.

Red or Black Wire: The red or black wire is for auxiliary power. It provides power to accessories on the trailer, such as interior lights or a power winch. White Wire: The white wire is the ground wire.