
Trailer breakaway cable drivers#
This may prevent it from running through your tow vehicle, driving off a cliff or causing a hazard to other drivers on the road. Once the pin pulls out and the brakes are activated, the trailer should slow down and stop. How does the breakaway cable keep you safe?Ī breakaway cable keeps your trailer from becoming a missile if it detaches from your tow vehicle. If the trailer unhooks, then the pin pulls out from the box, activating the trailer brakes. The cable is in place in case your trailer unhooks from your tow vehicle. What is a breakaway cable? What does it do?Ī breakaway cable is a safety cable that attaches the brake system on trailer to the back of your tow vehicle.

Your cable should be attached to part of the tow vehicle that has no chance of coming apart - the frame. 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. Many trailer owners attach their breakaway cable to their safety chain hooks or ball mount to keep it out of the way, but those locations are neither legal nor safe. Attaching a breakaway cable for a trailer Please consult with your RV dealer to purchase the proper battery. The breakaway switch is only powered by a 12 volt RV battery on the trailer. The cable from the breakaway switch should be attached to the tow vehicle and if a separation occurs, the pin is pulled out of the switch which activates the brakes of the trailer to slow and eventually stop the trailer. The breakaway switch is a safety device that provides a means of automatically slowing and stopping your trailer should it become detached from the tow vehicle during transit. Spend a couple minutes learning how your cable keeps you safe, and then check out our infographic to learn how you can test your breakaway switch to ensure it is working properly. It is important to understand how your breakaway cable works and what to do if your trailer becomes detached from your tow vehicle.

A key component to trailer safety is the breakaway cable.
