It's Time to Test the Emergency Breakaway Switch on Your Trailer

[danemayer]

When's the last time you checked the Emergency Breakaway Switch? That's the one that energizes your trailer brakes if the trailer were to separate from the tow vehicle. There's a ripcord (wire) from the pinbox that you attach to your tow vehicle when hooking up.

Mine was last tested almost 3 years ago when disc brakes were installed. Yesterday, I had the bearings packed and brake pads replaced. When the tech went to finish on the brakes, he pulled the rip cord - and nothing happened. So he hit the switch a few times in case it was stuck. Nothing. So he stuck his screwdriver in to short the contacts and the brakes fired up.

I don't know how long I was towing in an unsafe condition. Possibly thousands of miles.

So today I got a new switch and installed it. Tested it and it works as it's supposed to.

From here on, I'll be checking the switch operation more frequently. Just pull the wire and the brakes should immediately activate. If you're hitched, it's like doing a pull test, but you don't manually hold the brake controller.

Don't leave the brakes energized for more than a minute or so. It's bad for the drum brakes and bad for the disc brake hydraulic pump. And you can run your battery down.

So, I have to wonder if I'm the only one who hasn't been testing the breakaway switch?

 

[SLO]

Haha. Just read this and immediately went and tested mine. All’s good. We’re on a road trip to Alaska. Thanks for the reminder.


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[carl.swoyer]

Haha. Just read this and immediately went and tested mine. All’s good. We’re on a road trip to Alaska. Thanks for the reminder.


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Well thank you Dane!
I'll be checking mine tommorow.
You know even though we sometimes get ruffled feathers on this forum, when you put all that aside ,.... This is what makes the Heartland forum incredible.

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[BLR]

Downtown Willets CA. LOL.. they worked great..

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[dewwood]

I think the last time I checked mine was when pulling into a parking lot off of a busy highway and the cord caught on something in the bed. Yep, they worked just fine as I set halfway off the highway sticking out into traffic. I did not know I could still climb over the side of the truck bed like that!

 

[NYSUPstater]

Had the cord catch in in-laws 5er back in '03/'04 area when trying to pull out of site. Could not figure out WTH happened, another camper noticed it, plugged back in and away we went. Then with our own 5er, to be perfectly honest, I never checked in the 12 years we owned it. With new one, will have to once it comes back from the body shop.

Thanks Dan for the tip/reminder!!

 

[oldelmer1]

If your camper is sitting in the driveway, how do you know the breakaway is working or not when you pull the cable out?

 

[LBR]

If your camper is sitting in the driveway, how do you know the breakaway is working or not when you pull the cable out?

You could pull the breakaway pin and listen closely at each tire/brake assembly.....you should hear at least one of the magnet assemblies being energized.

 

[Bogie]

You could use a compass to check the switch/brakes. After pulling the breakaway switch, bring the compass close to the bottom of the drum on each tire (where the magnet is). The brake magnet will cause the compass needle to point directly at the energized magnet. This will also allow you to make sure the magnet is working on each wheel.

 

[TXBobcat]

Great Idea Dave.. It has been a long time since I tested my emergency brake system..

However, something to think about, While I was in Bowling Green KY at a Life on Wheels Seminar a guy was going to demonstrate how to check the emergency brake and pulled the cable. He went to his truck and put it in gear and showed how the trailer wouldn't move. But when he went to insert the plastic wedge back into the device it immediately melted the plastic wedge. The box got so hot and would not turn off that he had to cut the wire to the brakes. He put in a new emergency switch.. So not saying this will happen to anyone but be aware that if you do have a plastic wedge you could have a similar problem...


BC

 

[CoveredWagon]

I checked mine yesterday. Let me tell you, it ain't gonna fall out by it self. I was sure I was going to break it before it came out, but being at the National Rally, I figured I could get parts. Well it finally pulled out and all worked.

 

[danemayer]

... when he went to insert the plastic wedge back into the device it immediately melted the plastic wedge. The box got so hot and would not turn off that he had to cut the wire to the brakes. He put in a new emergency switch.. So not saying this will happen to anyone but be aware that if you do have a plastic wedge you could have a similar problem...


BC

Bob,

From that description, I would say there was a problem that needed to be fixed. It's probably a very good thing that the problem was found during a test, and not on the road.

 

[porthole]

I’ve typically test mine yearly, usually by snagging a piece of firewood or something else in the bed.

That said, a spare breakaway switch is one of the very few spare items I carry in the trailer. Ever see one melt?

 

[farside291]

Had the camper 5 years, guess I should check it before next trip, Thanks!

 

[wdk450]

When's the last time you checked the Emergency Breakaway Switch? That's the one that energizes your trailer brakes if the trailer were to separate from the tow vehicle. There's a ripcord (wire) from the pinbox that you attach to your tow vehicle when hooking up.

Mine was last tested almost 3 years ago when disc brakes were installed. Yesterday, I had the bearings packed and brake pads replaced. When the tech went to finish on the brakes, he pulled the rip cord - and nothing happened. So he hit the switch a few times in case it was stuck. Nothing. So he stuck his screwdriver in to short the contacts and the brakes fired up.

I don't know how long I was towing in an unsafe condition. Possibly thousands of miles.

So today I got a new switch and installed it. Tested it and it works as it's supposed to.

From here on, I'll be checking the switch operation more frequently. Just pull the wire and the brakes should immediately activate. If you're hitched, it's like doing a pull test, but you don't manually hold the brake controller.

Don't leave the brakes energized for more than a minute or so. It's bad for the drum brakes and bad for the disc brake hydraulic pump. And you can run your battery down.

So, I have to wonder if I'm the only one who hasn't been testing the breakaway switch?

Dan:
Thanks so much for the safety reminder. I don't think I have EVER done this, and it should be on my Pre-Departure checklist. It will be now.

I am in a preparation period of getting my Bighorn back on the road after 2 years in one place helping to care for an elderly sister. She is in a full care home now, so I am not needed here. But my adult daughter in Sand Diego is having her heart wear out after having been born with a life-threatening congenital heart defect. She has no family that lives in the area. So I am moving the Bighorn to the Thousand Trails resorts in the area to help her.

Anyways, after your posting, I went out to the disconnect switch, pulled on the lanyard, and found the pin stuck in place. It took a couple of sprays of Tri-Flow lubricant an some tugging to get the pin free and hear the disk brakes hydraulic actuator pump come on. I sprayed the pin and the hole with some more Tri-Flow before putting it back together.

Thanks again!!!

 

[JMP]

Most of you reading this post are probably going to laugh at me here, but i've got a recent story to share on my experience with the emergency breakaway switch - here it goes - as I was leaving Mayport Naval Station (Pelican Roost - waterfront site) this weekend. While moving forward and exiting the campsite, I made a fairly tight turn to the right onto the tar road when my trailer tires locked-up and a "brake disconnect" alert flashed on my truck screen. WTF? Never experienced this before. So, i have the entire road blocked while i am in the truck bed and also checking out the rear brakes until i finally figure out the breakaway switch line was disconnected (i had the line a bit too tight - haha). Attempting to maintain my composure (everyone is watching me pulling this beautyfull Landmark) I had to search google to figure out how to re-insert the toogle and reset the switch. About this time, five different came by to ask what was wrong and to offer assistance because a line of ten vehicles were waiting to get by. Nobody had experience on a breakaway switch. Thankfully, the first search was a comment from e-trailer saying to re-install the toogle back into the switch. Once i did that, the loud noise went away, the drivers dashboard alert went and away, and then all was well. What a weird way to test your breakaway switch! In closing, my response to my unhappy bride (who was thinking - OMG whats broke now, this is embarrassing) well dear - you know, i was just testing to see if my breakaway switch works. It past the test, lets move on now. Then I got that look from her - yeah right. Too funny.

 

[cookie]

Your not the first person that this has happened to.
You might consider adding something like this.

Peace
Dave

 

[NYSUPstater]

Had same thing happen like JMP very 1st time we went solo w/ DW's parents 5er back in '03. Unlike him tho, we were pulling out of our campsite. After that, always made sure the cable had plenty of room. Shortly after we got the BC, switched out the stock cable to one that cookie has a link to. Added an eyebolt in place of reg bolt on hitch handle to attach clip to. Coiled cable not in way of anything to catch on. So far, so good.

 

[Dr.Lightning]

A year ago I bought a new-to-me trailer from Gander/CampingWorld near Savannah. I've taken good care of it. I always made sure to connect the emergency brake cable (trailer breakaway cable). For reasons I won't waste your time on, I just opened up the metal junction box on my trailer's tongue, where the 7-pin connector's cable goes in and the trailer's wiring comes out. Inside there was an open wire coming from the emergency brake switch. THE THING WAS DISCONNECTED as purchased from Gander/CampingWorld. I'm more than upset at them, and upset at myself for testing everything except this.

Question: Should I bother hooking up this emergency brake? I think the answer is yes.

Question: When I test my actual brakes using the OEM controller in my RAM 1500, all set to max out, I only get 8.8V on the blue (brake) wire inside the junction box to ground. Meanwhile, the power wire to ground measures 13.7V, so my ground and power seem OK. I thought I should see closer to 12V or even 13.7V on the brake wire. Well, either the OEM controller is not producing enough voltage, or the brakes themselves are consuming so much current that the intended 12V+ coming out of the controller is being pulled down by this brake load. So, should the brakes load this signal down this much? I haven't tried disconnecting the blue wire to measure an unloaded voltage, because I don't have replacement splice connectors yet. Plus, the OEM controller is smart to the point that it won't put any voltage on the 7-pin connector when the trailer is not plugged in.

 

[cookie]

Yes you should absolutely hook up the emergency breakaway switch.
But there may have been a reason it's disconnected. Be sure to test it.
A good read.

Peace
Dave