Break-away cable length?

[AlinCal]

How many of you have your break-away cable short enough to trigger if it goes to the chains?
I replaced my aging switch with a new unit with the coiled cable and could not find a suitable mount far enough back on tongue for the 48" coiled wire to trigger prior to the chains taking the load, original switch had a straight 48" cable and mounted to the jack plate, who pays attention to the length other than keeping it from dragging or getting in the way of things.
Seems wrong to run the coil around something on the TV (chain hook slot) and back to the trailer putting a kink in the coil or crawling under the TV and hooking on the spare or whatever you can find.
Thinking I will reswage the snap hook shorter on the cable.

[GMFL]

I shortened mine to activate breaks with chains still hooked. It makes no sense to have the trailer come off the ball only to be caught by the safety chains and the breaks not activate. After all. You are at that point in an emergency situation and need the "back pressure" of the trailer breaks to keep the trailer from out running you. Stop and regroup should but the plan.

[HiHoAgRV]

I subscribe to the other thought. If the ball comes loose and the chains still have it I want to be able to pull over. Once the brakes lock up its stopping where ever it is. If the chains fail, then the cable snatches loose then it needs to stop. An RV dealer told me of a trailer that came to a screeching stop on I-10 causing a mess, even though the tongue was held up by the chains.

[CRH]

I have had a trailer come off the ball at interstate speeds. The safety chains cradled the tongue and I was able to pull over safely with no damage. Slamming on the brakes would have likely caused a pile up.... Plus, I bet slamming on the brakes in a curve would make for a wild ride.

[GMFL]

My truck will pull my trailer with the breaks locked.

[AlinCal]

Seems like a bad situation either way, I would not worry too much of a trailer coming off the ball that had a WD hitch on it. What I do tend to worry about when hooking up anything to tow is the single locking pin on the receiver/ ball mount, too much is riding on that one little pin

[ATownTX]

I would think if the wheels lock up while still attached via the safety chain and still at highway speed, you lose some aspect of control over the trailer. A spinning wheel has a stabilizing effect (angular momentum) vs. a skidding wheel and would tend to stay moving straight. And the desire is to stay in control and come to a stop safely.

I would prefer the brake switch to stay connected unless the trailer completely separates.

[CRH]

Originally Posted by GMFL

My truck will pull my trailer with the breaks locked.

Maybe, but you will still slow down a lot if the brakes lock up while traveling, possibly causing someone to rear end your trailer