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07-07-2008, 11:53 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1965 26' Overlander
Encinitas
, California
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 75
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Breakaway Device
I am curious, do I need to install a breakaway brake device on my trailer? I have checked certain state requirements (such as Utah) and they require having these devices installed. Are they sticklers in these & other states about having them, and/or do Nat. Parks require that you have them? I haven't seen too much written up on these devices in the forums, any advice would be greatly appreciated....
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07-08-2008, 12:08 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1978 28' Ambassador
Morada
, California
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,584
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If you check Calif DMV reg's, I think you'll find that any trailer that has brakes, must have a device to actuate the brakes in the event of trailer/tow vehicle separation...the desired effect is to help stop the offending 'loose cannon' as quickly as possible!
If you're stopped by the CHP, they will probably look at your hitch set-up and look for a breakaway trip wire, etc.
Smaller trailers with brakes are equipped with a small battery to 'power' the brakes when the breakaway is tripped...RV trailers with electric brakes utilize the existing deep cycle battery system.
If you have electric brakes, it's an easy matter to mount a breakaway switch and hook it into the brake circuit...you can probably do it is less than an hour...one less item you have to worry about on the road!
__________________
Ray & Pat; Morada, CA
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07-08-2008, 12:18 AM
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#3
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_
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HansenClan
I am curious, do I need to install a breakaway brake device on my trailer?...
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while there are threads that deal with this topic,
the freshest info will likely come from checking your state or dmv website....
here is some of the cali stuff...
Towing Your Trailer Safely
and here is a spreedsheet of all the states that include a LOT of issues, but isn't uptodate....
http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm
the column heads go waaaaaaaaaay over to the right...
and don't forget to click on the 'footnotes' tab in the lower left, there are 50 of them...
even IF there is some region where a a breakaway brake switch isn't required..
i still WANT one.
it can be pulled and will STOP unintented movement, like...
IF the trailer starts to ROLL in a camp site, lets say toward the water or cliff!
cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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07-08-2008, 07:54 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1999 27' Safari
Kent
, Ohio
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 806
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That is intresting advice 2 airish. So I can pull the tab and use it to hold my trailer still when parked. I wonder how many amps it pulls and will the bagnet heat up. You got my curiosity on this one.
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07-08-2008, 08:27 AM
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#5
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1 Rivet Short
1989 25' Excella
By The Bay
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,620
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Mustang, I think you misinterpreted 2air’s advice…the breakaway is for emergency use only, not to be used as a “parking” device. It will draw power and overheat your magnets if used long term…best to use a good set of chocks.
__________________
*Life is Good-Camping all around the Continent*
*Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson*
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07-08-2008, 08:48 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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I agree Bill. 2air seems to be saying it's the last thing to try before going over the edge when you camp at Echo Point.
Some say the magnets will overheat & be damaged in as little as 5 minutes of continuous power.
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07-08-2008, 09:02 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY
, / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
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also keep in mind that drum brakes do not stop as well when moving backwards.
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
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07-08-2008, 11:03 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1975 29' Ambassador
Reno
, Nevada
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,351
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you should check the breakaway switch perhaps once a year. Pull the plug and see if all wheels hold firm as you try to pull it a few feet.
The breakaway switch should never be left engaged for more than a few minutes as per above.
Some controllers do not want to be connected when the breakaway switch is activated. Disconnect the umbilical when testing.
It seems very unlikely than any LEO will notice hitch problems like improper safety chains or breakaway switches much less the less visible things like trailer brakes unless there is some evident reason to actually investigate. All you have to do is to look at how many are out there that are mis-connected, missing, poorly adjusted, connected to the wrong points, or otherwise useless.
I've seen dealers who route the breakaway cable through the safety chain as a common problem, for instance. Many times safety chains droop so far they drag on the ground.
The laws in many states require trailers over a ton or so in weight have brakes and breakaway switches. It is an important safety issue related to basic control of the trailer.
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07-08-2008, 12:17 PM
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#9
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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sorry for any confusion 'clan...
the example was meant to suggest "in an emergency" u can pull the wire...
and having witnessed a couple of trailers with unintended roll off...
YES use wheel chocks or blocks or rocks or anchor bolts when camping...
otoh disc brake set-ups have none of the issues noted for drum brakes...
except 4 draining the batteries.
cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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07-08-2008, 12:31 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1975 29' Ambassador
Reno
, Nevada
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,351
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Quote:
otoh disc brake set-ups have none of the issues noted for drum brakes...
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what are these 'issues' and how significant are they?
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07-08-2008, 12:35 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 375
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Value of a break away switch
A couple of years ago a friend of mine was given a low boy trailer. On his return trip the trailer came loose and crossed a wide grass median and hit a oncoming car head on. It killed a young girl. A properly working switch would have probably prevented this.
I should also mention that the trailer did not have safety chains as they are not required of farm trailers in Texas. However I am not sure how much most people's safety chains would hold up to a heavy Airstream anyway.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
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07-08-2008, 12:35 PM
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#12
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_
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vhord
...not sure how much most people's safety chains would hold up to a heavy Airstream anyway...
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hi vernon and that's a good question...
we touched on the inadequately rated chain extension kits sold by hensley in the haha thread and,
there have been multiple threads that attempt to the cover the issues of safety chains,
including 6 or 7 in this link...
http://www.airforums.com/forums/sear...archid=1121352
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leipper
what are these 'issues' and how significant are they?
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the issues "as noted" in the prior posts, and related to prolonged USE of the breakaway switch...
sorry folks, but this thread has now got the feel of heading over the cliff, down the rock wall and into the raging river...
perhaps needing it's own breakaway control...
i'm SO outta here...
cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
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07-08-2008, 02:02 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1975 29' Ambassador
Reno
, Nevada
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,351
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Quote:
the issues "as noted" in the prior posts, and related to prolonged USE of the breakaway switch...
sorry folks, but this thread has now got the feel of heading over the cliff, down the rock wall and into the raging river...
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anticipating, again. not good. It is too bad that there is a "feel of heading over the cliff" when civil discourse and reasons for assertions are requested. That is indeed a high cliff.
There are many good things to discuss if we can get out of the regime of belief and ingrown paradigms. We (should) learn more as time passes and the dialog evolves.
I don't think trolling or lobbing bombs are good ways to foster productive discussion.
Quote:
I am not sure how much most people's safety chains would hold up to a heavy Airstream anyway.
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As this is, at least my impression is, that this is a discussion forum, I don't think it good practice to cite other threads and presume that the whole story is told.
As I understand it, the primary purpose of the safety chains is to keep the hitch point off the ground. That means a working load of about a thousand pounds. That is well under the 2900# working load mentioned here (forum discussion post).
I think many tend to think the chain should be able to handle the trailer GVWR but its purpose is much different than just lifting the trailer. Its purpose is to provide a degree of control until the trailer can be brought to a safe stop. Besides keeping the tongue off the ground there isn't much force to load the chain.
This idea of a controlled stop is also perhaps why you want your breakaway cable to be separate from the chains. Whether you want emergency brakes first or only after the chains separate is a matter of some debate from what I have seen. There is also the question of when in this sequence the umbilical should go and you loose the ability to control the brakes through the tow vehicle controller.
Relevant to this is the proper torque on the hitch ball nut. For most Airstreams, the ball shank is big enough to require 450 ft-lb. Make sure it is tight and stays tight. You should check all the hitch hardware frequently and have a checklist when you hitch up to make sure all pins and connections are properly in place. Then check again. Do not allow yourself to be interupted in this process. Most of the time, hitch separation is due to operator error and you can avoid that.
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07-08-2008, 03:08 PM
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#14
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Boy am I rong.
I have always been under the impression the safety chain was supposed to keep the trailer attached to the tv allowing the tongue to drag and help stop the whole rig without separating.
Man I'm dum..
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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07-08-2008, 03:55 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1975 29' Ambassador
Reno
, Nevada
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,351
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Quote:
allowing the tongue to drag and help stop the whole rig without separating
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Drag at the tongue would tend to be unstable. You want the drag on a trailer as far aft as possible so that the drag is pulling the trailer to a stop rather than pushing it.
Keeping the tongue off the road also reduces damage to both the trailer and the road.
By this reasoning, the breakaway switch is a third level of failsafe. Individual preferences may differ.
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08-22-2008, 09:09 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2005 25' International CCD
Fleetwood
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 687
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Breakaway cable length
I agree with all the reasoning above. Search on the internet provided little clear evidence on length of breakaway cable. It may be obvious why Reese and Equalizer websites don't address length of this critical emergency component.
Fred Ettline (Phred Sez) in WBCCI's Blue Beret May 20 2006, (I think) provides reasonable rationale for keeping the breakaway switch cable longer than the safety chains. He says to keep the cable long enough that you have lost the chains and the electrical connection and therefore are not in control. Then the breakaway switch is the last safety device. Makes sense to me, and what I was taught to practice by the really old timers in our local WBCCI unit (yeah, the million miler guys, you know). But I think each of us must decide for self.
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08-22-2008, 10:17 PM
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#18
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Leipper,
Do you have a picture of your rig with the "short" chains supporting the tongue?
Just how short do the chains have to be to keep the tongue from dragging?
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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08-23-2008, 01:20 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2016 23' International
Centennial
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,684
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Is the break away switch working off of trailer battery power or?
__________________
Steve "Centennial Man"
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08-23-2008, 02:13 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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It needs a battery separate from the tow vehicle. Otherwise as soon as the umbilical connection is broken the breakaway switch becomes useless.
Most people use the main battery in the trailer, but if you buy a little 5ah battery it will work fine, and the battery will probably drain down before it can fry the brake magnets.
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