Hook Emergency Break-away cable to what?

[OB Bambi]

One thing that I never had explained to my satisfaction is how and where is the best way to hook up the emergency break-away brake cable. My A/S came with the cable "woven" through the safety chain. It has a loop on the terminus. I have been locking it's loop with a paddle lock that holds the pin in the channel of the hitch. Is there an accepted or proper way?

Thanks, Randy

[thecatsandi]

Originally Posted by OB Bambi

One thing that I never had explained to my satisfaction is how and where is the best way to hook up the emergency break-away brake cable. My A/S came with the cable "woven" through the safety chain. It has a loop on the terminus. I have been locking it's loop with a paddle lock that holds the pin in the channel of the hitch. Is there an accepted or proper way?

Thanks, Randy

Un-weaver it. and hook it around your bumper. I have had my trailer come un-hitched and the chains break, my brake-a-way saved my trailer. The breaking chain could cut the break-a-way wire. I use a small carabiner type object to connect the loop back on to the wire.

[Harry W]

Randy:

I loop my cable directly from the break-away switch to the TV bumper, looping it through the license plate opening. I use a snap hook back to the cable right at the bumper to attach it. I do not route the cable through anything between the switch and the TV. I started doing this when I read about some hitches failing at the welds and falling off.

[silverback]

Randy,
I attach ours to a mini carabiner thing that is also attached to an eye-bolt. The eye-bolt is threaded through the license plate mounting screw hole, through the bumper (steel) and fastened with a nut. So it also functions to keep our license plate on. I have read (believe it may have been attributed to Wally) that using the bumper is discouraged. Definitely better then using your hitch and I don't think our bumper is going to be ripped off without pulling the safety cable pin.
-Ken

[moosetags]

I hook ours to a carabiner that is hooked through a hole in the bottom of the vehicle's bumper.

Brian

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, my break-away cable is looped around the receiver and hooked onto itself. [see picture] My cable was originally weaved through one of the chains and worn through while driving on ice and snow. [enlarge picture to see]

[AlbertF]

There's an easier way to do it for cars, vans and SUVs. Attach a chain "repair" link with a couple of washers to the loop in the cable, and just throw it into the trunk when you hook up. As long as you have something on the end to keep it from being pulled through when the lid or hatch is shut, it'll do.

[edirwin]

what is the standard break system for 71 airstream safari?

[Mackhopp]

We affix the loop onto our axe (it comes along on all camping trips) and just lay it down on the inside of the truck bed.

[rluhr]

Here's an easy way to do it. Make this from a big bolt, a nut, and two washers. About $2 at the hardware store. Toss it into the trunk, rear hatch, or trap it in the pickup tailgate. We featured this idea in the "Great Ideas" department of the Winter 2009 issue of Airstream Life.

[airdreamers]

When I bought my AS, the dealer showed me how he would do it. I have a Suburban. He told me to put the loop at the end of the wire for the break away switch on (over) the foot for the tongue jack on set it inside the hatch, wha la. In the case of a truck, you could feed it through the tailgate slot and do the same. You didn't mention your TV.

Be safe!

[memgrove2000]

Originally Posted by edirwin

what is the standard break system for 71 airstream safari?

We have a 72 and the brake system is electric (12 volt) activated by an aftermarket dash mounted control box.

This thread is referring to an "Emergency Brake away system" that will activate the trailer brakes if the trailer becomes separated from the tow vehicle. Also 12 volt, but power supplied by the trailer battery and a cable activated switch.

With a little more information in your question we could be more help.

Welcome to the Forums keep looking around and use the search function at the top of the page (I like the goggle search).

[edirwin]

Thanks for the help... so much to learn on the trailer and here!

[JBinKC]

I just wanted to bump this thread as a safety reminder to all. I know an Airstreamer whose hitch separated from the truck while towing. Thankfully, his 34-foot, 4-ton + trailer came to a gentle stop with no injuries or damage because his breakaway cable was hooked to a license plate bolt, not the hitch. There are a lot of solutions offered here on where to attach the breakaway cable. But hooking it to the hitch is not safe. Another simple solution is to replace one of the license plate bolts with an eye bolt, then the breakaway cable can be attached to the eye bolt with a small carabiner.

[RoccoJohn]

Someone told me to be sure that the length of the break-away cable was shorter than the length of the chains. then, if the hitch fails, the trailer brakes would come on before the chains reached their full length. Makes sense but a bit tricky to get the correct length.

[Aviator]

The idea is for the cable to be a last resort. Your chains will catch the tongue of the trailer (they are crossed beneath it) if the hitch breaks. I have no doubt that if the trailer falls onto the chain, I will be very aware of it. If the chains then break, the cable is your last fail safe, and the trailers breaks will activate keeping it from rolling on down the road.

I drilled a hole to the left of the hitch through a part of the truck frame (not the hitch frame) and stuck a snap clip through it. Now it is a simple matter to hook and unhook the safety cable, and I don't have to lean over any more than to hook the chains when I am down there.

[Alumaholic]

... as have most others in this thread.
1. Never attach it to the hitch itself.
2. I made a bracket that I attach to a license plate bolt. This bracket accepts a carabiner or chain mender that I run through the permanent loop on the breakaway cable.
2. Don't shorten the cable. Just make a lazy loop and secure the loop with an electrical tie. Make the loop bigger or smaller as you see fit.
3. Finally, try to align the cable so the break away switch will get a straight pull if the trailer does break away.
4. Test the break away switch at the beginning of each towing season.