Just last week there was a thread (I think on the popup area) where the entire hitch fell off a mini van (IIRC) - luckely the camper ran off the road and into a ditch without hitting anything else.
It can happen ... I connect my cable to my rear windshield wiper. It may not be the strongest place - but I have tested it and the breakaway switch pulls out somewhat easily. I think I will try to find a better place though ...
the hangman wrote: I connect my cable to my rear windshield wiper. It may not be the strongest place - but I have tested it and the breakaway switch pulls out somewhat easily. I think I will try to find a better place though ...
Jeff
I wouldn't trust that if it were me. I use the carabiner method as well with it hanging from my bumper, completely separate from the receiver. If the hitch entirely fails, the carabiner is strong enough to hold the cable and activate the brakes.
I use a short length of chain bolted to the frame and running between the bumper and receiver. I attach to that with a clip similar to what is on a dog chain. If the entire receiver comes off my brakes will activate.
I also read that the brake cable should be of the correct length that even if the safety chains hold, the brakes will activate. If the hitch fails but the safety chains hold it could rip out the umbilical cord making it impossible for you to activate the brakes manually.
Tim
"Okay, I admit it, the only thing I'm really good at is being me."
the hangman wrote: I connect my cable to my rear windshield wiper. It may not be the strongest place - but I have tested it and the breakaway switch pulls out somewhat easily. I think I will try to find a better place though ...
Jeff
I wouldn't trust that if it were me. I use the carabiner method as well with it hanging from my bumper, completely separate from the receiver. If the hitch entirely fails, the carabiner is strong enough to hold the cable and activate the brakes.
KJ
Ha - now that I read my previous post - it sounds really, really bad
The rear wiper mount is very sturdy - I'll bet it could take a good 100 pounds of pull. The break-away switch probably takes 2or 3 pounds of force to pull out.
I purposly connected the brake-away cable to the wiper mount with a small aluminum carabiner - I know the carabiner would fail befor the wiper pulled out if I did something really dumb (like unhook the trailer and pull ahead while forgetting to unhook the break-away cable) (no, I havn't done it)
On my Jeep that I sold last year - I had mounted an eye hook below the bumper for the break-away cable.
My new Pathfinder has the factory receiver permantly mounted to the frame/bumer - so I looked for some spot the was totally seperate from the hitch area.
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