LTCLarry
Maggie Valley, NC
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Joined: 11/03/2011
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Came across something in the General RV section which I need more information on. Fellow says his "dealer" told him to pull the pin on the breakaway switch every time he hooked and unhooked. I never heard anything about this. I suppose it is a test to ensure that the pin will come out of the switch in the case of an emergency. What say you?
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sch911
Rochester Hills, MI
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Joined: 04/13/2003
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No way those switches are not made to be cycled in/out like that. I do not agree...
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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Those switches are cheap.......two thin contacts and a plastic pin.
They should be checked/tested occasionally just because they are a safety item/feature.
We FT and travel every week or so........don't think the switch would hold up to 52 tests a year. We do it twice (2X) a year.
2007 RAM 3500 QC LB SRW 5.9L CTD 48re 4:10 4K in bed 'quiet genny'
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downtheroad
Pacific Northwest
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I say: you wonder why dealers generally have such a bad reputation.
Absolutely no need to pull the pin EVERY time you unhitch.
Once a season will be more than enough.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane."
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LTCLarry
Maggie Valley, NC
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One other thought....if one was to do it wouldn't it be necessary to have the trailer plugged in to the TT other wise you would not know whether or not the brakes were in fact actuated. Otherwise all you know for certain is that the pin is not stuck and will come out in the event of an emergency.
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LadyRVer
Florida
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Joined: 09/04/2007
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Without getting out our instruction brochure from BB, I seem to remember it says to do a break away test after putting in the BB and setting it. Supposed to test that the break away works and the BB will do its thing, also. We don't, but as we were setting up to leave one morning a good friend came along and pulled the break away switch out... BB worked inside the car. I was not inside the MH to check if the alert came on (which it is supposed to do.) The switch looks a tad flimsy to me to check it every morning like that before leaving.
On Edit, I see that is towing a trailer? I also towed a fifth-wheel and the only time I checked it was when I made a sharp corner and the breakaway switch pulled out... I can assure you it worked!
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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In over 100,000 miles I've tested mine ONCE ..... by accident. It worked.
Chuck
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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There's nothing to go wrong in them. They're built just as Old Biscuit said, if you pull the pin there's nothing else it can do.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
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leggy
Montrose Pa
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I had a friend tell me that on his equipment trailer the DOT pulled the breakaway to see if it worked during a random stop. Personally, I do try not to activate mine.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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I would test it occaionally. Other things can go bad. You could break a wire on either side making break away function inoperative.
Yes, trailers requiring DOT inspection could have inspector check function.
Bud
USAF Retired
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