Ahhh, the debate of "should breakaway cable engage trailer brakes before or after total separation of trailer from tow vehicle". Seen that one debated for many, many pages. And, its one of those cases where I still don't know which is better, there is very good arguments to support either side of that debate. The pros/cons go something like this:
If breakaway engages *before*, when chains are still holding trailer in place:
Would cause sudden 'jerk' backward of trailer brakes engaging. Could cause chains to let go when otherwise would not have, due to shock load. Could also cause loss of control.
But, OTOH, doing it this way means bringing the trailer to a safe stop *might* be easier, since the trailer brakes being engaged could help keep the trailer straight behind you, and it wont be coming forward into your tow vehicle.
If breakaway engages only when hitch and chains fail completely:
No sudden 'jerk' backward quite as bad, so chains have better chance of holding onto the trailer, and preventing the worst case scenario.
OTOH, this means that maintaining control could be difficult, with trailer swinging back and forth held only by chains. Could also mean more potential damage to your tow vehicle when stopping, if trailer rolls foward into it.
....I really don't know which is better (and don't recall just which way mine is set up, haha). I just hope nobody has to ever find out from first-hand experience which is better, haha.
Anwyway, back to the *original* question: Most definiltey, you don't want to connect the breakaway cable to the chains. Nor do you want to run it through the chains, either - too easy for it to bind up in there.
Best to connect the break-away to something other than receiver if possible. I connect ours to the bumper, there is a loophole under it on Ford superduties which is perfect for this. Still, connecting to the receiver is not necessarily bad, and MUCh better than the way the original poster said theirs was hooked up to the chain. As roln pointed out, with Pullrite hitch you have no choice but to hook it to the receiver.
another trick I learned recently: To take up the 'slack' of the breakaway cable, and keep from having to run it through or around the chains: Thread the cable through the loop/link in your ball lock, if you have one. This keeps the cable from dangling, and keeps it from tangling up with the chains as much.
Will & Angela
2 wonderful children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2003 Ford Excursion V10 4x4
2003 Thor Citation 33M, Hensley Arrow hitch, Brakesmart Brake Control
(wanna see? Here is a picture of it )
K3WE wrote: 2) I think "locked wheels lead" does not really apply in the case of the trailer. Absolutely, I can lock the rear wheels of my car and it will try to make the rear lead, and if a semi locks the drive wheels, they tend to become the lead wheels, but I'm not seeing the physics that's going to make the trailer pass you if the trailer locks down and takes the slack out of your chains.
I completely agree. The phrase applies to the rear tires of a vehicle IF the front tires are braking and are not locked. In that case, the front tires are providing more braking force than the rear tires. If the vehicle develops any yaw angle, the greater rearward force being produced by the front tires can cause the yaw angle to increase
The phrase does not apply to a TT being pulled by a chain and with the TT brakes locked. The TT tires will generate a rearward force; but there is no larger rearward force being exerted on the front of the TT (you can't push on a chain). Therefore, there is no force acting on the TT which can make the TT swing.
willald wrote: ---If breakaway engages *before*, when chains are still holding trailer in place:
Would cause sudden 'jerk' backward of trailer brakes engaging. Could cause chains to let go when otherwise would not have, due to shock load. Could also cause loss of control.
IMO, if the safety chains are properly sized and properly attached, it is highly unlikely that engaging the TT brakes will cause the chains to break. My reasoning is given in this post.
Quote: But, OTOH, doing it this way means bringing the trailer to a safe stop *might* be easier, since the trailer brakes being engaged could help keep the trailer straight behind you, and it wont be coming forward into your tow vehicle.
We certainly agree on this point.
Quote: ....I really don't know which is better (and don't recall just which way mine is set up, haha). I just hope nobody has to ever find out from first-hand experience which is better, haha.
Will, I hope you opted to have the breakaway switch activate as soon as there is separation of the primary coupling between TV and TT. If so, you will be following the directives given in the links contained in this post.
Ron Gratz wrote: Will, I hope you opted to have the breakaway switch activate as soon as there is separation of the primary coupling between TV and TT. If so, you will be following the directives given in the links contained in this post.
Ron
Sorry, even after reading that, I'm still not convinced one approach is any better than the other. With either approach, there is a good chance very bad things are going to happen, no matter what you do. I'm not certain length of breakaway cable will make that much difference. I can think of very bad things that can result from EITHER approach. Bottom line is, you're probably gonna be in deep doo-doo regardless.
Consider this very real possibility, Ron: I'm willing to bet most TT brakes are not 100% equal, in the way they'll distrubute braking to each wheel, when engaged fully by that breakaway cable. That being the case, consider the very real possibility that the wheels on one side may brake harder than the other. Now you have the trailer trying to TURN, while you are dragging it with chains. NOT good.
Personally, I'm not sure it makes a lot of difference, whether the breakaway engage before or after complete separataion. I think regardless what the TT brakes do, you are in BIG trouble once a hitch fails and you are dragging a trailer with nothing but chains.
Best approach: Take any and all precautions possible, to ensure you never get into this situation in the first place, haha!!
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