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Topic ClosedEmergency Brake Cable

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Tim View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Emergency Brake Cable
    Posted: 25 Mar 2017 at 4:52pm
Where do you attach the emergency brake cable to the tv? My cable was threaded thru the safety chain. I would think that isn't the correct way. Thanks!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2017 at 5:12pm
Not good. At least for me. It should be independently attach and shorter than tow chains. Do not attach to any part of the hitch that is removable, it's function is to deploy the trailer brakes if the TT leaves the hitch. I spend considerable time for safety purposes on where to hook it and what length it should be if I was to lose the TT from the hitch. Most are too long so I look for a spot on TV frame to attach that doesn't effect activating when I turn, every TV is different.
Mike Carter
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2017 at 8:01am
Usually where you attach the safety chains.
Mike and Cherie
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2017 at 8:48am
Originally posted by densmorema

Usually where you attach the safety chains.

That's what I usually do, and I expect it's what most people do, mostly for a lack of another more appropriate place to hook it to.  But really, the cable should be attached to something that isn't part of your hitch at all.  The idea is that you want the brakes to be activated in case the trailer separates from the tow vehicle.  The most common way for that to happen is for the hitch to come off the ball, and in that case hooking to the safety chain loops would be fine.  But in theory, the whole hitch could come off the frame.  Then your brake cable doesn't get stretched, your brakes don't activate and you have a wild trailer going full speed down the highway.

Two points here: find some other place to hook the brake cable to and check the bolts that attach the hitch to the frame of your vehicle from time to time. 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2017 at 9:41am
Same here independently attached to the same place as the safety chains.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2017 at 10:31am
 TT raises a good point....connect the cable to somewhere other than the hitch.....however most of us don't have another place so it winds up on the hitch.  I loop ours through the flange where one of the safety chains connects.  Don't thread it through the chain but I have seen that method used.  Didn't seem like a good idea to do that as presumably the chain stays attached if the trailer jumps off the ball.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2017 at 11:25am
I'm in the "breakaway cable should be slightly longer than the chains" camp.  There is a lot of debate on longer vs. shorter and I've seen persuasive arguments for both.  

I do agree that it should be connected directly to the vehicle frame and not the receiver frame.  However, a factory-installed receiver is likely welded in place so that wouldn't be an issue.

Definitely not threaded through the safety chain.


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Tim View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2017 at 1:24pm
Thanks all for the great advice! This forum is amazing!!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2017 at 4:16pm
techntrek,

I think the discussion I have often heard is - some think the ebrake should not activate until the trailer is completely loose, meaning the safety chains have disengaged. The debate rages on. I can say towing packages are normally add on options. Many added at the dealer, there is no welding, they come in kits by an option listing. I just returned a 2016 to the dealer for a recall on bolts in the hitch. I like you put the safety brake to the frame not the hitch.
Mike Carter
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