Breakaway install help

[bones1]

Where do you guys hook the breakaway cable on your trailer?My new trailer had the cable inter twined in one of the safety chains and that can't work that way.If the safety chain jumped out there would be nothing to pull on the cable.Attach to hitch on truck or bumper?.
Thanks. Getting ready for 1st tow and a bit nervous.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I took an old dog leash with a harness clasp on the end and fastened the other end to the trucks bed. (gooseneck with break-away cable near hitch) It's routed out from under a rubber bed matt with about 12" of slack. Last time I got inspected at a weigh station, the DOT guy got all warm and fuzzy over my idea.

 

[Marine1]

bones,
My trucks hitch frame has loops welded on both ends of it. I bought one of those thumb lock clasps (just like the dog collar types)and I hook up the cable from there. Before that I was using the hitch pins carriage pin loop.

The trick is to make sure that it will not catch on anything like the safety chains on a turn or something on the road. My cables are long so I make a loop in the cable to shorten it up a little.
Hope this helps.

 

[Jimbrown]

Mine has a lasso type loop that goes over the ball.

 

[AndyG]

Mine has a lasso type loop that goes over the ball.

Which will not work if the ball breaks off. The reason for having safety chains and breakaway breaks is to have redundant and INDEPENDANT safety systems. I use a spring loaded clip (looks like the caribeaner that a climber uses) to attach the breakaway cable to my truck's frame. The whole hitch couls come off of the truck and the trailer brakes will still activate. You were also right that the cable should not be intertwined with the chain or anything else that could cause it to tangle and not activate the brakes.

 

[roxynoodle]

If you have a hole in your bumper for a ball you can hook it up there. That way it is independent of the hitch and not in the way of the sway chains.

 

[ahoude]

I feed mine between the bumper and bed,wrap loop around the bumper, and clip it back to itself. Something would have to tear off the bumper and reciever hitch to not trip the breakaway.

 

[George2615]

The breakaway cable should be attached to the vehicle, not over the ball or the hitch frame. What good would that do if the ball or the entire hitch frame assy. came loose from the truck. The breakaway cable would not activate since it is still connected in this case. It should be somehow attached to the truck. I use a spring loaded clip (the kind used for key rings) attached to the bumper.

 

[bones1]

Thanks, I now have a much better idea how to hook it up.I like the spring clip idea. Thanks all for your suggestions.