Lost one ball carrier -- my fault. The breakaway cable got pinched in two by the hitch hitting jack hitting the bumper and never would have worked if the trailer had stretched out further. Brand new trailer (just out of sight of the factory).
I loop it through the bumper step and back on itself, then reinsert it into the switch. Yes, had to look for a long cable. I try to keep it short enough to keep it from being so long that it would not pull the plug out of the switch if the safety chains pulled tight. I have had a switch plug break where the cable goes through it, so pulling the plug (pin) out is a great system check (nothing wrong with a slight pull to see if the brakes are applied).
Personally, I don't think a trailers brakes are intended to stop the trailer, but to slow it down significantly. No matter what happens, it's only going to (hopefully) lower the opportunity someone is going to get hurt.
I have friends that either refuse to hook up both chains (theory is that will yank the trailer onto the shoulder), or use too light a gauge chain. My truck, we use two chains crossed over. I do not understand the theory that someone else should feel my pain for what is (likely) my mistake. And ultimately, as driver, even if someone else causes me to be part of an accident doesn't take away my responsibility to be as safe as I can be in my equipment. Off soap box now.
Most people that use the wrong ball carrier do it from bad habits. The ball carrier for a given trailer stays in it, or in the case of my adjustable carrier, both are on it (hard to make that mistake, but I have made worse). Not all horse trailers use 2 5/16" balls. 2 horse often use 2". But you have to make sure the latch pawl is out of the way and it seats correctly (why I like the Bulldog style couplers).
Bulldog Collar-Lok Coupler w/ Pin - 2-5/16" Ball - 3" Channel Tongue - 12,500 lbs Bulldog Trailer Coupler BD028444
Sorry, a bit off track.
