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Length of safety cables and breakaway cable in a flat tow setup

July 21, 2023, 05:58:14 am

Question relating to the proper length of safety cables and the breakaway cable in a flat tow setup.
I hooked the Jeep up to my RV yesterday, then without the tow bar attached, backed up the Jeep to simulate a catastrophic failure of the tow bar connection. The safety cables reached maximum stretch without the breakaway cable popping out.
This implies that the purpose of the breakaway cable is to apply the brakes and stop the towed vehicle only in the event of a complete vehicle separation. Both the tow bar and  the safety cables have to fail before the breakaway cable comes into play. If only the tow bar connection fails and the safety cables do not, then the towed vehicle continues forward and only stops after crashing into the rear of the tow vehicle. Does this sound right?

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Re: Length of safety cables and breakaway cable in a flat tow setup

Reply #1 – July 21, 2023, 08:05:03 am

AFAIK the breakaway cable is the last resort to stop a runaway trailer, only to be activated if towed vehicle somehow detaches from hitch AND the safety chains (or cables) break.  That's how it works on our Kar Kaddy.

HOWEVER, a Google search turns up an almost equal number of two totally different opinions: either the breakaway cable should be longer than the safety chains, OR the cable should be shorter than the safety chains.  I would have thought that this is a subject where there should be only one correct universally accepted answer, but obviously that is not the case.  Go figure...

It seems (to me) that the thread linked below contains some logical opinions on the subject.

Breakaway Cable - Escape Trailer Owners Community

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Re: Length of safety cables and breakaway cable in a flat tow setup

Reply #2 – July 21, 2023, 02:08:15 pm

Good point Dan, I Will check mine and make the breakaway shorter than the safety cables. I would much rather the cars brakes lock up while still behind the coach. I know this is a situation that everyone needs to address to what they want to happen if the hitch fails. Seeing brad's damage photos where the breakaway didn't stop his truck gives me some insight to what takes place under those conditions. The brake lights will come on in the event of the breakaway doing it's job.

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Re: Length of safety cables and breakaway cable in a flat tow setup

Reply #3 – July 21, 2023, 07:36:48 pm

Dan, I've always wondered what was best way too. As Craneman stated, kinda up to each individual depending on what they want to happen.
My feeling and what I have set up now is that the Breakaway Cable and also my Electrical Connector Plug wiring is slightly longer than the safety cables.  That way should the hitch break or become disconnected, the Safety Cables will hopefully keep the Jeep connected to the Coach. The Electrical Connector Plug being longer that the Safety Cables will still allow me to have Brakes on the Jeep and be able to stop the Coach and the Jeep concurrently, again hopefully, without the Jeep crashing into the Coach.
Then, if something causes the Safety Cables to break, and the Jeep is loose, the Breakaway Cable will then lock up the brakes on the Jeep and stop it on it's own.

I am no expert, but just my thoughts on how I have mine set up.
I am curious what others do and why.

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Re: Length of safety cables and breakaway cable in a flat tow setup

Reply #4 – July 21, 2023, 09:14:13 pm

Our coaches are a robust tow platform with outstanding handling characteristics for towing. I agree with Chuck that having the towed at the end of the chains taunt would easily be controllable. I'd much prefer that then have it smashing into the side of the coach or the car to the side of me.

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Re: Length of safety cables and breakaway cable in a flat tow setup

Reply #5 – July 21, 2023, 09:54:56 pm

I believe the breakaway is meant when the toad or trailer brakes away from the coach,
the car or trailer will stop. If the brakes come on with the toad or car being hooked up
with the chains to the coach, the coach will keep dragging the toad along until there are
no brakes left. We won't even feel that the toad or trailer is unhooked.

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Re: Length of safety cables and breakaway cable in a flat tow setup

Reply #6 – July 21, 2023, 11:40:10 pm

I hope I never find out but, I believe I would feel the jerk when the cables hit and my Brake Buddy monitor would light up all the lights.

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