Check Your Breakaway Brake Switches

ScottG · June 4

As part of your pre-season maintenance routine, I suggest checking the operation of your breakaway brake switch. This is easy to do, but also easy to overlook.

With the battery connected, pull the pin from the switch box. There should be a notable voltage drop, and the wheels should lock up.

When I tested mine this year, I got nada. Sometimes I could get it to engage by banging on the switch housing with a wrench. I'm guessing the internal contacts are corroded.

Replacement switches are easy to come by for as low as $10. The biggest challenge to installation would be splicing in the new switch wires.

rydfree · June 4

Mine did a self test last year as I was pulling my old RV through a tight parking lot. When I turned very sharp to get into a parking space the cable caught on the tongue latch and stopped my TV dead cold. I was like WTF, did I hit something, lol.

The coiled wire leads are much better IMO and do not hang down and less likely to catch on something.

Amazon.com: MECMO Trailer Breakaway Switch 5ft Brake Away Coiled Cable Large Carabiner, RV Camper Trailer Emergency Electric Break Switch with 5 Feet Stainless Steel Spring Towing Wire Safety Lanyard w/Pull Pin : Automotive

BillCB · June 5

Yeah - I did an involuntary test too, by having wound up too much of the slack in the cable. Stupid but a lesson learned.

ScottG · June 11

I've been lucky so far with the regular lead, but I can see the advantage of the coiled version. Might be an upgrade in the near future.

I just swapped my switch out yesterday. Pretty simple job if you can splice wires or crimp ring connectors. The wires on the replacement I bought were just a tad short, so I had to do both.

rydfree · June 11

You can buy the coiled cables separate if you do not need the switch. I bought the 2 pack and have one in the box for a spare.

Amazon.com: Rnigs 2Pcs Trailer Brake Away Cable, 6FT Trailer Breakaway Coiled Cable for RV Trailer Emergency Camper Breakaway Switch : Automotive

DukeHewett · June 13

Has anyone ever had a T@B come loose, break both safety chains and cause havoc? Sure we hook up our cable. But quite often we'll pull the trailer with the battery off, thereby making the break-away brakes inoperable. I would worry more about the brakes locking up at 60mph if the cable got yanked somehow. Personally I just don't worry about it, and doubt any police will pull you over and check that it is operable.

qhumberd · June 13

Personally I just don't worry about it, and doubt any police will pull you over and check that it is operable.

So I can't assess how often a breakaway occurs with our T@Bs, but my worry would only be IF an accident did occur and the trailer breakaway system was found to be off or inoperable. A pretty easy thing to find if the switch is turned off. Then what could happen is as follows:

Likely Consequences of an Accident
If an accident occurs and investigators find your breakaway system was dead, broken, or missing, the fallout shifts from a standard insurance claim to severe legal jeopardy.
1. Legal and Criminal Liability
Criminal Charges: If a runaway trailer causes severe injury or death, you could face criminal charges such as vehicular manslaughter, reckless endangerment, or criminal negligence. Operating a vehicle with known, mandatory safety equipment disabled is highly punishable.
The "Gross Negligence" Label: In court, failing to maintain a legal safety device isn't viewed as a simple mistake; it’s treated as a conscious disregard for human life.
2. Financial Ruin and Civil Lawsuits
Punitive Damages: In a civil lawsuit, victims' attorneys will inspect the trailer's breakaway battery and switch almost immediately. If they prove the system was neglected, juries often award punitive damages—which are designed to punish you financially and frequently exceed standard insurance limits.
Personal Asset Exposure: If a judgment exceeds your insurance policy limits, your personal assets (savings, home, future wages) can be seized to pay the settlement.

If the switch is on then whole scenario above is not going to happen. In either case one might hope no one is seriously hurt or killed. Stuff can be replaced.

ScottG · June 13

I agree with above. Life is dangerous enough without exposing yourself to legal liability unnecessarily.

I know of at least one incident reported here in which a T@B came loose when an aftermarket hitch ripped off the bottom of the TV.

The irony of course is that if the breakaway cable was attached to the hitch (common practice) the brakes would not activate. This is why some recommend hooking the cable to a different solid point on the vehicle.

I'm also aware of cases where the trailer pops off the ball--whether from human error or mechanical failure. In these cases the chains should hold. There is some debate whether having the trailer brakes engage in this situation is advantageous. Whether they actually do engage will depend on the length of your cable relative to your chains.

This said, the manner in which nuCamp has historically wired the breakaway brakes so that they may be deactivated by the cutoff switch has been a topic of much lively discussion over the years!

AndreaPalumbo · June 15

I would also add, check your hitch receiver too. A close inspection of the hitch receiver on my truck revealed that it was about 50% rusted through.

The real trouble is, that if the hitch had of broken where that rust was, the receiver, ball hitch, chain hooks, and even the breakaway switch would still remain attached to the part of the hitch that broke off, rendering every single safety feature inoperable.

Replacement hitches are very easy to install, and pretty affordable.

Check Your Breakaway Brake Switches

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