Healeyman
Carrollton, TX
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Joined: 09/08/2006
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I guess my question is for you "Break Away Switch" guys.
How do you set the point at which the break away switch activates and applies the towed brakes? Do you set it so that the brakes energize BEFORE the safety chains are tight or AFTER the safety chains are tight?
It seems to me that:
1) If before the chains are tight, the break away switch will slam on the towed brakes without the towed actually having "broken away" and is still chained to the RV.
2) If after the chains are tight, the the break away switch should never activate. In that case... What does it do? What is it really there for? I see LOTS of hook ups with 3' of chain and 6' of switch activation cable.
3) It doesn't make any difference. It's a belt and suspenders kind of thing. Redundancy matters....
Are there more answers? Is there REALLY a right asnwer?
I don't yet have a break away switch, so I'd REALLY like to know how you guys set these things up.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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After. Before it breaks loose your trailer brake controller s/b working.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
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Ka Ron
Kelowna
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Joined: 12/31/2009
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The moment it breaks loose.
Join Us For A Trip Down The RV Highway
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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Joined: 09/16/2007
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I want it to activate before the chains break. If the chains are all that is holding the toad to the MH, I want the toad's brakes to be pulling it back, away from the MH while I slow down and stop. That is to keep the toad from ramming the back of the MH. I have a surge brake, so no brake controller.
Bobbo, Linda and the furry kids (1&1/2 German Shepherds)
2007 Winnebago Outlook WF331C on a Ford E450 Super Duty Chassis
2010 Subaru Forester w/BlueOx baseplate & Ready Brute Elite towbar
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eHoefler
ozark mountains
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Joined: 10/22/2011
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The break away needs to have the brakes activated before the safety chains go tight. With the brakes applied and the chains tight, you can safely slow down and stop with out the trailer running over the tow vehicle.
2010 Ram 3500, Crew Cab, Long bed, 4 x 4,Dually, Lights & Siren!
2006 40' Landmark Mt. Rushmore
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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Since no testing has ever been done, and no institute has ever set any standards, there is no definitive answer, there are only opinions.
There are no FMVSS standards.
There are no USDOT standards.
There are no recommendations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Underwriter's Laboratories has set no standards.
There are no tests from Consumer Reports.
There have been no standards set by the various State DOTs.
Again, there are no answers, only opinions.
Your decision is as good as anybody's.
Good luck.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 275,000 Miles
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hemi
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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When the umbilical cord gets yanked out.......
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Viewfinder
Western, NJ
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Joined: 07/01/2005
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To me, 'break away' means 'complete separation' from the MOHO. Don't want the toad rolling down the road by itself!
jim
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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Everyone agrees on total separation from the MOHO.
To me, the only question is "do you want the toad to ram the rear of the MOHO when you apply brakes if it is only held by the chains?"
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Bobbo wrote:Everyone agrees on total separation from the MOHO.
To me, the only question is "do you want the toad to ram the rear of the MOHO when you apply brakes if it is only held by the chains?"
I can think of a couple of other questions:
1. Will the safety chains hold when the brakes of the toad slam on at 60 MPH?
2. What kind of fur-ball will result from the toad coming to a screeching halt in the middle of a busy freeway full of vehicles doing 60 MPH?
3. Will the result be better or worse than the toad wandering off by itself, ending up in the ditch?
4. If the safety chains DO hold, will the toad track behind the motorhome, or will it start whipping back and forth with the wheels locked?
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