Hook it to the bumper so if the hitch falls off the bumper pulls the brake...

My F350 has a special hole for it....

I just have my friend back there hold it in his hand just in case the hitch AND the bumper fall off. He usually remebers what to do:drink:.

I like the hooking it to the bumper idea, I think I'll start doing that now.

It's funny I looked over the whole setup tonight after I hooked up and I was getting ready to go do some engine troubleshooting and questioned whether or not the break-away chain should be longer or shorter than the safety chains.

Seems like ideally, you would want the break-away chain to reach full extension/actuation at about the same point the safety chains would reach maximum extension, at least on surge breaks anyway. That way when the brakes kick in via the break-away chain, there isn't a severe yank/tension on the truck/chains/trailer when the trailer begins to slow down and the truck is still going forward, potentially ripping the chain ears and/or hitch of the back of the truck...

I couldn't agree more and have often pondered what would I do if this scenerio happened. I'd prefer the brakes to not kick in if the hitch came loose so I had more control over what was going on. As long as the electrical is still connected with Electric/Hydraulic you could use the brake controller to apply braking to the trailer to help slow everything down. "If" the brakes applied on the trailer odds are the safety chains are longer than the wiring and you would then be at the mercy of the brakes locking up...I know mine will lockdown all 6 tires so you'd have the sudden stop while the vehicle was still moving forward at whatever speed.

It amazes me everytime I see a 10,000# boat being towed by a hitch rated at 6000#'s and a ball rated at the same...

How do you know your break away is in functional condition on an older trailer? Anyway to test? I've got a new battery, but????

You guys are idiots! The breakaway cable/chain is for the trailer brakes so it obviously needs to be attached to THE TRAILER! So for a double measure of safety I always attach it to the bow hook on the boat so if the boat comes off the trailer, the trailer will stop! :party-smiley-004:

I don't use the cable. Why would I want my trailer to break away? I want my boat right behind me when I get to the lake. :)

Pull the cable out. Your brakes should engage