Trailer Break Battery

[JB4310]

A few seconds would allow the trailer to stop but suppose you were going down a hill & disconnected. Would you like to be backing up only to realize the brakes had released & the trailer was now rolling toward you ??? I wouldn't assume the breakaway actuated before the chains fail, although I'd hope it did. MikeD74T

I think it's designed to engage only if there was a complete break away ???

If the chains were still attached you should still have braking from the controller. Assuming you noticed the hitch failed, which should be pretty obvious.

JB

 

[grsthegreat]

All my trailers (4 of them) have self recharging break away systems. There are 3 lights on the unit to tell the state of charge. Everytime the rig is pulled, its charging. These batts are supposed to last 5 years..or such.

I never trusted the old battery in a box system i had before. I really like the new systems.

I also test my break away by pulling the cable and seeing if the wheels lock up at start to every season.

 

[JB4310]

My dump trailer uses the big deep cycle pump battery for the break away system. I've never had to charge that battery even though this trailer does very short drives between dumps. must be getting a good charge from the truck.

Still never pulled the break away key to test them though. when I bought the trailer they warned me against using the break away system as a parking brake, since that would kill the battery. so they kinda of scared me, and I've never touched it.

But I will now just to be sure they work. The brakes work awesome on both my dump and equipment trailer. The Equipment trailer just has that tiny little battery in a plastic box, It will not surprise me if it is completely dead, even if it is getting charged from the tow vehicle, I think it is close to 8 years old, and used very infrequently.

JB