Break away cable story

Rosey · 12-09-2015, 03:07 AM

So we packed the Redwood up to head home after spending 8 days in Williamsburg, Va. While making a right turn in the campground I hear this LOUD thump & low & behold the dually's drive tires are spinning on the gravel but I'm not going anywhere ....... what the hell ?? Get out of the truck to investigate (sounded & felt as if the level jack(s) were digging in) ...... nope, jacks OK. Electric brakes locked maybe?............ what the heck am I gonna do now ?...the darn brakes are locked!!!!! Then I notice that the break away cable got snagged somehow while making that darn right turn activating the brakes. Whew ! Easy fix. Made me think however how easy it would be for a vandal to just rip the breakaway cable/switch out & if you didn't happen to have a spare you'd be screwed ! Think I'm going to by a spare.

Ford truck guy · 12-09-2015, 03:12 AM

Good point on the spare!! My first fiver had that happen to me the very first trip out.. I had NO CLUE what was happening!!

Elliott & Vicky · 12-09-2015, 03:13 AM

You had better luck than I did. Something shifted in my truck bed grabbed the cable and disconnected the switch. My RAM didn't notice the extra resistance and towed it until the brake pads were gone.

Char & Steve · 12-09-2015, 03:17 AM

That's a good idea! Never thought about having a spare with us but It is now on the list.
I had that happen early this year since I was pretty new at the 5er. Pulling out of our driveway right in the middle of the road the breaks locked. All I can say is be careful when you put it back in. I was rushing and not realizing how much pressure the breaks had put on the truck that when I put the key back in everything jumped and I was under by the hitch. Char actually jumped over the center console and into the drivers seat. She was not happy with me

Steve

Grizzby · 12-09-2015, 03:21 AM

Have had that happen a few times. Finally purchased a new cable at Camping World that looks and acts like a spring. I won't sag to get caught on anything. Works great!

**Dave&Ginny** · 12-09-2015, 03:48 AM

In an emergency situation (like some kid took your cable) you can cut the wires and by pass the system. The wires are exposed so it's easily done.

sinder · 12-09-2015, 05:15 AM

Yep I locked up our brakes while backing up and turning fairly sharp shortly after our purchase. The original cable seemed short to me so I purchased a coiling one that has worked fine for the past 3 years.

atom ant · 12-09-2015, 06:41 AM

It's only ever happened to me while making a right turn into our neighborhood off a 4 lane busy road at rush hour - twice. Every other one of the 1,000 turns I made on the same road it was fine

I ended up adding one of those coiling type cable pulls on mine so it stretches a bit.

Foxfire · 12-09-2015, 08:38 PM

I drove my brand new Redwood to a campground about 40 miles from the dealer. No issues, I probably only made left hand turns. A month latter leaving the campground I made a hard right and had that happen to me. I couldn't figure it out what went wrong. I heard the electric brakes humming in the basement but couldn't open the door as at the time I was almost jackknifed. Ran around looking to see what I did or hit when I finally saw the plug had pulled. Added a coil wire to extend it and then bought a spare.

r time soon · 12-09-2015, 11:56 PM

As soon as we got our used Redwood home from the dealer, I put a new Break-Away switch on and installed the red coiled cable. Had one instance on the previous SOB that caught the cable leaving our neighborhood. Really like the clean look and the fact it retracts to stay out of the way. I also moved the location closer to the middle of the pin box, instead of way back on the frame that holds the pin box. Added some snake skin loom and has been great ever since.

Chris

atom ant · 12-10-2015, 12:12 AM

ya-ya, that's the one I put on. Can't remember where I got it.

Shane Wood · 12-10-2015, 02:04 AM

Chris
What kind of trail air pinbox is that I don't see an air bag or shock absorber. It looks like the root flex I just took off mine

r time soon · 12-10-2015, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Chris
What kind of trail air pinbox is that I don't see an air bag or shock absorber. It looks like the root flex I just took off mine

Shane, Yes . It is the standard TrailAir Rotoflex. Works well for us. Had one on the previous SOB also. If you look close you should be able to see I drilled and tapped 3 holes to mount a standard flag set on. We proudly fly the American flag while camping sun up to sun set as we don't have any additional lighting to display properly at night.

Chris

atom ant · 12-10-2015, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r time soon

Shane, Yes . It is the standard TrailAir Rotoflex. Works well for us. Had one on the previous SOB also. If you look close you should be able to see I drilled and tapped 3 holes to mount a standard flag set on. We proudly fly the American flag while camping sun up to sun set as we don't have any additional lighting to display properly at night.

Chris

Whats wrong with the docking lights to display the flags? That's what I do, though I get too discouraged to fly them much anymore.

travelin' texans · 12-10-2015, 05:23 AM

Too discouraged to fly the flag???? Lighted mine & it flies
24-7!!!

r time soon · 12-10-2015, 10:44 AM

The docking lights shine pretty much down and don't illuminate the flag. The flag is a 3' X 5' standard American flag, and stands pretty much straight up. Those lights were to help hitching to the truck.
Chris