Where to Attach the Electric Brake Emergency Break Away Cable When Towing with a Fifth Wheel Hitch

Published 06/25/2010

Question:

I have a 16K Reese Fifth Wheel Hitch, part number 30047. Im sure there is a simple answer. Where do I hook the emergency break away wire on the hitch. Thanks.

asked by: Steve

Expert Reply:

There are many options for attaching the breakaway cable from the Tow Ready Trailer Break Away Kit, item # 50-85-315, to your vehicle.

You could attach to a tie down point in the bed of your truck or you could use stake pocket tie down and attach the cable to it. You could also run the cable down to the safety chain loop on the bumper hitch if your vehicle is so equipped. Finally, you could attach the cable to the rails installed in the bed of the truck.

The thing to remember is that the place the cable is attached to needs to be strong enough that, no matter the reason for it to be pulled, the cable will pull the pin out of the breakaway unit and not pull the cable loose at the other end. You will also need to make sure that the cable cannot be pinched or severed by any moving parts while towing.

Usually the pin is pulled and then the cable is looped through the mounting point, the pin is then passed through the loop in the cable and inserted back into the breakaway switch. Attaching the cable to the fifth-wheel rails can be accomplished using another Fifth Wheel Hitch Replacement Pin and Clip, item # 6014, and an empty slot in the rail. Just install the pin in the rail, running it through the loop in the end of the cable and then attach the clip to the pin.

expert reply by: Robert G