Trailer Breakaway System Battery Requirements for 5th Wheel

Updated 11/14/2016 | Published 11/12/2016

Products Featured in This Question

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(60)

$12.27

Hopkins Engager Trailer Breakaway Kit w/ Charger, LED Tester, and 5 Ah Battery - Side Load

(746)

$60.86

Curt Soft Trac II Trailer Breakaway Kit with 5 Ah Battery and Clamp On Case - Top Load

(33)

$51.73

Question:

Does the electric safety brake work on my 2015 F350 through my electrical system that runs the lights and the slides without the trailer having any backup battery in it at all. I hope campers from a Transport company and a guy told me I have to have a backup battery in the trailer. But then I had another guy tell me that the electric breakaway system will work just plugged into my truck and not on an extra battery. Which one is true thank you

asked by: Charlie L

Helpful Expert Reply:

A trailer breakaway system must have a dedicated battery on the trailer. If it did not have its own battery the breakaway system would not operate if the trailer connector disconnected from the vehicle. A dedicated breakaway battery is required so that an uncoupled trailer's brakes will activate to bring it to a stop, but a second backup battery on the trailer is not required.

I linked our main page for trailer breakaway kits. We offer basic kits like # C52026 and kits with a built-in battery charger/tester like # 20099.

I also linked two helpful articles on trailer breakaway systems.

expert reply by: Adam R