Can Pulling Break Away Pin Damage Trailer Brakes

Updated 03/26/2021 | Published 03/24/2021

Question:

I am new to the travel trailer world. I recently went on a three day trip with electric hook ups. I had received advice to pull the emergency pin and this can be used as an antitheft device. When I got home with no electrical hook ups both my 12 V batteries were completely dead after the trailer was parked for only 10 hours with everything turned off. I have since learned this pull on the batteries and can drain the batteries fairly quickly. What can I check myself to verify the magnets or brake pads are still in good shape. I did not notice any grinding, lagging, or smells anything while pulling the trailer home for the five minute trip from the campsite. Also what suggestions do you have to maintain the battery power since the trailer has a carbon monoxide and smoke detector that seem to also pull power. Thank you in advance!

asked by: Bryan

Helpful Expert Reply:

Because the trailer was stationary when this occurred, there's an excellent chance that nothing was damaged, but you can try some low-speed runs in a nearby empty parking lot. While coasting along at low speed (10-15mph) without using the vehicle's brakes, pull the manual brake switch on your brake controller with the gain turned all the way up. You should be able to feel the trailer brakes actuate and start to slow the vehicle.

In the unlikely event that the magnets shorted out, you'd need to replace them, but that probably won't be necessary. A smoke and carbon monoxide detector pull very little voltage, and when the trailer's in storage I'd recommend disconnecting or removing the house batteries, keep them on a maintainer/charger so they stay in good condition.

This was just a freak occurrence, and now you know not to take any trailering advice from whomever recommended pulling that break away pin!

I've linked to some helpful articles about trailer breakaway systems.

expert reply by: Mike L