Trailer Breakaway Kit Operation and Installation Information

Published 01/09/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Trailer Breakaway Kit Battery Charger for 12V, 5-Amp Battery

(50)

$8.98

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

(754)

$62.18

Digital Multimeter with 42" Long Test Leads - LED Display

(3)

$21.72

Question:

I read a pin must be pulled to operate , so where is the pin? How can I tell if my battery is charged? I know the breaks work, but I am ignorant of the break away stuff and only know it is on the trailer! Fortunately never experienced a break away! My F350 super duty dual rear wheel truck has a gooseneck hitch and the system appears to be fully wired. The battery is up under the forward framing!

asked by: Rebecca S

Expert Reply:

There are several components to a breakaway system. The pin should be attached to a metal cable that is plugged into a small switch usually located on the frame near the coupler. I attached an FAQ article that details everything about these systems for you to check out.

Typically the battery is enclosed in a case that will have a tester that will tell you the condition of the battery. Check out the Engager Trailer BreakAway Kit # 20099 to see one like this. This one also has a built in charger. Yours may not have have the tester and you would need to test it manually with a circuit tester like Multimeter # PT89ZR.

If you do not have a case that charges and tests the battery you may also be interested in upgrading to the # 20099. I attached an install video for this product to show you what it takes to install this and other kits to help familiarize you with the system.

expert reply by: Jameson C