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Expert Answers about Dutchmen Trailer Breakaway Kit


  • Should the Cable on Hopkins Break-Away Kit # HM20001 Engage Trailer Brakes If Safety Chains Break
  • The breakaway cable on the Hopkins Break-Away Kit, part # HM20001, should engage the trailer brakes if the trailer becomes disconnected from the tow vehicle and the safety chains fail. So you will want the breakaway kit to be the last line of defense against a runaway trailer. As far as length of the breakaway cable, that will be determined by where the breakaway kit will be installed on the trailer. I am including a link to a FAQ page on breakaway kit installation and a link to a video...
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  • Breakaway Battery Recommendation for Triple Axle Trailer
  • I have a couple of breakaway battery kit options for you, but the Hopkins Engager Trailer BreakAway Kit # 20400 is not compatible with your triple axle trailer. The # 20400 is only designed for use with single and tandem axle trailers. For your triple axle trailer, you will want to use a breakaway battery that is designed to work with triple axle trailers. I recommend using the Tekonsha Push to Test Breakaway Kit with Premium Integrated Charger # 50-85-313 because it has the same great...
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  • Best Breakaway Kit with Push To Test Feature for Triple Axle Trailer
  • I do have an option for you but the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit w/ Built-In Charger part # 20099 is only rated for use on single and tandem axle trailers. For a breakaway kit that is rated for use on triple axle trailers you will want to use the Curt Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger part # C52042. The Curt breakaway kit as the title suggests also has a built-in push to test feature as well as a side load battery box just like the Hopkins...
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  • Complete Trailer Breakaway Kits and Replacement Parts
  • A trailer breakaway kit like # 34-285 will apply full power to your electric trailer brakes in the event of the vehicle and trailer suddenly being uncoupled. Such kits consist of a breakaway switch and cable, a breakaway battery and a box to contain the battery. I linked two articles on installing and testing such kits. I also linked our page for all such kits, such as the popular Hopkins # 20099, and a page showing individual breakaway kit replacement parts.
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  • Wiring a Trailer Breakaway Switch on a Trailer with an Existing Winch Battery
  • Yes, a breakaway kit can be wired in one of two ways to the trailer brake system. The first way would be to use the Engager Trailer BreakAway Kit with Charger and Tester, item # 20099, and splice off of the power wire that maintains the winch battery on the trailer to charge the battery included in the kit (see instructions). This is the recommended method of installing a breakaway kit since many states require that a breakaway kit with separate power supply be used. The second option,...
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  • Parts Needed to Add Rechargeable Breakaway Battery to Gooseneck Trailer
  • The breakaway battery that is designed to work with the Hopkins Engager Breakaway Box # HM20121 is the Hopkins Breakaway Kit Replacement 12V Battery # HM20008. To provide you with both the Hopkins Engager Breakaway Box # HM20121 and a breakaway battery, I recommend going with the Engager Trailer BreakAway Kit # 20099. The battery included in the kit is a 12V, 5-amp hour battery that is designed to power the trailer's brakes for 15 full minutes in a breakaway situation. A break-away switch...
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  • Replacement Breakaway Kit W/ Switch for a Pre-2000 Big Tex Trailer
  • Yes the Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kit with Breakaway Switch, 0.5-Amp Charger, 5 Ah Battery, and Wire Loom # BRW99FR is a great replacement for your current breakaway setup. This kit comes with a breakaway switch, a 0.5 amp charger, a 5-amp hour battery, a battery box, wiring and wire loom.
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  • How to Wire the Trailer Breakaway Kit Battery Charger Part # 20011
  • To answer your question yes, the Trailer Breakaway Kit Battery Charger part # 20011 can be used to charge your breakaway battery while drawing power from the 12 volt auxiliary battery on your trailer. However, most local and state regulations require that the breakaway battery receive a charge from a battery not mounted on the trailer therefore, I recommend using the Trailer Breakaway Kit Battery Charger part # 20011 to pull power from the vehicle's battery via the 12 volt pin on the 7-way...
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  • What is Needed to Stop a Trailer if the Trailer Comes Uncoupled from the Tow Vehicle
  • By itself, your brake controller will not stop your trailer if it becomes disconnected from your tow vehicle. Sounds like you are needing a trailer breakaway kit. The Engager Trailer Breakaway Kit with Charger, # 20099, is the product I recommend for your truck and trailer rig. This breakaway kit consists of a battery, a battery box, breakaway switch, and all the needed wiring to install on to your trailer. The kit is designed to activate you trailer brakes by pulling the plunger out...
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  • Replacement Trailer Break-Away Switch for a Hopkins Engager Trailer Break-Away Kit
  • The Replacement Tekonsha Trailer Breakaway Switch, item # 420000, is compatible with Tekonsha breakaway kits. The item # 20099 is a Hopkins breakaway kit, and it uses a Hopkins switch. The Tekonsha switch may work but for safety purposes we recommend replacing the switch with the original manufacturers switch. We offer two different Hopkins replacement switches with different lengths of lead wire. They are the Hopkins Replacement Break-Away Switch, 7 inich Lead Wires, item # HM20010, and...
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  • Can a Trailer Breakaway System be Run off of Existing Trailer Battery
  • A breakaway kit can be wired in one of two ways to the trailer brake system. The first way would be to use the Engager Trailer BreakAway Kit with Charger and Tester, item # 20099 , and splice off of the power wire that maintains the trailer's battery on the trailer to charge the battery included in the kit (see instructions). This is the recommended method of installing a breakaway kit since many states require that a breakaway kit with separate power supply be used. The second option,...
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  • Trailer Breakaway System Recommendation for a Triple Axle Gooseneck Trailer
  • The breakaway kit I recommend for your trailer with 3 axles is the Tekonsha Breakaway Kit with Charger, part # 20020. This has a heavy-duty two stage charger included and sealed rechargeable 12V battery. This kit is designed to work with trailers that have up to 4 axles.
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  • Does The Tekonsha Trailer Breakaway Kit # 50-85-313 Include a Battery
  • Yes, the item you selected, Tekonsha Trailer Breakaway Kit, part # 50-85-313, comes included with a 5 amp battery. I have linked and FAQ Article on trailer breakaway kits and a video review and installation of the Tekonsha Trailer Breakaway Kit, part # 50-85-313.
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  • How to Reset Breakaway Kit When Pin is Pulled
  • If you pulled the pin on a breakaway kit, like the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 20099, you should be able to just insert the pin back into place and your breakaway battery will stop applying the brakes on your trailer. If you don't already have a breakaway battery kit that has a recharging battery that stores power when connected to your tow vehicle then you can use the Hopkins kit that I mentioned above.
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  • Is a Fuse Needed on Red Wire for Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kit 3802346
  • In regards to the Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kit part # 3802346, there is no fuse on the red wire between the breakaway battery box and truck battery. This circuit is already protected on the truck side near the battery. The red wire goes directly from the breakaway battery box to the trailer connector.
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  • Is 12V Battery Included in Hopkins Engager Trailer Breakaway Kit with Charger and Tester 20099
  • Yes, the Engager Trailer BreakAway Kit with Charger and Tester # 20099 does include the breakaway battery. This kit includes the battery, a built-in automatic charger, the weather-resistant box, the breakaway switch and mounting hardware. I linked two videos for you; one is a review video showing what is included in the kit and the other is an installation video.
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  • How Does Breakaway Function Work With Wireless Brake Controller
  • When using a wireless brake controller like the Curt Echo Wireless Trailer Brake Controller # C51180 the breakaway function is still operated by the breakaway kit and not the brake controller. A brake controller and breakaway kit are 2 separate components although they both work with the trailer brakes, just differently. The Echo brake controller is designed to apply the brakes to the trailer when the brakes are applied to the tow vehicle and help bring both to a safe stop. Breakaway...
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  • Could Trailer Breakaway Kit Use Trailer's Winch Battery
  • The battery requirements for breakaway kits essentially are that in the event of a disconnection of the switch the brakes will hold for a specific amount of time. I am sure the battery you have now that also powers a winch would have no problem with that but if you were to drain the battery by using the winch and then in an emergency scenario need to use the breakaway kit you'd be in trouble. That's why it's smart to have a separate battery for the breakaway kits. I attached a help article...
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  • Does the Replacement 12V 5 Ah Battery for Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kits Come with a Charger
  • The Replacement 12V 5 Ah Battery for Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kits # 3801250 is just the replacement battery for the Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 3802308 and only includes the battery. We do have a charger available separately: - Bright Way Smart Charger and Maintainer # 3805212 The Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 3802308 which is the entire kit, would include a 1-Amp charger.
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  • Trailer Breakaway Kit Compatible With Tekonsha Brake Controller
  • Trailer breakaway kits are compatible with all brake controllers, so there isn't one that is specifically designed for a Tekonsha brake controller like your Tekonsha Voyager # 39510. With that in mind, I highly recommend the Tekonsha Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # 50-85-313. The reason this is the best kit is because Tekonsha is known for making the most reliable, high-quality electrical products in the towing industry. I have added a link to a help...
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