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Expert Answers about Trailer Breakaway Kit


  • 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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  • 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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  • Will A Breakaway Kit Operate Properly Without An Auxiliary Battery
  • It is possible to operate a breakaway switch from the trailer's main battery but it is not recommended. The breakaway kit may not function properly in emergency situations because the trailer's main battery has other accessories powered from it which may drain some of its power. The auxiliary battery that comes with breakaway kits such as part # 20400 will be kept at a full charge from the trailer wiring 12 volt power because it has a built in battery charger. Most states require by law...
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  • Curt Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit Access Lid Orientation
  • The Curt Trailer Breakaway Kit # C52042 is a side load design and only intended for that orientation. You will want to use Curt Trailer Breakaway Kit # C52044 for your application to have the access lid facing up.
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  • Can I Use Curt Replacement Breakaway Switch With TAP Breakaway System
  • The TAP breakaway system is actually the same as the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger part # 20400. You can use the Replacement Switch for Curt Soft Trac I and II Trailer Breakaway Kits part # C52010 with the TAP system. The two blue wires from the Curt switch will splice into the blue wire from the breakaway box and the other blue wire splices into the electric brake wire of the trailer. I have attached a diagram for your reference.
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  • How to Tell If Your Breakaway Switch Is Powered By Trailer Battery or Auxiliary Battery
  • If you already have a breakaway switch and trying to find its power source, It is possible that someone could have wired the breakaway switch directly to the main battery on the trailer but it does not come like that from the factory. The breakaway switch should be wired to a separate battery. Most Breakaway switches come with their own battery and some come with a battery charger. The breakaway box is essentially a plastic box with a battery in it that powers the breakaway switch. When...
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  • The Correct Breakaway Kit Battery Size to Use on a Trailer
  • Using the house battery on your trailer will provide a 12-volt power to a breakaway kit, but is not recommended. A Breakaway Kit, like # 50-85-313, is designed to stop a trailer that has come uncoupled from a tow vehicle. This kit relies on the power of the battery to activate if a trailer is comes uncoupled. Manufacturers recommend that you use a dedicated power source on the breakaway switch to make sure that there can be no outside draw or interference on the breakaway circuit. There...
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  • Is Hopkins Engager Breakaway Kit Compatible with Over 30 Tandem Axle Trailer with 12 Gauge Wire
  • I reached out to my contact at Hopkins and she said that the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 20400 has been tested on a variety of trailer lengths and so it will be good to use on your tandem axle trailers. The heavier gauge wire that is shown in the chart you sent in will just help to ensure that as much power as possible is traveling as far as possible.
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  • Trailer Breakaway Kit For Small Utility Trailer
  • Breakaway kits aren't fits for any specific trailer, and while it doesn't look like the trailer you mentioned has electric brakes, if you were somehow able to add them, then for a breakaway kit the best option is the Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with 1-Amp Charger and 5 Ah Battery - Top Load # 3802308. I have added links below to a couple video reviews for you to check out as well.
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  • Will the Trailer Break Away Battery Charger Work with a 12 Volt 5 Amp Recahrgeable Breakaway Battery
  • I spoke with my contact at Hopkins and the Trailer Breakaway Kit Battery Charger, item # 20011, should work with your 12 volt, 5 amp, rechargeable breakaway battery. We have a detailed description on how to install a breakaway kit with charger in the second section of our Breakaway Installation page (see link).
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  • Mounting the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit on Horse Trailer
  • It's pretty easy to mount the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # 20400 on your horse trailer; the kit actually comes with self-tapping screws so you simply need to use those to mount it on an available space on your trailer. If you are having trouble finding an area to mount the kit you can also use the Weld-on Trailer Frame Mounting Plate for Hopkins Engager Breakaway Kit # HM20407 which you can weld onto your trailer frame to mount the...
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  • Correct Wiring Installation for aTrailer Breakaway Kit
  • If you are installing a trailer breakaway kit like # C52041, then you can use the 12-volt auxiliary power wire to help provide a maintenance charge on your breakaway kit's battery. A breakaway kit that does not have an onboard charger will have to use 3 wires to operate. One red or black wire (12-volt power) that will come off the 12 volt auxiliary circuit. This wire will keep a maintenance charge on the battery when connected to your vehicle. A white wire that will be the ground and...
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  • What Breakaway Device Do You Recommend for My 2021 Jayco Travel Trailer?
  • As far as the cables/plugs that come with breakaway systems, they are virtually universal for trailers. As far as a great breakaway system for your 2020 Hay Flight 29RKS, the breakaway options depend on where you want to mount the switch. For the best options, I recommend the Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with 1-Amp Charger and 5 Ah Battery # 3802308 (top loading) or the Curt Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # C52042 (side loading). Both of...
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  • Breakaway Kit That Works With Triple Axle Trailer
  • We do have a breakaway kit for your electric brakes that is compatible with a triple axle trailer. What you need is the Tekonsha Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # 50-85-313. I have added a link to a video installation for you to check out as well as a link to the installation instructions.
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  • Should Breakaway Switch be Wired to Auxiliary Battery
  • It sounds like your breakaway switch is wired to your auxiliary battery, which is not something that should be done, and can explain the backfeeding (which also should not be occurring). So what you will need, and something that is required by law in many states, is a breakaway kit with its own dedicated battery: - Curt Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # C52042 I have added a link below to a video review for you to check out as well of this kit.
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  • Breakaway Battery Kit for Sundowner 2 Horse Trailer
  • The Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load # 20400 will absolutely work with your Sundowner 2 horse trailer. I've attached some videos to assist and have also attached the diagram and an article to assist.
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  • Breakaway Kit to Comply with DOT Regulations when Using the Carlisle HydraStar Actuator
  • The Break-Away Kit and Battery, part # HBA-EBA, for the Hydrastar Electric-Hydraulic Actuator, part # HBA-10, is the correct unit to provide power to the hydraulic pump for the specified amount of time to meet DOT regulations. The battery in this breakaway kit is a 17 amp-hour rated battery, and most normal breakaway kits for standard electric trailer brakes only utilize a 5 amp-hour battery and would not provide power to meet DOT regulations with the Hydrastar unit. If a breakaway kit...
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  • What Separate Power Source Needed For Breakaway Switch
  • It looks like you have everything wired right so if everything is working then you are good to go on wiring. With regards to the power source, most states require a separate and dedicated power/battery source for your breakaway system so the 12V pole on your junction box will not work. If you want an entire breakaway kit that includes a breakaway switch, I recommend the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit, Item # 20099. This kit includes built-in battery charger, push-to-test...
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  • What is the Purpose of the Black Connection on the Dexter Trailer Breakaway Kit # 34-285
  • The black piece on the Dexter Trailer Breakaway Kit # 34-285 is simply a place where the power wires connect to. It is more of a housing than a connection point really. This kit can be used with trailers that just have electric brakes and not electric-over-hydraulic. If you check out the attached photo you can see how this will install.
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  • Should 4' Cable for Breakaway Kit be Cut Short to Match Length of Safety Chains
  • The 4' of cable that comes with the Fastway Zip Coiled Trailer Breakaway Cable # FA80-01-2140 is actually standard for breakaway cables. If your trailer comes uncoupled then the chains should catch the coupler (which is why you criss-cross the chains). The only time you want your trailer brakes to lock up like that is if the trailer were to completely disconnect from your vehicle, safety chains and all. The 4' of cable is enough to let you tow normally without the pin being pulled and...
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