Repairing a Broken Trailer Breakaway Cable

A lot of states require towed RVs to have a functioning breakaway cable, which automatically signals the trailer’s brakes to activate should the cable detach. If your breakaway cable is damaged to the point that it won’t pass inspection, you’ll need to replace it as soon as possible. In this quick video lesson, RV repair and maintenance expert Dave Solberg teaches you how to repair a broken breakaway cable or replace it with a brand new one.

Dave demonstrates the best way to decide on the proper length for your new cable, and then shows you how to install it. He also talks about an important thing to note: if you attach the tow vehicle end of the cable to your hitch and the hitch comes off, the cable will go with it and the trailer brakes will not activate. So he recommends finding a point on your tow vehicle’s brace to attach to. That way, your cable will detach and the brakes will do their job!