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Expert Answers about BMW Trailer Breakaway Kit


  • Can Trailer Breakaway Kit Work Without Cable
  • A trailer breakaway kit cannot work without the cable (which is the breakaway switch). You can simply replace it though as the breakaway switches are universal, so what you'll want is the following: - Replacement Tekonsha Trailer Breakaway Switch # 3802348
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  • Trailer Breakaway Kit For Replacement of Melted Kit
  • I'm certainly sorry to hear that; there are a couple of issues that may have caused this, from a bad kit to the far more likely scenario of there being a short somewhere along the wiring, though it's not possible for me to say with any real certainty. I do have to say that the breakaway definitely needs its own battery, which is required by law in most states. I highly recommend going with a breakaway kit that has its own battery, from Bright Way. You can choose from either a 5 or 10...
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  • Available Trailer Breakaway Kits for Trailers with Electric Drum Brakes
  • All of our trailer breakaway systems for trailers with electric drum brakes are shown on the linked page. These kits are not trailer- or vehicle-specific but we do have kits with or without a charger and even kits that include GPS locator functionality to help prevent theft. Our most popular kit is the Hopkins # 20099 with built-in charger push-button tester. Two helpful articles on these kits and their installation are linked for you.
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  • Is There Trailer Breakaway Kit With Solar Charger
  • You can add a solar charger separately to a trailer breakaway kit, but there isn't a kit with an included solar charger. So what you can do is add either the Bright Way Solar Battery Charger # BRW54FR or 2.5-Watt Solar Battery Charger # PTW2997.
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  • Vampire Draw on Trailer Breakaway Kit Battery Charger
  • There is not a breakaway kit battery charger, including the Hopkins # 20011 that will eliminate vampire draw completely. I do strongly recommend taking a look at the help article I added on trailer breakaway kit installation. Going by this should help you maintain your battery charge if by some chance you have not wired yours the same way.
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  • When Does Trailer Breakaway Battery Receive Incoming Power
  • The Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 20099 (formerly BA10-150) will draw power from the tow vehicle while it is connected. This 12V power draw maintains the 5-amp-hour breakaway battery. When the trailer is not connected to the vehicle the breakaway battery will receive no charging power. The breakaway switch will not draw any power from the trailer breakaway battery when the trailer is disconnected unless the switch is pulled.
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  • Weight of Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit
  • The Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # 20400 only weighs four pounds, so it won't affect the hitch weight much at all. In regards to the brakes, this kit should not be used in place of your RV battery as its only function is for an emergency stop and this will help ensure the kit's battery is always fully charged. I have added links below to a video install and help article for you to check out as well of the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test...
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  • Parts and Installation of Trailer Breakaway Systems
  • Yes, a towed trailer that has brakes must also have a functioning breakaway switch/battery system so that in the event of an accidental uncoupling of the vehicle and trailer the brakes on the trailer will receive direct 12V power from the breakaway battery to stop the trailer. We do sell replacement switches like # 3802348, complete kits like the item # 50-85-315 that you referenced and replacement batteries like # C52023. Switches are NOT specific to any particular brand of breakaway...
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  • Can The Trailer Charge Line Be Used To Power The Trailer Breakaway Rather Than a Battery?
  • You will need to wire the Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 3802346 with its battery on the trailer. In the event your trailer becomes disconnected your wiring will likely pull from its connector or become damaged during the disconnect. Then you will not have any power to the disconnect and it would not work if you wired it to the auxiliary line. And as the auxiliary line on your vehicle with have a fuse or circuit breaker it could become damaged and would not send power to...
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  • Do Trailer Breakaway Batteries Apply Enough Power for a Dual Axle Trailer with 4 Brake Assemblies
  • Any battery that is used in a breakaway system on a trailer needs to be able to sustain full braking power to the trailer brakes for at least 15 minutes to be in compliance with various laws in regions that require breakaway kits. The batteries we sell meet the requirements and where designed for that purpose for 2 axles. Always make sure that brake away batteries are fully charged before using them. The Engager Trailer BreakAway Kit, # 20099, is our most popular option. It comes with...
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  • How to Test Trailer Breakaway Switch for Proper Function
  • If you are concerned about the performance of your older trailer breakaway kit you can test it by following the process outlined in the linked article. If you find it does not work properly you can replace it completely or just replace select parts. I linked you to a second article that covers installation of such systems and also to our main page for breakaway kits like # 20099.
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  • How To Move A Trailer With A Dead Breakaway Battery
  • On most breakaway kits such as the Hopkins Brake Master part # HM20001, you will not need to cut or splice any of the wires to move the trailer with a dead battery. If your power supply is not active, then the only effect is that the breakaway system will not send power to your trailer's brakes in a breakaway situation thus allowing for free movement of the trailer. Even if the battery is dead, the brake controller will still allow you to activate your trailer's brakes To prevent further...
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  • Can a Trailer Become Unhitched While Driving
  • When towing a trailer there are several mechanical connection points: where the ball mount such as # C45010 meets the hitch receiver and locks with a padlock like # C23519; and where the trailer coupler joins the hitch ball. Some trailers may require safety chains as a safety measure or if the trailer has brakes there will be a breakaway kit on the trailer to engage the trailer brakes automatically in the event of the trailer becoming uncoupled from the hitch ball. An example of a breakaway...
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  • How Long Will Battery of Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kit Last
  • The battery that comes with the Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kit with Switch, 12V, 5-Amp-Hour Battery, and Charger # 3802339 is a 12 volt sealed lead-acid battery and these batteries have a life cycle that can vary quite a bit, but typically it has quite a long life of 3-5 years, which is what you should expect with this kit. The battery, for which the replacement is part # 3801250 will constantly be charged when you install it on the trailer. This kit has a charger and connects to your...
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  • Does Bright Way Push-to-Test Breakaway Kit Work on Boat Trailer
  • Yes, the Bright Way Push-to-Test ICU Trailer Breakaway Kit with 0.5-Amp Charger and 5 Ah Battery - Side Load # BW94FR can be used on a boat trailer. I do recommend ensuring you put it at the front of the trailer and not submerging it, however, just as with any electrical component.
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  • Can a Parking Brake or E-Brake Be Added to Dexter Electric Brake Assemblies
  • A parking brake system, also known as an e-brake, can only be used if the brake assemblies are already equipped with a parking brake. Dexter does offer electric brake assemblies with a parking brake, but their standard electric brakes assemblies cannot have a parking brake added to them if they were not already properly equipped. You can tell if your brakes are equipped with a parking brake by looking at the backing plate. There will be an actuating lever at the top of the brake assembly...
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  • Is Trailer Breakaway Kit Required for Tow dolly
  • You do ask a good question. A breakaway system is not required when using the Roadmaster Tow Dolly. And yes, there would definitely be a risk of the towed car jackknifing if the dolly brakes engaged after the trailer decoupling. The rear of the towed car could come around sideways and make a bad situation worse. My technical contact at Roadmaster confirmed that the above information is correct.
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  • Can Brakes Still Engage on Engager Trailer BreakAway System # 20099 with Pin In Place
  • I spoke with my contact at Hopkins and when it comes to a breakaway system like the Engager Trailer BreakAway Kit, # 20099, the pin must be pulled in order to activate the brakes. As long as the unit is wired properly and the switch has not been tampered with or damaged, there is no need to worry about the brakes locking when the pin/plunger is in place. One thing I do recommend is that you make it a habit of checking the pin after your vehicle and trailer have been left unattended. In...
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  • Can Trailer Breakaway Battery be Replaced if Battery is Dead
  • You can replace just the breakaway battery if it is dead, with the following: - Breakaway Kit Replacement 12 V Battery # HM20008 This battery measures 3-1/2" long x 2-3/4" wide x 4" tall, so you'll want to be sure it fits your battery box. Also, regarding the trailer wiring fault, it is either the 7-way or the wiring to the brakes. I would first check your 7-way (both on your truck and trailer) for corrosion as that can impede the signal, and if those are okay, check the wires leading...
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  • Power Draw of LED Indicator Lights on Trailer Breakaway Kit and Brake Controller
  • I sounds like you might be asking about a Trailer Breakaway Kit like # 50-85-313 which has LED indicators to tell about the charge status of the included emergency breakaway battery. One of these indicator lights will come on as needed to tell you if the battery is already charged, in the process of charging or if it is depleted. These LED lights use only a very, very small amount of power so they present no concern about power consumption. Please refer to the linked video for more details....
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