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Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Side Load

Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Side Load

Item # HM20001
Retail:$62.59
Our Price: $48.36
You Save: 23%
Trailer Breakaway Kit
Shipping Weight: 5 lbs
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Breakaway system is designed to bring a trailer safely to a stop by activating its electric brakes should it become disconnected while being towed. Built-in charger refuels the included rechargeable battery. Mounts to trailer frame or to jack post. Great Prices for the best trailer breakaway kit from Hopkins. Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Side Load part number HM20001 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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  • Reviews (64)
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Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit - HM20001

  • Kit with Charger
  • Side Load
  • Hopkins
  • Single-axle
  • Tandem-axle

Breakaway system is designed to bring a trailer safely to a stop by activating its electric brakes should it become disconnected while being towed. Built-in charger refuels the included rechargeable battery. Mounts to trailer frame or to jack post.


Features:

  • Breakaway system activates your trailer's electric brakes if the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle
  • Built-in charger automatically refuels battery while trailer is connected to tow vehicle
  • Side-loading case is easy to access from the side
    • Polymer construction protects battery from moisture and debris
  • Included hardware offers simple installation
    • Mount system to trailer frame with self-tapping screws or attach to jack post with U-bolts
  • Lockable lid deters theft (padlock sold separately)
  • Breakaway switch installs on your trailer's frame - drilling is required
  • Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant
  • 12-Volt rechargeable battery is included


Specs:

  • Application: single- and tandem-axle trailers with electric brakes
  • Case dimensions: 6-1/4" long x 3-1/4" wide x 5" tall
  • Battery capacity: 5 amp-hours
  • Mounting hole spacing:
    • 6" From center of hole to center of hole horizontally
    • 3" From center of hole to center of hole vertically
  • 90-Day warranty


Note: A breakaway system is required by law in most states for trailers that are equipped with electric brakes and have a GTW of at least 3,000 lbs.



20001 Hopkins Trailer Break-Away Kit with Charger - Side Load - 5 amp/hrs




California residents: click here


Customer Satisfaction Score:


Customer Reviews

Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Side Load - HM20001

Average Customer Rating:  4.7 out of 5 stars   (64 Customer Reviews)

Breakaway system is designed to bring a trailer safely to a stop by activating its electric brakes should it become disconnected while being towed. Built-in charger refuels the included rechargeable battery. Mounts to trailer frame or to jack post.

by:

The products were acceptable quality and the customer service was UNEQUALED, EXEMPLARY, GREAT, etc.

The trailer overhaul job went well and we hauled a capacity load almost 1500 miles in some difficult road conditions, stopping only for fuel and to sleep.

We'll use your products again.



by:

I have not installed this yet but have looked over everything I received with this kit. I couldn't be happier with the it. There are only a few pieces needed that aren't included and they are choice of electrical connectors and a seat tapping screw to attach the switch itself. Everything else is in the box. The instructions are clear and easy to understand. I will be attaching this to the trailer Jack on a 1962 Airstream Ambassador.



by:

I ordered electric brakes and breakaway kit I place my order on Wednesday afternoon and could have taken advantage of free shipping but to the option for 2 day delivery.because we are at the very end of reconditioning our flatbed trailer and I want it out of the shop the parts ordered arrived the next day matched up perfectly and the trailer is out of my shop and the next project is in. I buy all my trailer replacement parts at etrailer due to their prompt and courteous service



by:

Ordered this on Tuesday - arrived on Thursday... awesome delivery time!

Bought this to put on my 1996 Coleman/Fleetwood Shenandoah popup camper since for some reason ours didn't come with a breakaway kit. Wanted to mount the battery and charger box on the tongue of the trailer, but the supplied U-bolts that came with the kit will NOT go all the way around the rectangular frame rails of the trailer tongue. Ended up going to the local big-box hardware store and buying some threaded rod and made my own mounting brackets. Instructions included are very easy to follow. Only thing I saw that was missing in the kit that you'll need for installation was a package of tap-splice connectors for connecting the breakaway switch and the battery and charger to the existing trailer wiring.



by:

Order was complete and delivered in a timely manner. Only problem (minor) was the 7way pigtail was not wired to color code. Had to use test light to get 3 of the wires in correct location. Could be a problem if someone wasn't comfortable with ringing out wires.



by:

Great products with fast free shipping (large enough order. I just installed the tow package on my suburban and it was easy when following the videos. It was nice to have everything already gathered and ready to go. Not having to go but ring terminals, wires, zip ties, screws and testers made a daunting project simple.



by:

Easy enough to install. Put it on a home built trailer. Can't say that I've had to use it but it seems to be built well enough. I did check it after install and it applied the brakes but I was in the drive way and not going down the highway at 50+ MPH. And hope I don't ever have to use it in those circumstances.



by:

Top shelf products, excellent selection, awesome prices. Converting a tandem trailer to electric brakes, these guys had it all from bolt on coupler to the new drums! Love these guys!



by:

Outgoing, helpful, easy to talk to. Very quick to help and solved problem. Made process extremely easy. Thank you so much, very happy and satisfied customer. Second time around shopping at etrailer . Definitely will come back for future orders ! Thanks again Juanita for everything!



by:

A few minor adjustments but it is on now! Abigger clamp for my trailer would have been better, but replaced it with another one that I purchased.



by:

Great pricing and i appreciate that it's made in U.S.A. One of the brake adjustment tension cables arrived detached from its swedge end.I just re-crimped the end and all went together smoothly. I will definitely will use E-Trailer again.



by:

Great service and delivered 3 days early!
Have
ordered parts from etrailer several times and ALWAYS had good results
The parts I ordered this time was cheaper than ANY other web site and fast delivery
I live in rural Montana so can't get some parts local
I recommend etrailer every time



by:

etrailer did it again this company is great. great products at a good price.they make ordering and shipping easy. the instructional videos are a big help.
i forgot to order this on my first order and called them back 20 minutes later. they sent it with first order and saved my extra shipping charge . great people to deal with.
i will order more stuff soon.



by:

Rebuilding a utility trailer, this break-away box will fit perfectly for the installation.



by:

The products I purchased were as stated with no problems or missing parts. The delivery was expedited at no additional cost which allowed me to complete my trailer ahead of schedule. The staff were helpful and displayed an interest is assuring that my order was taken care of personally. Well done!



by:

This breakaway kit has everything and at a great price



by:

Everything arrived within 3 shipping days, installation simple and clean. Even though it was by email, customer service interaction was extremely impressive, everything from order receipt acknoledgement through confirmation of delivery.



by:

was an easy install on a car trailer .



by:

Excellent web site and easy to navigate. Fast shipping and product was as advertised? Thank you!



by:

Easy to InstallInstructions are easy to read. Hardware that comes with unit is sufficient to install in most cases...



by:

like i said before i will never go anywhere but e trailer to buy parts.once again excellent all around....



by:

This brake away looks well made.



by:

Great service, quality product with good instructions



by:

Worked as it should.

Mark

7/31/2019

Nice unit,battery wasnt any good, never would hold a charge.



by:

Worked well!


25
64
Show More Reviews

See what our Experts say about this Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit

  • Do I Need to Replace the Brakes On a Trailer After Driving with the Breakaway Pin Pulled
    In order to see what damage was done while driving with the breakaway pin pulled, you will need to remove the hub/drum and inspect the shoe lining as well as any other mechanical components. If you indeed drove a few miles with the pin pulled then most likely you will need to replace the braking assemblies because of the pad wear. For this, the Electric Trailer Brake Kit part # AKEBRK-35-SA for 3,500 lb axles or the Electric Trailer Brake Kit part # AKEBRK-7-SA for 5,200 - 7,000 lb axles...
    view full answer...
  • Parts Needed To Convert From Hydraulic to Electric Brakes on a Boat Trailer
    I recommend switching from hydraulic brakes to electric brakes as this will be far more cost effective and easier to install than an electric over hydraulic setup. In order to covert all you will need is a new set of electric braking assemblies, a 7-way trailer wiring harness, and a breakaway system. The electric braking assemblies will need to be choose accordingly based on your brake flange, axle capacity, and hub dimensions. The axle capacity is usually the easiest to find and will...
    view full answer...
  • 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...
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Battery for Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit
    If you have a Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit like part # HM20001 then the battery can be replaced using the Breakaway Kit Replacement 12 V Battery part # HM20008.
    view full answer...
  • How to Connect Breakaway Kit to Trailer Wiring Harness
    Thank you for all of the information! One of the common misconceptions with trailer wiring is that you just match up the colors so you are definitely not alone in that regards and I'm glad that you were able to correct the issue. Connecting your trailer brakes to a breakaway kit like part # HM20001 can be a little confusing as well if you aren't familiar with it but we are here to help. I am attaching a few pictures to show how your trailer breakaway wiring needs to be connected along...
    view full answer...
    Image 1 for Image 2 for
  • Can 12V Feed from Vehicle 7-Way Overcharge Trailer Battery
    You don't need to install any other parts in line with your 12V trailer battery line. Because the current being sent through the 7 pin power wire is so low, it acts more like a trickle charge to simply keep your battery topped off. It is not powerful enough to actually provide a full charge to your trailer battery, so it couldn't overcharge it even during a long trip. The Breakaway Kit Battery Charger # 20011 is used to prevent overcharging the smaller battery in a breakaway kit, like...
    view full answer...
  • How to Reset the Hopkins Trailer Break-Away Kit with Charger # HM20001
    You are correct. The system does not have to be reset electrically to allow for normal trailer operation. Instead, like you said, the pin, or what separates the contacts, needs to be put back into place. What happens is, if the trailer detaches from the tow vehicle, the mechanism separating the pins is pulled out. This allows the contacts to touch which in turn engages the break away system to stop the trailer.
    view full answer...
  • Can a Breakaway System and Brake Controller be Installed at Same Time on 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan
    You can have both a brake controller and a breakaway system since they serve 2 different functions. A brake controller, which may be required by law in your area (check local and state laws) will apply the trailer brakes when you apply the tow vehicle brakes. A breakaway system only applies the brakes should the trailer become uncoupled from the tow vehicle. In many states a breakaway system is also required by law. The breakaway system needs to be able to apply the trailer brakes on full...
    view full answer...
  • Does Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kit Come With Mounting Hardware
    The Bright Way Trailer Breakaway Kit with Switch, 12V, 5-Amp-Hour Battery, and Charger # 3802339 does not come with mounting hardware; you would need to supply your own self-tapping screws from a local hardware store. If you were looking for a breakaway kit that did come with mounting hardware, I recommend the Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Side Load # HM20001. This comes with self-tapping screws as well as U-bolts so you could mount it to your jack post...
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Battery for Hopkins Breakaway Kit # HM20001
    Since you have the Hopkins breakaway kit part # HM20001 the correct replacement battery would be the part # HM20008.
    view full answer...
  • Will a Breakaway Kit Damage the Brake Controller if Tested with the Trailer Connected
    I would disconnect the connector before testing so that you do not back feed power to the Prodigy controller. This is the best way to ensure there is no damage to the controller and to be sure the breakaway system is functioning properly. The breakaway is designed to work when the trailer has detached from the vehicle so the electrical connection would be severed. Most Brake controllers are protected from back feed so if you did test the breakaway with the trailer connected you should...
    view full answer...
  • Converting From Surge to Electric Brakes on a Boat Trailer with 5,200 Lb Axle
    It sounds like you are trying to replace the surge brakes you have on your trailer now with a set of electric brakes. If that is the case then you will not have any issues with submerging the electric braking assemblies in water. The majority of newer boat trailers even come with electric braking assemblies from the factory. However, you will need to unplug the trailer connector before launching the boat. There won't be any issues with your factory trailer brake controller in regards to...
    view full answer...
  • How To Add Electric Brakes to a 1995 Coleman Stony Creek Trailer
    In order to add electric drum brakes to your trailer you will need braking assemblies, hubs/drums, trailer wiring, and a breakaway kit. I was able to cross reference all of the parts in the photo you have attached and attached these for you below. Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit - part # 23-47-48 Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly - part # 8-257-5UC3-EZ (2) ***Replace Included Grease Seal with Redline Grease Seal part # 13194 Trailer Wiring 7-Way Upgrade Kit - part # HS381-9000 Hopkins...
    view full answer...
    Image 1 for
  • Trailer Build With Timbren & Dexter Components
    I went to our warehouse and pulled these Timbren Heavy-Duty Axle-Less Trailer Suspension - 4" Lift Spindle - Regular Tires - 3,500 lbs # ASR35HDS05 to measure the spindle for the right hub and drum. You have a couple of options to choose from but the 3,500lb Dexter hub and drum will not work with the Timbren because the heavy duty spindles of the Timbren will not fit the bearings of the Dexter hub. The Timbrens are meant for larger hubs and larger wheels. There aren't any hubs with...
    view full answer...
  • Can Trailer Brakes Lock Up if a Breakaway System has a Dead Battery
    No, if the breakaway battery on the trailer is dead and the pin is pulled out of the switch then no power would be sent to the trailer brakes and they would not lock up. If they do lock up then the brakes must be getting power from another source or the battery isn't dead. I recommend checking the wiring for shorts and corrosion and fix any pinched or damaged wires as needed. If you suspect the breakaway system is bad I recommend replacing it. One of the most popular systems we carry is...
    view full answer...
  • Does Trailer Breakaway Battery have to be Charged for Truck to Sense Trailer Connection
    The breakaway system battery is not related to whether or not your truck will sense a trailer connection. It actually will look for the slight amperage draw that brake magnets create to determine this. While I strongly recommend waiting to have your breakaway battery fully charged before towing your vehicle will see a connection whether it is or not.
    view full answer...
  • How Much Force does it Take to Pull the Pin on a Break-Away Kit Switch
    It is a simple switch, so brand compatibility should be a non-issue. When the pin is pulled, two pins are allowed to contact and complete the circuit to engage the brakes. Any switch should work fine. I pulled the Hopkins Switch, part # HM20010, to test it out. It does take a good tug to pull it out and close the switch. You should not need to use two hands, but it should not easily slide out. You do not want the pin coming out when you hit a hard bump. I would not repeatedly pull the...
    view full answer...
  • What Connectors to Install on Vehicle and Trailer that Use 4-Way for Adding Battery Charge Circuit
    You are going to have to upgrade your 4-way setup to a connector style that has an additional pin for the 12 volt circuit for the breakaway kit. On your vehicle you would want to go with the # 37185 to convert it to a 7-way. This will plug right into the 4-way and will allow you to run a 10 gauge wire like part # 10-1-1 through a circuit breaker # 9510 to the positive post of the battery. Then on your trailer you would need to remove the 4-way and install a # H20046. The brown wire you...
    view full answer...
  • Can Trailer Be Towed if Battery in Breakaway Kit is Dead
    Your trailer's brakes will not lock up from the battery in a breakaway kit, like the Hopkins Brake Master # HM20001 being dead. If the breakaway battery is dead there won't be any power supplied from the system and it wouldn't have any impact on your brakes. Your breakaway battery should be tested before towing. If it's dead then it will not be able to do it's job of engaging your trailer's brakes in the event your trailer is separated from your tow vehicle.
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Break-Away Kit for the Roadmaster 2000-1 Tow Dolly
    The Roadmaster Tow Dolly # RM-2050-1 does not come equipped with a breakaway system but you can certainly add one. I recommend the Hopkins # HM20001, because of how easily it installs. I have linked an installation video of the Hopkins Break-Away being installed on a trailer for your convenience.
    view full answer...
  • Battery Charger for Trailer-Mounted Auxiliary Battery
    A trailer breakaway battery charger kit like # 20011 will be needed only on a trailer that does have electric drum brakes and a breakaway system like the Hopkins # HM20001. For maintaining a trailer-mounted battery that supplies power to lights, vents, etc you can use the 12V power circuit in the 7-way connector. This 12V feed is carried on the pin at the 1-o-clock position as you view the 7-way socket. Please refer to the linked photo and article. This 12V feed has enough power to maintain...
    view full answer...
    Image 1 for
  • Theft Prevention Recommendations for a 5th Wheel Trailer
    You could remove your breakaway switch pin while your trailer is in storage, however, a determined thief will get what they want in the end. If he went through the trouble to break in and attempt steal your trailer, it would not be a problem for him to simply cut the wires from the breakaway switch. Cutting the wires from the breakaway switch would be fast and easy. Another factor to consider is that the battery will only last for a short time and it will drain completely. Leaving the...
    view full answer...
  • Breakaway Kit for Use With Electric Brakes
    For a breakaway kit with the use of Dexter 10" x 2-1/4" electric brakes such as # 23-26-27 (manual adjusting) or # 23-468-469 (self-adjusting) I recommend the Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit # HM20001. The reason I like this breakaway kit is because it has a built-in battery charger for convenience and because it is simple to mount the battery box, which you can do with either self-tapping screws or U-bolts, both of which come with the kit. I have added links to video installs of both...
    view full answer...
  • 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...
    view full answer...


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Info for this part was:

Employee Zack K
Video Edited:
Zack K
Employee Chris R
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Employee Robert G
Expert Research:
Robert G
Employee Patrick B
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Patrick B
Employee Michael H
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Michael H
Employee Jeff D
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Jeff D
Employee Jameson C
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Employee John H
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Employee Cole B
Installed by:
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Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
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Employee Alexander C
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Alexander C
Employee Brian T
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Brian T

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