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 > Spare Break Away cable

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PApopup

Glen Rock, PA, USA

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Posted: 10/09/08 11:08am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Had my first fire drill with a broken breakaway cable. Some time in the last month, my FIL mowed around the camper and ate the cable. Snapped it right off. The rest of the pin was still in the unit. Of course he knew nothing but since we park it for free I didn't press the issue. Thankfully it is a low cost item. Just cost me a extra day's wait to bring the TT home to get ready for this weekends camping.

It did get me thinking that we could easily get stuck somewhere. When I purchased a replacement, I asked the RV center about it. They said that cables do get stolen quite often. Has anyone had their cable stolen? Should I carry a spare?


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4aSong

Northwest Arizona

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Posted: 10/09/08 11:12am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

First I heard of them being stolen, but it woke me up, having a spare available should anything happen to it (Stolen, Breakage, etc.) while traveling. I will be adding this to my toolbox. thx


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Posted: 10/09/08 11:28am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Stolen breakaway cables?


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colochoclab

Arvada, Colorado

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Posted: 10/09/08 02:56pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Maybe stolen is a little odd.. but how about breakage? Is there a way to bypass the system to get you to your next destination?

-Lab


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Bonefish

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Posted: 10/09/08 04:15pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I had to repair my breakaway cable once when it was pinched and broke in two. I used a cripping metal sleeve for repairing wire rope to repair it. The 1/8" wire rope can be purchased at any hardware store inclucing the metal sleeves to make the loop ends. If the pin is gone then that is another issue. The boy scout in me says you could probably carve a piece of dowell to shove in the hole to get you home.

Bonefish





LarryJM

NoVa

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Posted: 10/09/08 04:51pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

PApopup wrote:

Had my first fire drill with a broken breakaway cable. Some time in the last month, my FIL mowed around the camper and ate the cable. Snapped it right off. The rest of the pin was still in the unit. Of course he knew nothing but since we park it for free I didn't press the issue. Thankfully it is a low cost item. Just cost me a extra day's wait to bring the TT home to get ready for this weekends camping.

It did get me thinking that we could easily get stuck somewhere. When I purchased a replacement, I asked the RV center about it. They said that cables do get stolen quite often. Has anyone had their cable stolen? Should I carry a spare?


IMHO no need to worry about it being stolen and that is one thing I never considered have to carry a spare for. In an emergency you could just cut the wired and tape until you could get it replaced realizing you have not breakaway system and are probably illegal.

Larry


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tvman44

Southwest Louisiana

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Posted: 10/09/08 06:24pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

You could go to a sporting goods store, even Walmart and find some heavy stainless steel fishing leader and the sleeve crimps and make up your own probably for less lthan a RV dealer would want for a replacement.


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quabillion

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Posted: 10/09/08 06:52pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I failed to properly connect my cable one time.
At the next stop I saw it dragging on the pavement.
I had ground off about 8 inches of the cable, loop and all.

You can ruin one quick as heck.

I now carry 2 spare cables and switch paddles.


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Mi.

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Posted: 10/09/08 07:37pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I'd worry more about the switch paddles than the cable any stout cord would work till you got to a hardware and get the stuff to make a new cable.


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CRAMD

Saskatchewan,Canada

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Posted: 10/10/08 09:32pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I made mention of carrying a spare break away cord in another thread, so will only say here that there are at least 2, and I think 3, different paddle shapes which don't interchange. Make sure to get an exact replacement if purchasing a spare cord, or replacing an old one.





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