TrailManor Owner's Forum  

Go Back   TrailManor Owner's Forum > TrailManor Technical Discussions > Towing and Hitching
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-22-2007, 01:30 PM   #1
grakin
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Excess Break-Away Cable Length?

When I connected things up the first time on my own, I found the breakaway cable was nearly dragging on the ground. I'd rather not have it snag on something, so I used a binder clip (normally used to hold documents together) to "shorten" the cable a bit but still allowing it room to move on turns. Does anyone have a better idea, or am I routing the cable wrong? (it goes from the breakaway device under everything to a hook on my bumper)
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2007, 02:26 PM   #2
Freedom
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

They sell little things called swaging sleeves at Home Depot or Lowes that you can shorten the cable and make a new loop for hooking it up. I think you would need the 1/8 inch size. I'll try to attach a picture.
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2007, 07:45 AM   #3
John Kelly
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Universal Solution

I use a a piece of duct tape. Has to be replced once in a while and let wire slide between tape on bottom.

John & Marion
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2007, 08:17 AM   #4
camp2canoe
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I use the same method as Leon - ratchet type wire ties. A variety of sizes should be a staple of your TV/TM kit. Another item to carry is silicone tape. There are probably many brands but I've had good luck with Atomic Tape. They have a website and make the rounds of boat shows. You can use it for plumbing repairs, electrical repairs and even temporary repair of a leaking radiator hose or tailpipe. You do need to be able to wrap it all the way around the object as it binds to itself. - Camp2Canoe
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2007, 08:59 AM   #5
Bill
Site Team
 
Bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,088
Default

I guess I'm not clear on how you use cable ties to SHORTEN a wire that's too long. Help me out here, someone?

Bill
__________________
2020 2720QS (aka 2720SL)
2014 Ford F-150 4WD 5.0L
Bill's Tech Stuff album
Bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2007, 09:30 AM   #6
Jubolo
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I use chain "Quick Links", to take up the excess chain.

Check "West Marine" under chain, then towing.

Run about $5.00!

Also Lowes and Wallys World!!!

Fred
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2007, 09:57 AM   #7
MarknMaqhi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I use cable ties as well... make a small loop or 2 in the middle and then use the cable ties to tie it together
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2007, 10:04 AM   #8
Freedom
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

If you make a loop in the cable and then tie it to itself with a couple of wire ties or duct tape you have effectively "shortened" the cable. I'll attach a very crude drawing. . . Not crude that way!
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2007, 10:15 AM   #9
Bill
Site Team
 
Bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,088
Default

Quote:
Another item to carry is silicone tape. There are probably many brands but I've had good luck with Atomic Tape. They have a website and make the rounds of boat shows. You can use it for plumbing repairs, electrical repairs and even temporary repair of a leaking radiator hose or tailpipe. You do need to be able to wrap it all the way around the object as it binds to itself.
This is wonderful stuff. As Camp2Canoe noted, there is no sticky layer on the tape - overlapping layers actually melt ("fuse") into each other, forming a single layer of rubber that is waterproof, strong, flexible and can't be removed except by cutting the entire wrap.

By the way, Ace Hardware carries this stuff for $2.29 for a 22-foot roll - considerably less than the Atomic Tape website. Ace calls it Rubber Slicing Tape, and they stock it right beside plain old vinyl electrical tape. Other stores may call it something else, but the important thing is to look for the words "self-fusing".

Bill
__________________
2020 2720QS (aka 2720SL)
2014 Ford F-150 4WD 5.0L
Bill's Tech Stuff album
Bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2007, 12:51 PM   #10
Leslie & Nick
TrailManor Master
 
Leslie & Nick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 380
Default Break Away Cable

I had to replace the Break Away Cable after the original was somehow severed in transit. Anyway, the replacement cable had a different plastic connecting device that connects to the break away switch on the trailer frame. Rather than hunt around for an exact replacement, I cut the old connector device off the orginal cable, and used the previously mentioned cable swaging sleeves to form a loop on the new cable. I used a vise to crimp the sleeves.

Nick
__________________
2002 TM 2619
2002 Ford F-150
The Camping Canines - Aubie (RIP 7/14/08), & Klondike, Zeke and Grace, Mocha
Leslie & Nick is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 2022 Trailmanor Owners Page.