{"product_id":"caravan-breakaway-cable-coiled-trailer-lanyard","title":"RV Essentials Australia Caravan Breakaway Cable | Red 6 ft Coiled Trailer Breakaway Switch Lanyard","description":"\u003cp\u003eYou are hooked up, the chains are on, and then you notice the breakaway cable. The plastic coating has split, the wire has started to fray, or the lanyard has gone missing from the drawbar altogether. It is a small part, but nothing else on the van does its job, and most people would rather not pull out of the driveway without it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a \u003cstrong\u003ereplacement breakaway cable and lanyard\u003c\/strong\u003e for a trailer or caravan that already has a breakaway switch fitted. It gives you a fresh, clean connection between your tow vehicle and the pin on your existing switch, without replacing the whole breakaway unit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat a breakaway lanyard actually does\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA breakaway system is the last line of defence if a trailer ever comes off the tow ball while you are moving. The switch sits on the drawbar and is held in the off position by a small pin. That pin is tethered to the tow vehicle by a lanyard, and this cable is that tether.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the lanyard is connected correctly, a separation pulls the pin out of the switch. Removing the pin closes the circuit and allows the trailer's own breakaway system to apply its brakes using the trailer's own battery. The cable does not apply the brakes itself and it does not hold the trailer. It only pulls the pin. Everything after that is the job of the breakaway switch, wiring, battery and brakes already on your van.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you get, and what you do not\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou receive \u003cstrong\u003eone red coiled breakaway cable\u003c\/strong\u003e with a silver spring clip at the tow vehicle end and a split ring at the switch end. That is the complete item.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e a breakaway switch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt does \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e include the breakaway pin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt does \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e include a battery, wiring or a brake controller\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e a complete breakaway kit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e a safety chain and does not replace one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf your switch body is cracked, corroded or no longer triggering, you need a switch, not a lanyard. This part is for the very common situation where the switch is fine and only the cable has worn out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eExtends up to 6 ft, roughly 1.83 m\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe coil stretches out to around 1.83 metres, which is a genuinely useful length when the hitch sits well forward of the drawbar. Plenty of people run into trouble with short lanyards on weight distribution hitches, extended tow bars or long A-frames, where a metre simply does not reach comfortably without pulling tight on every turn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy the coil is better than a loose straight cable\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA straight cable has to go somewhere. Most people end up wrapping it around the drawbar or the chain, which chafes the coating, or they leave it hanging and it drags on the bitumen until it wears through. A \u003cstrong\u003ehigh-rebound memory coil\u003c\/strong\u003e takes up its own slack. It pulls out when you need the reach, then springs back and sits neatly off the road surface when you are hitched. There is nothing to wrap, nothing to tuck away, and nothing swinging near your tyres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eMaterials and connection hardware\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe core is woven steel wire, described by our supplier as stainless steel, wrapped in a red UV-resistant PU coating. The coating does two things worth caring about in Australian conditions. It keeps sun and moisture off the wire, and it stops sharp broken strands from catching your fingers when you are hitching up in the dark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe bright red colour is deliberate. It is easy to spot on a quick walk-around, so a lanyard that has come adrift is obvious before you drive off. The spring clip at the tow vehicle end clips onto a suitable anchor point on your tow bar or hitch, and the split ring at the other end threads onto your existing breakaway pin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility, honestly\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis cable is designed to suit many \u003cstrong\u003epin-style breakaway switches\u003c\/strong\u003e, which covers a large share of caravans, camper trailers, boat trailers and utility trailers running electric brakes in Australia. It is not universal, and we are not going to pretend otherwise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBefore you order, have a look at your own setup. Check that your switch uses a removable pin with a ring or loop attachment, not a proprietary plug, bungee or clevis fitting. Some brands use their own pin shapes and will only accept their own cable. If your trailer uses a mechanical override coupling with a cable that bolts to a clevis rather than an electric switch with a pull pin, this is not the right part. If you are unsure, compare your existing lanyard against the photos or send us a picture and we will tell you straight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eQuick check before you tow\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFollow the instructions supplied by your trailer, tow vehicle and breakaway system manufacturers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInspect the cable for splits, kinks or exposed wire, and check the clip and split ring are closed and undamaged\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfirm the pin is seated properly in the switch and the lanyard is clipped to a solid anchor point, not to a safety chain or a removable part\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck that there is enough slack for full turning without the pin being pulled on a sharp corner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTest your breakaway system the way its manufacturer recommends, and keep the trailer battery charged\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck the towing rules that apply in your state or territory, as requirements differ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemember this lanyard is separate from your safety chains and does not replace correctly rated chains\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOrder from RV Essentials Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe stock practical \u003cstrong\u003ecaravan accessories\u003c\/strong\u003e for people who actually tow, and we ship Australia-wide. This breakaway cable is covered by our standard 12-month warranty. It is a cheap part to carry a spare of, and worth throwing in the boot box alongside your other setup gear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile you are here, it is worth looking at the rest of your drawbar setup. Our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rvessentials.com.au\/products\/outback-electric-trailer-jack-premium-built-in-clamp-full-kit\"\u003eOutback electric trailer jack with built-in clamp\u003c\/a\u003e takes the effort out of hitching, and a set of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rvessentials.com.au\/products\/caravan-rv-wheel-chocks-pair\"\u003ecaravan wheel chocks\u003c\/a\u003e keeps the van where you left it once you unhitch. You will find plenty more in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rvessentials.com.au\/collections\/outdoor-living-setup\"\u003ecaravan exterior accessories\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdd the breakaway cable to your cart and get it sorted before your next trip.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"RV Essentials","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52875845730616,"sku":"B_AWAY_CBL","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0816\/1984\/5432\/files\/Breakaway_Cable_Connected_Between_Trailer_Drawbar_and_Tow_Vehicle.png?v=1788081273","url":"https:\/\/rvessentials.co.nz\/products\/caravan-breakaway-cable-coiled-trailer-lanyard","provider":"RV Essentials Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}