I bought a new breakaway system that is rated for up to 2 axles with brakes. It has a 5 amp/hr battery. My trailer is a triple axle, so I need to exchange it. I started looking at systems rated for triple axles and they have the same battery. So...What?s the difference?
Triple axle breakaway kit?
- Thread starter coburja
- Start date
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Chakara
Well-known member
I think we need more info. What kind of breakaway system are you looking at? I've never built a trailer from scratch so not sure what the options are.....
-Kyle
-Kyle
It?s a 32? enclosed cargo trailer. It?s got brakes on all 6 wheels. It originally had a breakaway system but it was removed by a prior owner. My point is that there doesn?t seem to be any discernible difference between systems advertised for single/dual axles and systems rated for multiple axles. It would seem that the additional axles would require a larger amp/hour battery but I?ve yet to see it. So, what?s the difference? The system that I bought (but is rated for, up to, dual axles) is a Hopkins 20099
regval
Well-known member
Usually the 3 axle breakaway kit uses a 5ah battery (or larger) where the tandem axle (2 axle) only requires a 4ah battery.
One switch (breakaway) provides maximum current from the battery to all axles at once for a short period of time and you want the battery to be able to deliver max in an emergency. Stick with at least a 5ah battery. I use a 35ah battery normally found on lawn mowers since I also have lights wired in my cargo trailer and it gives me more work time if I have to load/unload at night and more than enough current to stop the trailer in a breakaway.
Also, my battery is installed in a toolbox attached to the trailer tongue frame, not a "kit".
One switch (breakaway) provides maximum current from the battery to all axles at once for a short period of time and you want the battery to be able to deliver max in an emergency. Stick with at least a 5ah battery. I use a 35ah battery normally found on lawn mowers since I also have lights wired in my cargo trailer and it gives me more work time if I have to load/unload at night and more than enough current to stop the trailer in a breakaway.
Also, my battery is installed in a toolbox attached to the trailer tongue frame, not a "kit".
That?s what?s weird...every kit I?ve looked at, whether it?s for single, dual or triple axle has a 5ah battery. The kit I?ve got is only rated for, up to, a dual axle and has a 5ah battery. I?ve actually not seen a kit with a bigger battery, yet.
regval
Well-known member
Sounds strange to me too, but my son-in-law runs the maintenance shop for a paving company and all the equipment trailers ( triple axle) that are used to haul bobcats, rollers and other equipment have this little dinky (IMO) breakaway battery holder "kit" with a 5ah battery. Passes DOT inspection.coburja said:
Here is one, I'm sure that it will perform just like all the rest. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Breakaway-Kit/Curt/C52042.html
HueyPilotVN
Well-known member
My Stacker trailer with 3 axles had the standard breakaway kit.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
You may need a lot of amps for 6 electric brakes, but the time period is very short. The emergency braking application is more like a starting battery than a deep cycle, so a high amp-HOUR rating is not crucial. What's the current draw on those brakes? 20A each? 20A x 6 = 120A for maybe 30 seconds? That only about 1 AH. The actual AH number depends on how it was measured the AH will be different is using a 75A discharge rate vs 5A-10A.
So, it sounds like I?d be fine using the kit I purchased. I can?t find any reason to send it back, as it seems the same as other models that decide to say they can be used on multiple axles. I looked for quite some time and never found a ?triple rated? that was any different than what I?ve got now.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
What is the kit besides a breakaway switch, a battery, and wiring for some number of axles? You just need a wire size (gauge) large enough to handle the total load at the switch & battery, plus same or slightly smaller wires to each axle to deliver the braking current. So there really is no difference except possibly the wiring harness.
