6 Best Breakaway Kits For Fifth Wheel Towing That Nomads Swear By

Imagine cruising down a steep mountain pass when, in a horrifying instant, your fifth wheel unhitches from your truck. This isn’t just a bad dream; it’s a catastrophic failure that a small, often-overlooked device is designed to handle. A breakaway kit is your last line of defense, the one piece of gear that can prevent your rolling home from becoming an unstoppable, unguided missile.

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Why a Reliable Breakaway Kit is Non-Negotiable

A breakaway kit is a simple but brilliant safety system. It consists of a small battery-powered box on your trailer, a switch, and a cable that connects from that switch to your tow vehicle. If the trailer ever detaches completely, the pin gets pulled from the switch, which then sends power from the onboard battery directly to the trailer’s electric brakes, locking them up.

This isn’t just a "nice-to-have" gadget; it’s a legal requirement in most states for trailers over a certain weight. But beyond the law, it’s about responsibility. Your fifth wheel isn’t just a trailer; it’s your home, and when it’s rolling down the highway, you’re responsible for every pound of it. A failed hitch is rare, but the consequences are devastating—not just for your property, but for anyone else on the road.

Think of it like a seatbelt. You hope you never need it, but you’d never drive without it. A cheap, unreliable, or unmaintained breakaway kit is like having a frayed seatbelt. It provides a false sense of security that will vanish the moment you actually need it to work.

Tekonsha 2028-P Shur-Set III: Industry Standard

When you talk to seasoned RV techs or full-time nomads, the name Tekonsha comes up again and again. The Shur-Set III is the workhorse of the breakaway world for a reason: it’s built to last and it just plain works. There are no fancy bells and whistles here, just rock-solid, proven engineering.

The heart of its reliability is its construction. It features a heavy-duty polymer case that protects the battery and charger from the elements, resisting rust and corrosion far better than the cheap metal boxes you often see. This is crucial for a component that lives on the trailer’s pin box, exposed to rain, road salt, and grime. It’s the kind of set-it-and-forget-it gear we love.

While it lacks a built-in battery tester, its reputation is built on decades of dependable performance. Many RVs, including high-end fifth wheels, come with a Tekonsha kit from the factory. If you’re looking for a direct replacement or an upgrade you can trust without question, this is the industry’s gold standard.

Hopkins 20400 Engager with LED Battery Test

The single biggest point of failure in any breakaway system is a dead battery. The Hopkins 20400 Engager directly addresses this problem with a simple, brilliant feature: a push-to-test button with integrated LEDs. This lets you see the battery’s status—Charged, Re-Charge, or Charging—at a glance.

For a nomad, this is more than a convenience; it’s a critical part of your pre-trip checklist. Instead of having to pull the pin and check if the wheels lock (a test you should still do occasionally), you can get an instant confidence boost right at the pin box. It removes the guesswork and makes safety checks faster and more likely to happen.

Beyond the tester, the Engager is a well-built unit. It includes a built-in multi-stage charger that helps prolong battery life by preventing overcharging. It’s a thoughtfully designed system for the RVer who values both reliability and the ability to easily verify that their safety equipment is ready to perform.

CURT 52023 Soft-Trac I for All-Weather Use

CURT is a giant in the towing industry, and their Soft-Trac I breakaway kit shows why. The standout feature is the coiled breakaway cable. Unlike traditional straight cables that can drag on the ground, get caught on the hitch, or get tangled up, the coiled design keeps it neat and out of the way.

This isn’t just about aesthetics. A cable that drags on the pavement will eventually fray and fail. One that gets pinched in the hitch mechanism can be damaged or cause a false activation. The Soft-Trac’s coiled cable solves these common problems, making it a more durable and reliable option for people who are hooking and unhooking frequently.

The kit itself is built for exposure to the elements. The weather-resistant case and reliable internal components are what you’d expect from a brand like CURT. This is an excellent choice for anyone who tows in diverse conditions, from dusty desert roads to slushy mountain passes, and wants a system that minimizes common points of failure.

Fastway ZIP: The Tangle-Free Coiled Cable Kit

Sometimes, the simplest improvements make the biggest difference. The Fastway ZIP system focuses almost entirely on perfecting the cable, the part of the system you interact with most. The signature feature is its coiled cable, which keeps itself from ever touching the ground.

The ZIP’s cable is also designed to be shorter and more direct, reducing the chance of it snagging on gas pump islands or other obstacles during tight turns. The included carabiner makes for a fast, secure connection to the tow vehicle. It’s a small detail, but one that simplifies your hookup process every single time.

While the ZIP is often sold as just a cable and switch assembly to upgrade an existing system, you can also get it as a complete kit. It’s a fantastic upgrade for anyone tired of dealing with a dangling, dirty, or damaged cable. It proves that focusing on user experience can directly enhance safety and reliability.

Bargman 50-85-311: The OEM Replacement Choice

If you look at the breakaway kit that came on your fifth wheel from the factory, there’s a good chance it’s a Bargman. They are a massive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the RV industry. This makes the 50-85-311 the path of least resistance for a replacement.

Choosing an OEM replacement means you know the mounting holes will line up and the wiring will be a familiar configuration. There’s no need to drill new holes in your pin box or second-guess the installation. It’s the definition of a direct, bolt-on solution.

While it may not have the fancy features of some aftermarket kits, its strength is in its ubiquity and known performance. It’s a trusted component that manufacturers have relied on for years. If your original kit has served you well for a decade and you just want a fresh one just like it, you can’t go wrong with the Bargman.

Bright Way BW20010: A Dependable Complete Kit

Sometimes you just need a complete, no-nonsense package that gets the job done. The Bright Way BW20010 is exactly that. It’s a full kit that includes the battery, the weatherproof box, the switch, and the built-in charger. There’s no need to source parts separately.

This is an ideal solution if you’re outfitting a trailer that didn’t have a system, or if your old one is so corroded and damaged that the whole thing needs to be replaced. The value here is excellent; you get all the necessary components in one box at a very competitive price point.

While it may not carry the same brand recognition as Tekonsha or CURT, Bright Way produces reliable components. The built-in charger maintains the 5-amp hour battery, and the system is fully compliant with all DOT regulations. It’s a practical, cost-effective choice for ensuring your rig is safe and legal without overthinking it.

Installation Tips and Maintenance Essentials

No matter which kit you choose, it’s useless if it’s not installed correctly and maintained properly. Mount the box in a protected but accessible spot on your A-frame or pin box. You want it out of the direct path of road spray, but you still need to be able to open it and check the battery. Ensure the breakaway switch is mounted where the cable has a straight, unimpeded path to the tow vehicle.

Wiring is simple but critical. The system needs a connection to your trailer’s 12V system so the onboard charger can keep the breakaway battery topped off. It also needs to be wired into your trailer’s braking system. Most importantly, do not attach the breakaway cable to your hitch. It must be attached to a separate, solid point on the frame of your truck. If the hitch fails, you want the cable to go with the truck, not the ball mount.

Maintenance is non-negotiable. Once a month, check the battery terminals for corrosion and clean them if necessary. Every three months, perform a full function test. With the trailer unplugged from the truck, pull the pin on the breakaway switch. You should hear the trailer brakes hum and engage. Try to pull the trailer forward slightly with your truck; it shouldn’t budge. This confirms the battery has enough power and the wiring is intact.

Finally, inspect your cable regularly. Look for any signs of fraying, kinking, or rust, especially at the connection points. A damaged cable is a weak link in your most important safety system. Replacing a worn cable is cheap insurance against a total disaster.

Your breakaway kit is a silent partner in every mile you tow, a small box that holds immense responsibility. Choosing a quality unit and maintaining it diligently isn’t just about following the law; it’s a fundamental part of being a safe, responsible traveler on the open road.