RE: Trailer brake problem

[Chez Way]

 
Help! Anyone here know about trailer brakes? We had to turn around and come home tonight because they were grabbing so hard. We tried re-calibrating the brake controller and that didn t work. We also switched tow vehicles. No one was in fireside chat so I thought I d check here.
 
 
 

[AustinBoston]

 Chez Way
Grabbing brakes can be caused by a variety of things.
 
 First, what kind of controller (brand & model) are you using?  Some can be difficult to adjust, and if we have more info, we might be able to help there.
 
 Second, have you recently had the bearings repacked?  Grease on the drums, shoes, or magnets can cause the brakes to be grabby.
 
 Third, in extreme situations, they can be grabby if the drums have somehow become out of round.
 
 Fourth, it s not unusual for electric brakes to become more effective as they warm up.  It typically only takes them 5-10 minutes of steady driving to warm up, but if you adjust the controller as soon as you drive out of the driveway, then ten minutes down the road they might become grabby.
 
 Austin

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

 Chez Way
Goto www.tekonsha.com and use their troubleshooting guide.

[Chez Way]

 Chez Way
We found out what was wrong with the brakes on our 2002 Coleman Mesa.  DH took it in to Eckhart s (where we originally had the brake controller installed) and found out that the wires in the trailer plug were the culprit. The loose wires caused a short in the plug and made the brakes malfunction.  The wires were tightened and vaaahlaaah!  All was well.  Just wanted to share this bit of info because we were saved a 30 mile trip to the Coleman dealer by the good people at Eckhart s.  
 
 By the way, we still got to go camping this past weekend.  On Saturday morning, we detached the brake wires and just used the lights.  No rain in San Diego and we enjoyed the 90 degree swimming pools!  Our pop up was definitely in the minority...we were surrounded by the big diesel pushers.  We are ready for our next trip1