NorthernNeck,VA
Montross, Va.
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Joined: 03/10/2008
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My question is how tight can the brakes be tighten down to on your 5er?? This past weekend I was testing mine and when I use just the brake controller the unit will slow and stop but it will not totally lock the trailer wheels up. How tight can they be and how tight should they be?? I had the setting on the controller maxed out.
Jimmy & Kathy
Northern Neck, VA.
2008 GMC
2005 King of the Road "Royal Villa" 34BW
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camping man
Central Fla.
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Joined: 09/01/2001
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Jack each wheel up,and adjust the star adjustment nut until you can't spin the wheel by hand anymore, and then go backwards to loosen the nut about 8-10 clicks(not turns), and you should be set. When you adjust the star nut ,you pull down, to bring the shoes out(tighten) to the drum."down&out". Then go and play with your controller, they'll lock now.
05 Dodge 2500 Quadcab CTD NV5600/3.73rears
97 27ft.Sprinter 5er
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robbins
Sonora, Ca
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Joined: 12/13/2006
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Do what 'camping man' just said. Then as for a set #. the controllers are different. But, when you can lock them up, back off a # or two. You don't want them to lock up when slowing to a stop.
See 'ya on top
Keith
2004 2500HD silverado 4x2 extra-cab
265/75/16 Hercules tires
Reese 15000 Pro Hitch
2006 Gulf Stream 30FBRG
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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When you are adjusting the star wheel tightening it and the brake starts to drag hit the backing plate with a hammer a couple of times. That will center the shoes and may allow you to adjust more.
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210
275 RV injectors
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Jack_Diane_Freedom
Toronto Canada
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Joined: 05/11/2005
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You do not want your brakes to lock up. That reduces the braking surface to only the rubber pad on the road and you want the braking surface to be the entire brake drum. Far more effective.
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LEC
RDU, NC
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Joined: 12/17/2007
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Not sure what axle/brake combo you have but Dexter says on a heavy trailer they may not lock up and slide when you engage the BC. On my Jayco they will slide at say 5 MPH on gravel or dirt but just will not quite do it on dry asphalt.
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sbmowrey
DuBois Pa
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Joined: 11/10/2004
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sbmowrey wrote:camping man wrote:Jack each wheel up,and adjust the star adjustment nut until you can't spin the wheel by hand anymore, and then go backwards to loosen the nut about 8-10 clicks(not turns), and you should be set. When you adjust the star nut ,you pull down, to bring the shoes out(tighten) to the drum."down&out". Then go and play with your controller, they'll lock now.
This is a good suggestion but you don't need to jack the wheels to do it. I usally only back off 7 clicks after they are locked all the way out. This will have all brake shoes the same distance from the drum and allow for max braking. You should be able to lock the trailer brakes by useing the lever on the controler but remember the wheels need to be turning for the brakes to work on the trailer if you have elctric magnetic as the magnet attatches to the drum and it pulls the shoes to the drum when the wheel turns.
2002 GMC 3500 DRW 4x4 8.1/al
1993 40ft Spinnaker 2 slides/3axles
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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A lot depends on trailer wiring and braker controller. My Prodigy will lock the wheels on our Cargo trailer if even half way up. On our toyhauler the tires will chirp a lot when Prodigy all the way up, on pavement, but the wheels do not stop turning and just slide the tires.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
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Not yet camped in Hawaii, 4 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
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ALBE
Kelowna B.C.
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Joined: 08/30/2006
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You may want to take your truck into a dealer to see if your brake control is set up and or working correctly.They have a tester to check for amp load etc.Mine was not working correctly,once set up,the braking was unbelievable,i,m 22800 gcw,loads of braking power.
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ben1025
colorado
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Joined: 05/13/2007
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You need to adjust your brakes, which is not hard to do, just like camping man posted. The last and only time I had to replace magnets and shoes and turn the drums was over 20 years ago and it was $50 a wheel. I wonder what it would cost now?
On my previous fifth wheel, adjusting the controller, was a pain in the butt. I installed a 0 to 15 amp gauge in the power wire and it made all the difference in the world when adjusting. I would adjust the controller to draw 5 amps and it was adjusted. My controller now uses different shade of lite for adjusting. Works fine also, but a amp gauge would be more positive.
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