GATJcampers
CA
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I was trying to adjust my trailer brakes with the brake controller the other day and came up with a question. In the instructions it states to adjust the gain up to the point where the trailer brakes would lock up. Then back off a little so the are just below brake lock up. So I set my gain to full strength and use the slide bar to apply the brakes. I was expecting a huge jolt and lock up but no lock up. I guess my question is is this an adjustment problem or an electrical issue? How do i investigate either problem? I am towing a 26' toy hauler with a 2007 Toyota Tundra.
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TowHaul
Ontario
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After making sure the connector is properly attached (check the signal lights), I would suspect the brake shoes need adjusting. You should be able to get lock up.
Does the unit slow down at all when you apply the slide bar?
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GATJcampers
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It slows down pretty good. but it feels like it could be a lot better. Adjustment brings up another question, when adjusting do you spin the adjuster from bottom to top or top down to bottom? Thanks for replies
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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What brake controller, some work MUCH better than others.
Also, how far did you drive TT before trying this? As I recall Prodigy had us drive a ways with lever a bit on to get rust off and seat shoes.
I know our brakes will not lock in spring until we've driven say 10 miles and used brakes.
Chuck
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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I agree with Chuck&Gail above. In addition, many trailers, especially larger heavy ones or those on concrete, will not lock up the tires because the brakes are just not capable of doing so. You should get a strong braking action though.
I would check the brake adjustment and then try locking them up on a gravel surface to see it they will skid the tires there. If not, then perhaps there might be a wiring problem or other problem with the brakes.
Many have found that re-wiring their rigs in a star pattern and/or increasing the size of the wire used gives them the braking they desire. See this post with pictures by TT forum moderator LAdams for information about this.
In addition, this post, also with pictures by member JBarca will help you get your brakes adjusted correctly.
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GATJcampers
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I have a Tekonsha Voyager. I live i a very warm climate so i dont believe the cold should be an issue. I also tried locking them up several times on my trip. I have brake lights and turn signals, I just don't know if the connection or transfer to brakes is "good enough"?
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WyoTraveler
Northwest, Wyoming
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I wouldn't want my TT brakes to be able to lock up. Once wheels are locked you are sliding and have NO control. That is the why they have the NEW style brakes on the new vehicles. The fastest stop is just before brakes lock up.
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halibutman214
Oregon
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Prodigy's are the only controller I've ever had and 3 out of 3 rigs will lock the tires up big time if I use the manual controller. I'm all for following instructions but not sure why it would say to lock them up. If you can feel them working you should be good. The max I've ever had on mine is 4.0. Any more than that and the TT is stopping the truck.
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Ron Gratz
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Some trailer brakes will lock under full battery voltage, and some will not.
According to Dexter Axle:
On an unloaded trailer, you may be able to lock up your brakes
if your electric brake controller is supplying full amperage to the brakes.
When loaded to capacity, you may not be able to lock your brakes
as electric brakes are designed to slow the trailer at a controlled rate,
and not designed to lock up the wheels on a fully loaded trailer.
Ron
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E&J push'n wind
San Diego CA, The best climate on earth!
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Ron Gratz wrote:Some trailer brakes will lock under full battery voltage, and some will not.
According to Dexter Axle:
On an unloaded trailer, you may be able to lock up your brakes
if your electric brake controller is supplying full amperage to the brakes.
When loaded to capacity, you may not be able to lock your brakes
as electric brakes are designed to slow the trailer at a controlled rate,
and not designed to lock up the wheels on a fully loaded trailer.
Ron
Sometimes your questions will be answered if you wait.
I was just about to post a question about this very thing and.., voi la, there it is. That's re-assuring to know cause I just put a new PII controller in a little bit back about a month or so and I just hooked up the TT yesterday and gave it a whirl. Followed the instructions that the manual gave and on asphalt, couldn't lock them up.
The new PII is marked improvement over the "No control" (HA true control) controler I had with the boost feature, what a difference in braking!
My concern was the instructions said to adjust the controller to just before wheel lockup and that just didn't happen. I adjusted the brakes (on TT) this morning to see if it would make a difference since our last trip coming off of a mountain brakes were used probably more than "normal" driving. They didn't require much adjustment which is good to know or an indication that the previous controller wasn't doing its part, IDK. We will see now with the new controller in play.
What I would like to see is the illustration of the "star" wiring diagram. I've seen it before, I wish I would have bookmarked it now. If I wait long enough I'm sure I will see it again. I searched for it but don't quite know what terms to use. I'll give it a shot under "star."
Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know much, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.
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