Trailer repairs

[m7040]

The brakes on the 10,000 lbs equipment trailer are not working. I do not use it often and the F350 dually has enough brake power when lightly loaded but would want to make it legal without a lot of expense. First problem was the connections on the wiring were twist on types or crimp types and no power to the brakes and some lights. Flipped the trailer over with the excavator and fixed all connections under the trailer with connectors with glue inside and when heated with the heatgun they seal pretty well. Now checking each wheel to see what I find. First one had broken wires inside the drum for the magnet. Spliced in some wires and tested the magnet. It works now so 3 more drums to go.

 

[m7040]

Also cleaning up the connections at the trailer hitch. Added a connector box and in the process of checking circuits

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Yes I just fixed one with air brakes that we use with our Mack.

 

[ljjhouser]

Looks like the wiring is in conduit. That is good. You are right, get rid of those twist on wire nuts. I always wanted to convert my brakes to electric-hydraulic disk. Until I found the parts were $2500.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

When my PJ Dump Trailer was brand new, just off of the lot, I had to repair the factory wiring.

 

[John0829]

Same here when I bought my tandem new, used it the first time and all worked correctly, next day no brakes. Wire nuts were in place but the wires were barely stripped so the nuts were on the insulation. I replaced all the wire nuts with soldered and heat shrink.

 

[JimRB]

Back in the summer I noticed brakes not working so swell on my 30 year old trailer. The good axle brakes (I replaced the original no brakes axle 25 years ago after it was bent in a low speed spin out on the highway) started working with some fresh crimps. The bad axle (old mobile home one time use axle with brakes but without real backing plates) did not fix. I got a new axle with brakes and proper backing plates. Not working. I spent time running a fresh ground wire. Hours later I discovered a bad crimp connector. Anyhow now the trailer now has two proper DOT axles with brakes. Still those crummy 14.5 tires that do not seem to last long. But it does stop properly.

 

[Rebeldad1]

you need a better tire guy. I built a tilt deck and used MH trailer axles. My tire guy got me the best load rating and a long lasting tire.
No complaints.

 

[LD1]

Wiring is the most common issue with trailers and brakes/lights not working.

It's almost never the wire. It don't just fail unless it's pinched. Connections are key. And those heat-shrink butt connectors with sealer are great. You are on the right track

 

[m7040]

The tires on the trailer are mounted on a rim wheel without a center and it mounts to the drum with blocks on each wheel stud. The tires are heavy duty and required 110 PSI