Failed Trailer Axle Brakes ... Near Miss!

[Scozz]

Are electric trailer brakes adjustable? If so whats involved and how often? My brakes have gone from working fine to barely working after about 5000 miles of towing in the last two months. I found out yesterday that the brakes on my tandem trailler (dual brakes) were no longer working. The trailer and load pushed my P/U about 125 feet, fortunately across the yellow line, (with no oncoming traffic) so I missed the car stopped dead in the road after the blind turn! After I changed my draws /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I applied the trailer brake with the slide on the electronic control and they did next to nothing. I assume its a simple adjustment but have never openend the drum/brakes to inspect ... thanks ... Scozz

 

[johnday]

Scozz; Did this gradually come about? Or was it all at once. I find it hard to believe your brakes are shot after only 5000 miles. With the info you gave, I think I'd be looking for a bad connection common to all four brakes, or a bad controller, or even a bad ground which is quite common. Keep us up to date please.

 

[Scozz]

I didn't have time to dig into it yesterday. The trailer lights work so I don't suspect ground. It appeared that the brakes worked minimally when using the slide. Maybe I'll have a chance to dig deeper this weekend ... Scozz

 

[Egon]

Don't know what type of controller you have but mine is a Tecksona.

The setting up has to done on the level with the left hand nob setting when the brakes start being applied [ should show an orange colour ] and the right hand knob setting how much they are applied should show a red color. The lever or slide will apply the trailer brakes so you know they are functioning. This should be done any time you start out. The green light will indicate if all the hookups for the brakes are working and should only change for braking situations when it turns red.

Egon

 

[Dargo]

I loaned my trailer to some "friends of some friends", and I got it back with my fenders all crushed in and one tail light smashed. They told me that they didn't have the money to pay me for the damage right now, (you know, the holidays and all) but could pay me "$20 a month or so" for a while for the damage. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Yeah, right.

Here is the bad part. After spending 42 hours over the last 3 days clearing driveways, roads and pulling people out of the snow with my tractor, I developed a leak down problem with the FEL. The dealer said that they would get right on it no problem, but their trailer was broken. I loaded my L5030HSTC up and headed to the dealer. Guess what?! Not only did the guys that borrowed my trailer who tore my fenders up and crushed my tail light out, but they also managed to tear out the wires under my trailer for my electric brakes. I didn't have a "near miss", I had a direct hit! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Right on highway 41, a lady in a Mustang stopped in the left lane. Complete stop; because she said her windows fogged over and she couldn't see. The streets had frozen over again and there were cars solid in the right lane. I stood on my brakes, but without the trailer brakes helping, I slid right into her! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif My first "at fault" accident in 26 years of driving. I wanted to scream about her stopping in the left lane of a highway, but it would do no good. I hit her from behind, so I'm at fault. Period. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The only good thing was that nobody was injured, and there was absolutely zero damage to my truck. Nothing. Not a scratch. The two front tow hooks are what hit her Mustang. Her Mustang didn't fare so well. I pretty well crunched it. I have Progressive insurance. I've never had a speeding ticket (really!), and I've never had an "at fault" accident until now. I wonder if this will raise my rates? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I suppose I'll ponder that while I replace both fenders, both tail lights, and go ahead and re-wire my entire trailer tomorrow. Yeehaa. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I think it would have been cheaper for me to have just given my trailer to my new "buddies"! Having working brakes on your trailer does make a big difference. I know the hard way! It's really hard for me to not go out and throttle the couple of guys who borrowed (and tore up) my trailer. Oh yeah, Happy Holidays! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Inspector507]

One thought for the future.........I always check the brakes in the driveway before I hit the road. Now don't get your panties in a bunch, I'm not scolding anyone.......I just feel better verifying they work before I pull out.

 

[OkeeDon]

I have never loaned a trailer without it coming back with some damage or another. My fenders are beat to cr*p because of blown tires; I have never blown a tire in all the years I have been pulling them, and I currently have 5 trailers! Sometimes the borrowers have stuck a used tire on the trailer to replace the HD trailer tires I had on it; a couple of times they've returned it with a shredded tire and bent wheel. I don't know how they manage to do it. As for lights, I've gotten to the point where I keep them in stock.

Three of my trailers have brakes, 2 of them have brakes on both axles, so that's a total of 10 axles of brakes. I've never had any of them fade on me if the linings are still good. The only thing I can think of is that something was causing your brakes to drag and they wore out prematurely. The first thing I would do is pull the drums and see if there is still lining on the shoes.

Have any of you converted from drum brakes to disc brakes? I've got work to do on each of the trailers (such as the fenders), and I've been thinking about converting them while they're in for repair.

 

[johnday]

Don; Those are good reasons why I don't loan out my trailers to anyone but my brother [only one of them tho] and my best buddy. Anytime someone asks, I tell them I'll haul it for them. Most guys I know don't really have pickups to haul things with like they think they can. You know the kind, "Dad hauls a 32' fifth wheel, 18K, and that with his F-150" Those guys definetly don't drag a trailer of mine! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DDT]

If your controller is bad, here is the best you can get. I used to burn one out every two years, but no more. Once you set it, it is set loaded or empty on many different trailers. So far I have not had any close calls since I installed it, for me it works every time, expensive but well worth it in my book.
http://www.brakesmart.net/

 

[bobodu]

Couple of months back,a fella up the highway a piece jambed on his brakes while pulling a trailer full of broken up concrete.Don't know if he was aware of the DOT sitting in the median or not..but he picked a bad spot to have the trailer brakes fail...he got pushed around halfway to August...and I shook for half an hour!!!