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Brake wire check

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Old Jun 29, 2016 | 08:09 AM
  #1  
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From: Itinerant
Brake wire check

As the tile says, just a reminder to maybe crawl under and look at the wires.



I've been off road a lot lately with the rig and figured better look at suspension and notice the back wire on the driver side was cut, it looks like the wire got pinched in the springs/ shackle area. A quick easy fix. Just passing it on seeing we're in the camping season.
 
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Old Jun 29, 2016 | 09:34 AM
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good reminder to check those wires.
 
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Old Jun 29, 2016 | 09:45 AM
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Wires? I don't need no stinking wires!
 
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Old Jun 29, 2016 | 09:53 AM
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That's the problem with these big trucks. They do so much of the stopping without the towable brakes, if you lose part of them, there is no way to tell by feel.

Steve
 
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Old Jun 29, 2016 | 01:04 PM
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Steve you're correct. I would have never known that the brake on the trailer wasn't working. The 6.7 drw with tow haul and engine brake on does a great job of slowing the trailer down on the grades.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2016 | 11:02 AM
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I found a couple of my wires were clean from rubbing on the frame and suspension. I spiral wrapped them all and moved them away from the offending surfaces. I think most rv trailers have some future shorts pending from bad wire routing and the poor quality of the wire insulation.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2016 | 11:36 AM
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I often use split loom to protect mine.

Steve
 
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Old Jun 30, 2016 | 01:32 PM
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I was going to but couldn't find it in my truck. I put electrical tape where the wire touched or could rub the frame.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2016 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Good listener
I think most rv trailers have some future shorts pending from bad wire routing and the poor quality of the wire insulation.

I have to agree. I can't get over the fact that my $5k dump trailer has a nice sealed wiring harness, yet the $30k camper has bare wires strung directly over the steel crossmembers with no protection. I need to get under there and wrap it all in loom before it becomes an issue. But even the best can have issues................been chasing very intermittent no brakes, "trailer disconnected", and "wiring fault" with the dump. Going to rebush the suspension and repack all the bearings shortly, maybe I'll find something in one of the drums.
 
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Old Jul 6, 2016 | 12:41 PM
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last year I went from a 1500 Dodge and a 3k travel trailer. to a F 250 and a 8k trailer (both used).. different sellers.


anyway.. because of my check list on the trailer from a dealer was checked and was not done... I checked everything on my checklist... first was the brakes and bearings...
3 of the 4 brakes were destroyed.. returned trailer to dealership and 3 days later 4 new sets of brakes. but YES.. I could not feel the trailer pushing the F 250... with only 1 trailer brake working.


and YES I did use the paddle on the brake controller at the dealership before departing the lot.. trailer did stop the truck and the Ford brake controller reported No trouble..


I make it a practice of AFTER connecting the trailer and ready to move the rig.. is use paddle to make sure the trailer brakes are working and I DID plug in the trailer cord..


in the 1980's I had a little popup and pulled it by a motorcycle .. next day install electric brakes on little trailer... as bike did not have the weight or size of brakes to do without trailer brakes.
 
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Old Mar 10, 2017 | 09:31 AM
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It's going to be the beginning of the season for some or as soon as your snow melts check your braking and suspension system/ tires.

I was crawling under the rig looking things over before heading to a new location and noticed the brake wire I fixed last year starting to get pinched again and needing repair and another way to hang it. Also it's going to be time for the heavy duty shackle upgrade I see that mine are starting to get oblong where the bolts go through the outside plate.

Heavy Duty Shackle Kit Upgrade - MORryde Products

Safe travels
 
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Old Mar 10, 2017 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by scraprat
It's going to be the beginning of the season for some or as soon as your snow melts check your braking and suspension system/ tires.

I was crawling under the rig looking things over before heading to a new location and noticed the brake wire I fixed last year starting to get pinched again and needing repair and another way to hang it. Also it's going to be time for the heavy duty shackle upgrade I see that mine are starting to get oblong where the bolts go through the outside plate.

Heavy Duty Shackle Kit Upgrade - MORryde Products

Safe travels
That's a great kit. Half of the factory plastic bushings on my 5er where severely worn. If you unit squeaks like a banshee at low speeds like turning or backing up you need to check your bushings and pins. Get lubeable pins and bushings.
 
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Old Mar 10, 2017 | 09:13 PM
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I usually inspect wheels and tires and take a quick look under the trailer every time I stop for gas or before setting off in the morning. One time we were in the PNW coming back home to Ontario & I did my usual morning look around and under the rv, and found one set of the brake wires had broken that wasn't broken the day before. It was the first wires that came into the axles, did a quick fix and set out, then the trucks display threw up a message that in effect said the brake wiring was mixed up. Turned out I had crosswired them, so I re-wired and went on our way. It's a good thing I checked or we probably wouldn't have had trailer brakes coming down through the mountains.
 
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