Brake Controller Locking Up Brakes
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Brake Controller Locking Up Brakes
Hi,
I have about a 3200 lb trailer when empty. Yesterday I set the brake gain to 4 and everything was fine. This morning drove it about 20 miles with a small load and all was fine. Tonight when coming home with it empty, the trailer brakes started locking up just before coming to a stop. I had to turn it down to like 2.5 before it’d stop. The trailer was never disconnected during this time, and it’s not the first time it’s happened. It seems like the gain setting that works one day doesn’t work the next. Anyone had issues like this?
thx
I have about a 3200 lb trailer when empty. Yesterday I set the brake gain to 4 and everything was fine. This morning drove it about 20 miles with a small load and all was fine. Tonight when coming home with it empty, the trailer brakes started locking up just before coming to a stop. I had to turn it down to like 2.5 before it’d stop. The trailer was never disconnected during this time, and it’s not the first time it’s happened. It seems like the gain setting that works one day doesn’t work the next. Anyone had issues like this?
thx
7th Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 2
I have had the same experience with trailers after they are not used for a time. The drums can get rusty and the brakes will not be as strong. Once I've done some miles then I find the brakes on trailer are more aggressive and I have to change the brake controller setting. I have had it happen with trailers parked outside and inside.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 387
Likes: 105
I have had the same experience with trailers after they are not used for a time. The drums can get rusty and the brakes will not be as strong. Once I've done some miles then I find the brakes on trailer are more aggressive and I have to change the brake controller setting. I have had it happen with trailers parked outside and inside.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 4
From: Texas
Hoping not to come off sounding smarta.. but with only 3200lbs to stop, your truck will handle it fine with no brakes. As suggested, just dial it down til the trailer doesn't lock tires, back up when loaded.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 802
Likes: 197
From: Tupelo, MS
My experience with trailer brakes is similar. It does seem like the setting is fluid. For this reason I always do a few quick brake checks with the unloaded trailers to dial it in. More times than not it seems like I'm lowering the gain to prevent the wheels from locking up.
To answer Mud Doc I don't think that's a smart a response at all but I'm in the camp if I have trailer brakes that can be used to help stop then I'm going to use them to save my truck brakes for when I don't if that makes sense.
To answer Mud Doc I don't think that's a smart a response at all but I'm in the camp if I have trailer brakes that can be used to help stop then I'm going to use them to save my truck brakes for when I don't if that makes sense.
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 97
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From: Highlands Ranch, CO
Keep in mind the setting will also vary based on the road surface. If I'm towing my 30 foot trailer over paved roads the setting is higher than when I reach the end of the pavement and start down dirt roads. I even change it when descending long grades to take some of the load off the truck brakes. It's a good practice to do a check before heading out anytime the load changes.
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