Escapees January-February 2024

mark, my words

Your RV Questions By MARK NEMETH #45776, Escapees Technical Advisor Send your questions via e-mail to techquestions@escapees.com

Electric Brake Problem

do a quick check of the wiring, with the trailer umbilical cord plugged in, have someone activate the trailer brakes manually at the controller and check for voltage present on the brake wiring where it enters the back of each brake assembly on the trailer axle. To do this, you can use either a meter or a test light. There will be two wires; one should be tied to chassis ground and one should carry the voltage from the brake controller. It may also be possible to listen at each wheel while someone applies the trailer brakes. You should hear a “clack” sound when the energized magnet contacts the inner brake drum when the brakes are applied. If power and ground is not getting to the brakes, then you will have to trace out the wiring to fi nd where the problem lies. If everything appears to be electrically correct, then it is time to pull the wheels and hubs and inspect the brakes for excessive wear or adjustment problems. If this sounds outside of your mechanical comfort zone, most trailer sales and service businesses can trouble shoot and fi x the problem.

Q. I have a pop-up camper with electric brakes. Recently, it felt like the brakes weren’t working right. I tested the emergency brakes plug at the front of the camper and, when I pulled the plug, I was able to pull the camper with the wheels turning just fi ne. I took it to a dealer to get it checked and fi xed. They performed a diagnostic and told me the brakes were pulling six amps. That was all they did. I got a trailer emulator plug and checked that everything was coming from my car correctly, but I still don’t think the brakes are working. What else can I do to make sure they work properly? David A. Hitch up the trailer, drive forward slowly and apply the trailer brakes manually from the brake controller. You can also jack up one wheel at a time and try turning it by hand while applying the brakes at the controller. If you cannot feel any grab at all, then there is either a problem in the wiring, or the brakes themselves are either out of adjustment or mechanically worn out. To

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