Posted 2007-03-20 9:41 PM (#57422) Subject: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Member
Posts: 44 Location: Montana
I have been trailering for many years and never had a problem with my trailer brakes. I now have a new Trails West BP trailer and I just don't seam to be able to get the brakes right. They work just fine but I just don't know what they should feel like in the vehicle when towing. Either they are really sensitive or my Brake Box is off. It worked fine on my old trailer. When I apply the brakes It feels as if the trailer is slowing the vehicle way to much or the trailer is stooping way to fast and I am afraid of hurting my horses nose. Any suggestions on what the brakes should feel like or what I need to do? Thanks
Posted 2007-03-20 9:57 PM (#57423 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 792 Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth
apply the brakes It feels as if the trailer is slowing the vehicle way to much or the trailer is stooping way to fast and I am afraid of hurting my horses nose.
Well....I am not pro. But could your trailer plug not be wired correctly for your new trailer?
Did you take your empty trailer out to set the brake controller to match the new trailer's needs?
You may want to do that. Is your new trailer lighter?
Posted 2007-03-20 10:06 PM (#57426 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Member
Posts: 44 Location: Montana
Trailer wire is corect, Husband is an electrition and works on alot of trailers. The traielr is the same weght as the old trailer. Did adjust the braks in the empty trailer and also when it was full as the trailer was not stoping on the empty setting. The bigest thing is when I release the brake I get a little jerk from the trailer like it was stuck.
Posted 2007-03-20 10:10 PM (#57427 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by Its all about horses on 2007-03-20 8:41 PM
I have been trailering for many years and never had a problem with my trailer brakes. I now have a new Trails West BP trailer and I just don't seam to be able to get the brakes right. They work just fine but I just don't know what they should feel like in the vehicle when towing. Either they are really sensitive or my Brake Box is off. It worked fine on my old trailer. When I apply the brakes It feels as if the trailer is slowing the vehicle way to much or the trailer is stooping way to fast and I am afraid of hurting my horses nose. Any suggestions on what the brakes should feel like or what I need to do? Thanks
Sounds like you need to adjust your brake controller to the new trailer. It should "feel" like your trailer isn't there. Then your trailer brakes are matching the truck's braking effort. Post what kind and model # your controller is... Perhaps someone can direct you on adjusting it.
Posted 2007-03-20 10:31 PM (#57431 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Newnan , Georgia
On most electric brake controllers there are two adjustments. One on front of the box to give a direct current the other is usually on the drivers side near the back of the unit this is the one of how fast the current is administered. Most people forget about this one but pulling different trailers often times requires adjusting this also. Hope I could be of some help. Ben
Posted 2007-03-21 12:15 PM (#57454 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
I've found that the jerk when you release the brake happens from the controller/brake pedal (I get a flash from the light on the brake controller)...... at least on one of mine. It doesn't do it all the time so it's hard to figure out what the problem is exactly.
Posted 2007-03-21 1:16 PM (#57458 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544 Location: Claxton, Ga.
This sounds like the normal time duration type brake controller. You always have to adjust it, slow traffic, highway speeds, wet roads, etc. The best thing you can do is get a new controller. A brakesmart is the best, then the Jordan 2020 which are not being manufactured at this time, or a Prodigy in that order.
Posted 2007-04-03 9:35 AM (#58384 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Regular
Posts: 57 Location: Red Wing, MN
Spooler, I'm having a similar problem with my new brake controller and trailer. Are you saying it's the type of brake controller causing the problem? The brakesmart option you mentioned seemed like overkill for me as I don't have many of the other things it controls. Is there another brand that's a good brake controller and does just that?
Posted 2007-04-03 11:06 AM (#58394 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544 Location: Claxton, Ga.
I don't have any of the other stuff it controls either. I bought it because it will make your combo stop as one via brake pressure. Not a an accelerometer or timing based unit. It works very smooth. I am very, very, very, happy I sucked it up and got a Brakesmart controller. If the price is too high get a Prodigy. It's the next best unit.
Posted 2007-04-03 1:30 PM (#58399 - in reply to #57422) Subject: RE: Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
I had that same thing happen and mine turned out to be a wire that had come loose in the plug. It would intermittently short out, creating the jerk and grab thing you are describing.
Trailer Brakes ,what should they feal like?
