Trailer brake adjustments?

[StansCustoms]

Trailer brakes are working, but it's smoking the rear trailer tires. Where and how can this be adjusted?

[450Donn]

Brake adjustment is a simple procedure. If you don't already know how go to an auto shop and pay them to teach you.

[StansCustoms]

The problem is not with the trailer, it's with the controller on the coach I think. Brakes on the trailer were working fine when it was on a pickup.

[StansCustoms]

By the way, the trailer has electric brakes and I'm assuming there is some adjustment somewhere on the coach.

[450Donn]

Turn the brake controller adjustment down on the MH.

[Jim Bragg]

Stan you need a brake controller wired into the motorhome. I undestand that the Tekonsha Prodigy is a good one, this is where your adjustment is fined tuned for your trailer. You now must be sending 12 volts to the brakes which would lock them up.

[StansCustoms]

I have not been able to locate any kind of controller in the motor home itself, but wasn't sure if something had been built into the wireloom, or installed in some out of the way place I haven't found yet.

It makes sense that 12 volts would lock them up. Will check to see what voltage I'm getting to them.

[bluepill]

Once you solve the problem, be sure to do a full inspection of brake linings, seals, drums and wheelbearings for damaged caused by the heat.

[Mule Skinner]

You have to install a brake controller.
Camping world can do this for you.
Prodigy is a good controller.
You need to adjust the voltage based on the load in the trailer. Full, needs more brakes. Empty and you will need to back off the adjustment for the lighter load, or, smoke the tires.
Easy to use when installed correctly.

Good luck,

Quote:

Originally Posted by StansCustoms I have not been able to locate any kind of controller in the motor home itself, but wasn't sure if something had been built into the wireloom, or installed in some out of the way place I haven't found yet. It makes sense that 12 volts would lock them up. Will check to see what voltage I'm getting to them.

[StansCustoms]

Thanks for the input. Will get it taken care of, just wasn't sure if there was a controller installed at the factory. Now I know.

[StansCustoms]

Well there was no controller anywhere under the dash etc..for controlling he brakes.

The above post were posted by my wife for me as I instructed her by cel phone on the road (in case any of you were wondering what was going on).

I had trailer brakes...but couldn't find the controller...which isn't the first thing that I haven't been able to find on this coach. The brakes worked when testing by hitting the brake pedal...but I didn't discover they were a straight 12 volt connection till I drove a few miles.

Using a test light at a Lowe's parking lot I disconected the lead that went to the trailer brakes... In a junction box that was on the Wells Cargo Trailer tongue.

I'm not sure where the 12 volt source originates...there are two wires in the trailer junction box that are brake activated..one for brake lights and one for the brakes themselves. I assume there is a relay that is activated by the bake light switch...but haven't had time to look for it yet. The actual wire going to the brakes is a 12 gage and considerably heavier than the brake light wire.

Anyway, thanks to those who posted ...sorry the questions sounded so hokey, but I was on the side of the road at Lowes...and headed to Florida with 24 hours to get there...my wife didn't repeat my cel phone conversation exactly as stated, but she got the message across....sorta

It's 2300 miles later now and we are back home in Texas. The Coach pulled like a dream...I barely knew the trailer was back there and it stopped on a dime without the trailer brakes the whole trip... So all is well...although I'm fortunate that I discovered the problem very quickly. I had just packed the trailer bearings and put a new set of Maxus tires and modular wheels on it. Scuffed the tires a little but no flat spots...thank goodness, good trailer tires tires arn't cheap anymore.

Best regards...

[Mule Skinner]

Stan,

The brake controller is like a variable resistor; it is adjustable and varies the voltage to the trailer brakes. The controller would be mounted somewhere that you can see it and reach it to adjust.
The wire you found that was 12 volts when the brake peddle was pressed would be the same wire that would be spliced into the controller and out at a reduced setting.
Check out the link bellow. Don’t be confused by all the stuff they claim it will do. Just buy one and have it installed. It is vary simple to use and if you have installed by a trailer hitch store or Camping world, they will show you how to use it.
And your right about the price of trailer tires!



Cequent Performance Products - Prodigy P2 Brake Control - Braking Controls - Camping World

[StansCustoms]

Thanks Mule Skinner..

I really thought that there would be a controller on the coach since the trailer brakes were operating when I wired in the RV trailer plug.

I was trying to get my wife to ask the forum if Alpine had some peculiar set up ...unlike those on my old wreckers or 1 ton trucks. Which she did ...sorta..lol.

Anyway all I need to do now that I'm back at the shop is find the wire Alpine has dedicated for the controller installation under the dash. (...hopefully that wont be a pain to locate) and splice in a controller like the Prodigy you suggested. That looks like a nice one...thanks for the link.

I don't suppose anyone has personally installed their own controller? Wire location and color would be handy if anyone has that info.. It would be really good if Alpine has a plug dedicated to the installation...but that's pretty unlikely I imagine.

Thanks again...

[Dunner]

I bought a used Prodigy off of ebay and love it. I ran a red 10 ga wire from the power distribution panel in front of the engine to the controller and a blue 10 ga to the trailer connector. The Prodigy works so much better than the Sentinel I had for my 5er.