US Gear brake failure

[Wilber13]

I use the US-gear tow brake to tow a saturn wagon. It worked great for about 1 and a half years. I called the company and they said the control unit went out. They sent me another one at no charge. This unit worked great for about one year and now has the same issues. I called the company to inquire what might be causing the failure. They suggested I check the ground. I have checked all connections with a continuity tester. All checked out solid.

Before I spend $95 to buy a replacement, is there any other reason why my control might be failing every year? I really like the setup. I prefer the mounted setup over the drop in 'box' approach.

Gas Thor Manor pulling Saturn wagon.

[GaryKD]

Hi Wilber13,
I also use the US GEAR system. My only problem has been with the umbilical cord connections needing lubrication and tightening about 3 times a year.

In addition to the ground, low or high voltage could cook your solid state board. Maybe finding another power source might help. Because it fails after one year, it may be the power source is zapping the control unit and after so many zaps, it fails.

When it fails, it the symptom that you have no "march of the red lights" when starting the coach? How do you know the system has failed?

[Wilber13]

The failure:
The red lights still march accross the coach control.
The vacuum pump still engages.
The brake servo undo the car seat quivers but only 1 in 5 times will engage and on the rare time it engages is holds for about 10 seconds and then releases. This was tested we someone in the car while I pulled the break away plug.

I also checked the voltage. When grounded you should get 2 seconds of 2 volts then 2 seconds of 3.75 and then the higher voltage (I forget the number). Mine had 1 second of 2.75 volts and then it jumped to 4.75 and stayed there.

My coach 12volt is linked (through a breaker) to the toad's battery and the coaches ground is also tied to the toad (via the cord). The USGear 12volt and main ground are hooked to the car battery (via a fuse). The control ground comes from the coach control.

[GaryKD]

Hi Wilber13,
Consider having your local auto parts store check the toad battery, under load. Also, make sure the umbilical cord connections are passing all the current. Other than that, I am not able to help you. Good luck

[wa8yxm]

On the US gear system, if the cables are proper. the Motor Home is providing up to 40 amps of electrical power to keep the towed battery charged...... You might check that line too. it can fail

This came in very handy for me my first trip out west.. The tail-light line on the motor home failed so no tail lights on the towed when towing.. I hit the parking light switch and let the US-gear battery Tie-line keep the towed battery charged as I drove and got it fixed oh, about 2,000 miles later