Community Forums

baranski37 · 01-14-2019, 10:39 AM

I hate to admit to this, but wanted some info on the potential damage I may have caused. I am staying at an rv park in Fayetteville AR and my daughter asked us to watch her house for about 10 days. To save on weekly rate we decided to park 5er outside daughters home and just leave heater on.

Pulling out of rv park I must have turned to sharp and the breakaway came loose engaging trailer brakes. The trailer is a KZ Durango 380FLF 2019 with gross of 16K. I pull with a 2018 F350 SRW. Long story short i pulled trailer about 6 miles upto 60mph. A passing motorist motioned to pull over and I did and the brakes were smoking.
I thought things felt like it was pulling different, but it wasnt taking extreme effort to pull at one point truck upshifted to 6th.

I quickly pulled over after checking everything i saw breakaway plunger laying in truck bed. I reinserted then drove less than 1 mile exited highway and pulled into large parking lot. I let things cool for 15 minutes then drove 2 miles to my daughters place.

What would some experienced folks recommend that i have checked. Do i need to have brakes checked and or wheel bearings.

I feel dumb enough and already beat myself up about not catchibg this sooner. Since getting 5er last july i noticed the brakes didnt feel strong enough to stop trailer with gain at 10. It kind of convinces me that i should upgrade to disk once Im back around home rv park in DFW area. I may have to wait awhile due to the cost.

Regards
Ron

sk734 · 01-14-2019, 10:46 AM

Don't beat yourself up to badly. Things happen. At least their was no wreck. Have all wheel bearings and brakes checked out. Make sure you repack the bearings. Good luck.

Old-Biscuit · 01-14-2019, 10:53 AM

YEP^^^^
Need to pull drums and inspect shoes for glazing/damage, scoring of drum, check magnets for bluing/excessive wear/non-flat surface and wire damage PLUS pull bearings and inspect for bluing/overheating----new grease and SEALS

Varago · 01-14-2019, 11:33 AM

I would bet your at least in for new drums and shoes :( Might be a good time to check on disc brake conversion.

Dave

baranski37 · 01-14-2019, 11:47 AM

Where should I take trailer to have brakes and bearings checked? I’m a cancer survivor but have had right shoulder and left hip replaced so no longer able to handle myself. Trailer shop or truck/trailer? We live in it full time so would like to work it out the same day. Any idea as to expected costs? Thanks for all assistance
Ron

rubanr · 01-14-2019, 11:52 AM

Pretty much exact same thing happened to me and I went about 5 or 6 miles as well. I had to replace the drums and bearings but you'll have to take a look to be certain

jacknife · 01-14-2019, 12:25 PM

Just convert to disc. By the time you are done paying to fix everything you will spend about the same money. If handy you can install yourself for more then 1300 to 1500. Another 800 to 1000 to have installed . No magnets no wiring no problems . You will stop much better.

Old-Biscuit · 01-14-2019, 12:37 PM

Find a 'trailer shop'.....NOT a RV Dealer

No idea on cost...????

Daycruiser · 01-14-2019, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Find a 'trailer shop'.....NOT a RV Dealer

This^^^^^^

Have it all torn down and inspected by a trailer repair facility. If the Spindles are scorched it's pretty much a rip and replace all. Disc would be the way to go at that point.

Barlow46 · 01-14-2019, 06:35 PM

You may have already had grease on the brake shoes from a blown seal before all this happened. That may have been why you felt braking was weak even with a 10 setting. This happens more often than you think from over greasing the Ez-Lube feature for the bearings. If you add grease, use only a pump or two on the gun and make sure the trailer axle is jacked up enough so you can rotate the tire while adding grease.

mtofell · 01-14-2019, 07:17 PM

Forget the cost of the brakes.... that's nothing compared to what you are going to MAKE when you sell this story to Ford! "The truck is so powerful that I didn't even realize the trailer brakes were on!" I can picture the ad already

The guys here have you well covered with your question. I just wanted to chime in and tell you we've all done things like this before. I've driven off with jacks down, backed into things and probably worse that I've purposely forgotten. For some reason I keep coming back for more

grindstone01 · 01-14-2019, 07:23 PM

Just get ahold of a mobile repairman to check and inspect your brakes. Most RV parks should be able to recommend a mobile repairman that can do the job on your RV site without moving.
Whether you have drum or disc brakes, these things happen and both brake types would need to be inspected after a incident like that. Most likely, only 1 or 2 of your brakes were dragging and the other ones will be fine. If all 4 of your brakes were locked, you would not have moved very far, Ford or no Ford.

retiredusps6 · 01-14-2019, 07:39 PM

First if you go with the mobile repair.

CHECK WITH RV PARK HOW BIG OF A REPAIR CAN HAVE DONE.

Some only allow small or emergency work

RoadEyePie · 01-14-2019, 08:05 PM

If the brakes were "locked" would the wheels still turn, would the tires be locked and dragging? I would think that if they were, they would have caught fire before 6 miles or blew out.