North Point Braking Issue

[JetTech]

I'm not convinced if it's the truck or trailer yet, as I've only got about a dozen trips on her, and this is the heaviest trailer I've towed, and the only trailer I've towed with this new Ram truck.I will say this: EVERY trip I've had, I smell hot brakes when I get out, regardless if there's been many hard brake applications. Maybe it's the trailer breaking in, maybe it's the truck working excessively hard, and I live in flat land where the only hills are overpasses! I've had the dealer supposedly adjust the brakes, but not sure if they did or not. But, I've got a new toy in my arsenal: I have access to an infrared-imaging heat gun. I'm not sure when my next tow will be, but the imager is going to be right there next to me. Give me a month or so, but hoping I can get some hard data that one dealer or the other can't refute!

[oldmanAZ]

I have a habit of walking around the trailer when stopping. It's low tech, but I touch each tire and hub. I never detected a brake or tire issue, but did find a bad bearing once before it got REALLY bad.

[Rock]

I always use a heat gun every stop on all tires and hubs. Last trip they all ran 120-130 except left rear was 30-50 hotter. That was anther CW non fix. Signed off jacked tire and hand rotates normally. I bold faced told them the tech was an idiot and if I had a bearing failure he would need them removed from where the sun does not shine.
Rock

[jsk]

My .02. We picked up our NP387 yesterday. There was room at dealer to get up to about 25 mph and test brakes. My first try was at 6.0. After a few runs I ended up at 8.5. It felt ok there and for the 200 mile trip home. The vast majority of the trip was interstate so only got 5-7 brake applications and they were comfortable. The tbc on my last 5er was set at 8.0 on a lighter 5er.

[klassic]

JSK...could you make the wheels skid? Even a little bit.
No way I can.
Even on full gravel
I can hold the controller trigger full, pull away and coast to a stop.

[klassic]

Btw, start a new thread about your new rig and give us the scoop. New model..I would love to hear about it.
Everyone knows it didn't happen unless there are pictures

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by klassic

I can hold the controller trigger full, pull away and coast to a stop.

On my '12 F-250 I have the gain on my integrated brake controller set at 9. A couple of years ago I was coming into a campground coasting about 20mph [no foot on the brake] and slid the manual side of the TBC and could feel the trailer tugging at the truck and stopped rather quickly. I repeated the process with the brake pedal and felt nothing.

[Jamie846]

I have never felt the brakes on the trailer have stopped as good as they should. Today I bypassed the factory brake controller and installed a Tekonsha P3 controller. Trailer is still at dealer ship getting yearly warranty inspection and few warranty repairs taken care of before the season starts. Soon as I pick it up will see if this corrects the weak braking on the trailer.

[jsk]

Originally Posted by klassic

JSK...could you make the wheels skid? Even a little bit.
No way I can.
Even on full gravel
I can hold the controller trigger full, pull away and coast to a stop.

Did not try to make the tires skid on asphalt. As I manually slid the tbc controller the trailer stopped the truck without the truck brake applied and even at a low speed it was somewhat abrupt. On the dash about 3/4 of the lights were lit up when this happened. Hope this helps some.

I may start another thread once I get some better pics.

[klassic]

Originally Posted by Jamie846

I have never felt the brakes on the trailer have stopped as good as they should. Today I bypassed the factory brake controller and installed a Tekonsha P3 controller. Trailer is still at dealer ship getting yearly warranty inspection and few warranty repairs taken care of before the season starts. Soon as I pick it up will see if this corrects the weak braking on the trailer.

I'm almost positive 2011 Rams have a well documented brake controller problem.

[klassic]

Originally Posted by jsk

Did not try to make the tires skid on asphalt. As I manually slid the tbc controller the trailer stopped the truck without the truck brake applied and even at a low speed it was somewhat abrupt. On the dash about 3/4 of the lights were lit up when this happened. Hope this helps some.

I may start another thread once I get some better pics.

If you get a chance, will you PM me a picture (or the number) of your axels.
There is a big white tag stuck on the axels.

[jsk]

Originally Posted by klassic

If you get a chance, will you PM me a picture (or the number) of your axels.
There is a big white tag stuck on the axels.

Yes. Will get it on a day when I get home and there is a little more light outside.

[Magnolia Tom]

I might have found the cause of my weak brakes. Don't know if this is bad enough to lessen the voltage or not but it is on front set of brakes and everything else is wired downstream from it.






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[Bookemdanno]

Based on those pics, I'll be looking at mine on Friday!

[jsk]

Klassic,the sticker on my axle.

[klassic]

Interesting.
Tom and I have the same year axel. We can't stop.
You have a different year axel. You can stop.
Yours has different part number

[PETERS]

Yes!

Have a 2014 31.5 RLTS. Tested amps/volts/wiring. Installed the next size bigger brakes. Have a 2012 F350 gain set at 10 never felt safe. Tried prodigy 3 same. Installed disc brakes and now feel safe and gain set at 6.5 and can lock em up.

Spent a lot of time and money should have done disc brakes from the start.

Happy Valentine's Day. Just do it you will be happy.😎👍

[klassic]

Originally Posted by PETERS

Yes!

Have a 2014 31.5 RLTS. Tested amps/volts/wiring. Installed the next size bigger brakes. Have a 2012 F350 gain set at 10 never felt safe. Tried prodigy 3 same. Installed disc brakes and now feel safe and gain set at 6.5 and can lock em up.

Spent a lot of time and money should have done disc brakes from the start.

Happy Valentine's Day. Just do it you will be happy.����

Need pictures Peters!!
Tell us more.
What kind, where did you get them, self install??? $$$

[Magnolia Tom]

Update on my braking issue....

I cut off the corroded wiring and soldered them together. Trailer stops much better now. Just pulled it 420 miles with a lot of stop and go traffic. Never felt pushed by the camper when braking like before. Gain is still set on 10, but at least now I can stop. I'm probably still going to pursue disc brake options.


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[klassic]

Originally Posted by klassic

Need pictures Peters!!
Tell us more.
What kind, where did you get them, self install??? $$$

I forgot about this post What happened to Peters??
Hope he didn't pop a brake line. Lol.

Peters come back and give more details about your disk conversion