Brakes question

[Gobbledot]

With my new RSTS the brakes I don't feel are set correctly, the dealer claims that they test them by rotating them a 1/2 turn and if they spin 1 1/2 to 2 full turns that they are set correctly. I thought you tightened them till they wouldn't spin then back them off about 5 clicks. Am I thinking wrong or has my dealer not trained correctly? I have a new P3 brake controller and with it set on about 11 I cant lock the brakes up. I have checked the output at my plug so I am 99% sure it is in the camper end, anyone with some thoughts?

[norty1]

The brakes on mine will not lock up and I don't want them to. A heavy fifth wheel won't lock, at least I don't know anyone whose will.

Mine stops and I can feel it slowing me down when I activate the hand control.

[namusmc65]

Originally Posted by norty1

The brakes on mine will not lock up and I don't want them to. A heavy fifth wheel won't lock, at least I don't know anyone whose will.

Mine stops and I can feel it slowing me down when I activate the hand control.

X 2. I roll forward about 20 mph and use the hand brake controller to see if the brakes on the trailer are engaging. I don't know of any that will actually lock up on a large trailer. I have my Ram controller now set on Heavy electric and 4.5 on the setting. Works great for me.

[Gobbledot]

I can fill a little pull back at 20 mph but not much. I klnow with my other brand I had that when I was on boost 3 with it set about 8 it would shake your teeth out when you touched the brake.. What you all are saying makes me feel better with what I have..

[Jhowemca]

How old is the 5th wheel? How many miles on it?

It took my brakes a few hundred miles to "seat" and grab better.

Also make sure they are adjusted correctly. They should be adjusted until they won't turn, then backed off just enough so you can feel resistance but can still be turned by hand.

And make sure your wheel bearings are tightened correctly. My wheel bearings needed to be tightened after a few hundred miles.

Good luck

[Gobbledot]

It is a brand new 2016 model with about 20 miles on it from the dealer. i am fixing to take a trip so I will see how they hold out. I know they aren't adjusted like you mentioned, thats how I thought they were t be done. Adjusted till hey won't sign by hand then back them off about 5 or 6 clicks..

[Jhowemca]

Oh, one other thing worth looking into if nothing seems to be working.
If the TV is a few years old it could be the 7 pin trailer plug on the truck.

It was the last thing I changed to improve my trailers braking. It helped a little bit and was under $20.

With good seating of the shoes/pads, proper adjustment, and a good electrical signal they should work fine.

[Jarnae]

Originally Posted by Gobbledot

It is a brand new 2016 model with about 20 miles on it from the dealer. i am fixing to take a trip so I will see how they hold out. I know they aren't adjusted like you mentioned, thats how I thought they were t be done. Adjusted till hey won't sign by hand then back them off about 5 or 6 clicks..

I have the same thing, brand new and the brakes are just like you describe. My understanding is that with a new trailer it takes about 50 hard brakes before they 'break in' and start to break normal. It was suggested to me that on your first couple of trips from time to time manually break the trailer as hard as you can as you slow up to a light to help break them in. Over time they will grab more and you will have to adjust your gain on your break controller to adjust.

What's scary though is those first few brakes when it feels like your truck is the only thing stopping it.. just have to drive slow and leave plenty of room in front of you.

[schiguy]

On my most recent trip thanks to a tiny car that was in a bit of a hurry I had an opportunity to test my trailer brakes. I have to admit that the pucker factor was very high for a brief moment, but it did stop.

[Camping Grandpa]

I'm having the same issue on my new 321. I set the controller (factory unit on 14 Silverado) at 10 and I feel nothing from the trailer at 5mph. My old trailer would rattle my teeth with the controller at 5.
It was hauled all the way to Oregon from the factory so there's plenty of miles on the brakes. It's going in for a few warranty issues next week so obviously the brakes are on my list.
Chevy says that the trailer should stop my truck at 5mph when set around 5....in at 10 and can hardly notice any resistance.
One of the local service shops where I buy parts and UN necessary "gotchas" suggested that it could be that only one axel is getting the electrical signal.
I'll see what the dealer says...
.I'm not wanting to haul it around with only the truck brakes doing the work....just seems like a recipe for disaster.

[Krusegroup]

You will need to back the controller down after you get several hundred miles on the unit. The new ones seem to have a fairly long break in/seating period.

[Gobbledot]

I was underneath it the other day looking around and noticed that the Blue and White wires had been rubbing against the rubber on the tires and had stripped the insulation about 2". I taped it all up and tied it out of the way so I will see if that helped any.

[tharasym]

Originally Posted by schiguy

On my most recent trip thanks to a tiny car that was in a bit of a hurry I had an opportunity to test my trailer brakes. I have to admit that the pucker factor was very high for a brief moment, but it did stop.

Pucker factor... I almost spit out my coffee lol

[Jarnae]

Originally Posted by Gobbledot

I was underneath it the other day looking around and noticed that the Blue and White wires had been rubbing against the rubber on the tires and had stripped the insulation about 2". I taped it all up and tied it out of the way so I will see if that helped any.

Same thing happened on mine, I caught it during inspection though. I wonder if this is a general quality problem?

[aqua]

now I'm gonna have to crawl under mine and look too!
'cause it sure nice to have brakes when you consider how much weight is behind you