Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Towing
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-05-2019, 04:53 AM   #1
Jwiles58
Junior Member
 
Jwiles58's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Shawnee
Posts: 14
Brakes working correctly???

I have a 2011 Cougar 5th Wheel 324 RBL. I somewhere around 11k weight. I bought it used. The brakes have never seemed to work correctly to me. My TV is a 2500 Ram with factory controller. At 30 MPH on a dirt road with the controller set to 10 I can fully depress the slider on the controller and there is a fairly significant drag from the trailer but the tires do not lock up and slide. Should they? I tried adjusting them a few months back and they seemed better but yet no slide. Yesterday I replaced the brake shoes and repacked the bearings. Still no slide. I have tried a different TV and the result is the same. I can hear all 4 brakes humming when the slider is applied. Any suggestions would be appreciated and verification that the tires should lock up and slide. Thanks
Jwiles58 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 05:47 AM   #2
ddesh
Junior Member
 
ddesh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Huntsville,AR
Posts: 7
With that kind of weight I don't think you'd ever get electric drum brakes to lock up. On our 4 thousand pound mini light we had they'd never lock on that either.
ddesh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 11:13 AM   #3
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
The brakes don't "lock up" on my Cougar XLite either. I don't remember any "heavier" trailer that does. As a comparison, my flatbed trailer with no cargo on it will lock the brakes and smoke the tires. Add the tractor/snow blower as cargo and it won't lock the brakes.

As long as you're getting "adequate braking" to slow the rig safely in all but "ultimate emergency conditions" I'd say that it's operating within acceptable parameters. If you "rapidly squeeze the brake control" you should notice an immediate deceleration (trailer jerk) followed by a reduced braking effort (max power followed by "ramping down"). That's the way almost all electronic brake controllers are designed to operate. So, if you "slowly" apply pressure, you'll over-ride that "immediate maximum power application" (min power followed by "ramping up") and the brakes won't "start at max effort" but will gradually ramp up to full power (based on the controller setting, not based on max power), just the opposite of what happens when you "slam on the brakes" which is when you'd get "maximum instant power"....

I'd say, from your description, that your brakes are acting "normal"....
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 11:24 AM   #4
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,600
I agree with the above. Mine won't "lock up" either.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
sourdough is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 01:25 PM   #5
MSB1766
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Guilderland,New York
Posts: 43
Try to change the the brake setting to Heavy Electric, default is Light Electric.
Here is a video from youtube:
MSB1766 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 01:42 PM   #6
Frank G
Senior Member
 
Frank G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Dade City
Posts: 1,039
On the Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum there has been a lot of discussion about the 4 generation brake controller 2013 to 2018. FCA will not give out information about the software that controls the brake controller so several members have connected there electronic gear in an attempt to figure it out. The initial complaint from members was that at rest with the controller set on 10, "Heavy Electric" it would only provide about 6 volts to the brakes. They also found pulse's that they assumed were measuring the coil resistance (how many coils are in the circuit).
The seasoned transporters all agreed that above 30 mph in a heavy breaking situation the on board brake controller was effective. So... unlike the brake controllers of old where you could hit the brake controller and provide an instant 12 VDC things have changed. There is a lot of information out there if you look.
__________________
2021 Surveyor Legend 19rble
2017 Laredo 325RL
Travelers Rest Resort
www.travelersrestresort.com
Frank G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2019, 05:32 PM   #7
Pmedic4
Senior Member
 
Pmedic4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Illinois
Posts: 581
Brakes locking up

On my 291RLS fifthwheel (about 8500 pounds) they'd definitely locked up.

I had to make a quick stop in traffic, and surprisingly my DW and I heard the tires squeal and and smelled the rubber, while the truck didn't lock up the brakes, but assume that was because the truck has anti-lock brakes.

Overall it was a comforting situation, as it confirmed the trailer brakes worked well! Even though it was someone surprising as that was the first / only time we'd done it.
__________________
Ed & Mary

2017 Cougar 333MKS
2015 RAM 3500 HD with 6.4L

Pmedic4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
brakes

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.