Bad brakes on a 2012 Keystone Alpine 3500 RE

[DBTUCSON]

My unit is just over one year old, I have told the selling dealer that the brales did not work properly from day one. They played around and did nothing, I called Keystone customer service, what a joke! ! ! ! I have had two trucks, a 2012 Ford F350 and now a 2013 Ram 3500. Both have the heavy tow group. The brakes where and now on the highest setting, 10. At 25-30 mph I apply the manual brake controller to the max, the trailer takes at least one-half block to stop. The trailer is not over weight at all. I have taken it to an independent shop, after they did an adjustment and a full cleaning, they say all electric readings are good, they say they have checked it with my truck and thier shop truck, there is a problem but they know not what. It would be quess work at best. And of course Keystone is no help at all. Just corporate double talk. The person I started talking with now will not return phone calls. Any ideas, or should I just sell it.

[Javi]

The brakes on these things are pretty simple. If you're getting the correct voltage to the magnets and the shoes are in good shape and adjusted properly there is really nothing else to "FIX".

I will note that a large trailer just isn't going to stop both the truck and itself on the preverbal dime. And most of the brake controller instructions will tell you "NOT" to expect the trailer brakes to lock with a heavier trailer.

My 2890RL Passport (7K pounds) will lock the wheels on loose gravel but not on pavement. You also need to consider that the newer trucks are equipped with anti-lock brake systems and will drive an older driver crazy until they get used to them. They just don't stop like the older trucks did.

[Jim & DJ]

Check the voltage coming out of the 7 way male light plug. Just replaced mine and what a difference........:cool:

[bartbill]

Check the voltage coming out of the 7 way male light plug. Just replaced mine and what a difference........:cool:

Just been reading the threads on issue. Just figured out my front disk brakes on my Ford (four wheel disc) seems to be doing most of the stopping.

So: could you expand on your answer above. I have a 28' Copper Canyon. Manual application at 25mph will slow the rig but nowhere near skidding the tires.

Any thought are appreciated

btw; just replaced all wheel bearings and adjusted the brakes . Brakes shoes are clean. Could it be the control unit. what about a bad ground? Brake lights and tail lights are bright

Best regards

Best regards

[bsmith0404]

I don't put much faith in the manual brake controller at max. I've had two different trailers that I felt just didn't have enough brake when I did the tug test with the controller at max, just rolled too easy although still effective enough to be a valid test. Then I had an emergency stopping situation in traffic one day, when I hit the brake pedal hard all 4 tires locked up on the camper. Another time the cable on the break away switch got tangled up and pulled out, locked all 4 tires in the middle of an intersection. The breaks obviously worked well when needed, but don't seem like much is there when you max the manual on the controller.

[Ken / Claudia]

The poster does not make much sense. Any shop that works on any car or RV will be able to fix any brake problem. What I cannot understand He took the RV and has had it for over a year with brakes not working correctly. Since he asked, I say sell it so, no one is going to be run over because you pull it on public roads without a proper way to stop or get them fixed. Who pays for the fix, Keystone, the dealer, dexter or you? The day after you left the dealer up to a year that would be easy to say, now, after a year, good luck.

[Festus2]

The OP, DBTUCSON, joined the forum on 07-26-2014 and submitted the above post on the same day. FYI, it was his one and only post and has not had any activity on the forum since that time - almost a year ago.

I think we might be wasting our time responding to his brake problem.

[bsmith0404]

Never noticed the date of the original post.....I was wondering how he had a 2012 that was only a year old.

[bartbill]

What was the voltage; what was it supposed to be. What exactly did you replace. I'd appreciate it if you could expand on your reply.

Best

Bill

[roadglide]

Interesting I have the brake controal set at 6 on my 2013 LML Durmax and can feel the lugging what else is there at 21500 GVW? I hope i don't have to lock it up where the Impact 311 burn the tires off. Driving slow, leave a lot of room for other vehicle and pumping the brakes works for me.

[jrhaman]

I had same problem in my 2011 Alpine. Took it to an axle shop and they found all wheels were so overloaded with grease they had to replace all the hubs. So much grease they could not be cleaned. Keystone agreed to pay $985 of the $1100 bill. Btw I no longer own a Keystone product. Problems with the Alpine were too numerous.