No brakes!

[Msmith2054]

Title says what the end result of my problem is.

Brought my TT home to do some cleaning and work on it, and failed to double check everything was hooked up correctly. Somewhere on the way home, my breakaway cable snagged something and pulled out the key, engaging the brakes. Thought something felt different as my truck was straining a little more than usual. Well, I was only about a mile from home so I kept going.
Once I got home I noticed a burning smell and thought maybe I had a break locked up, so I read the temp of all 4 hubs. 245 degrees on all of them. Uh oh.
So, after dropping the trailer and making all the hookups, and having lunch, went back out and noticed the smell was strongest at the nose of the trailer. The breakaway switch was partially melted and very hot so I snipped the wires to remove power.
Replaced the switch, now my brake controller shows a short when brakes not applied, overload when brakes are applied. Net results, no brakes on the trailer.

Where and what would be the must suspect cause? Controller wiring, controller itself, or the most likely candidate the brake wiring on the trailer?

[flybouy]

If the wire at the breakaway switch was melted I'd guess you have a wire melted and touching ground somewhere.

[chuckster57]

You may have burnt wires in the hubs. Time to pull the drums off and inspect.

[travelin texans]

Possibly burnt wires all the way to the hubs.
Also, you didn't state new or used RV, if used it may be time for new brakes after towing with them locked up. If so buy the preassembled backing plates, about the same money, all new parts & can get with forward self adjusting brakes.

[notanlines]

Something to look into when all is said and done. I think all the suggestions above are on the money. I also think that your truck should have had to strain hard to pull the RV with the brakes on full, and the hub temperatures should have been quite higher than 245 degrees after towing that far. Check and see why they aren't holding a little better.

[LewisB]

Something to look into when is all said and done. I think all the suggestions above are on the money. I also think that your truck should have had to strain hard to pull the RV with the brakes on full, and the hub temperatures should have been quite higher than 245 degrees after towing that far. Check and see why they aren't holding a little better.

100% agree with this^^^ If I try to move my trailer with the breakaway pulled, it won't budge...ask me how I know:hide:

[Msmith2054]

What is a good source for these? Guess I’m looking at a whole new brake system on my 2013 Laredo 291tg. Way sooner than I expected. This TT sat unused for 4 years in new condition when I bought it.

[MarkEHansen]

https://www.etrailer.com/ is a great place to start.

[MarkEHansen]

For example: https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Brakes.aspx - but you will have to get the size that is right for your trailer. Someone here can help or you can call them.

[ChuckS]

If it were my RV I’d replace the entire brake backing assy on all axles with new ones... gives you new brakes, hardware, magnets.. Id also yank the axle hub seals and replace inner/outer bearings and races with new ones...

And of course a complete visual inspection of the power wire to the brake magnets. The brakes are all fed from one source with each brake wired parallel

[chuckster57]

If your looking at all new backing plate assemblies, I would spend the money and get “self adjusting” assemblies. Well worth the money IMO.

[Msmith2054]

What a wonderful surprise! Pulled the hubs from both axles and found everything looking normal. Plenty of meat on the shoes, nothing burnt or melted in any of the hubs. On the inside of the backing plate is where I saw the source of the burning smell. The wires for the front axle brake magnet on both sides had melted at the connector and had become one with the backing plate on each side.
Cut off the melted sections of wire on each side and reconnected the green/black to each other and short has disappeared! I metered the wire from the front to the wheels separately and I have full continuity and no short to ground so I feel confident the remaining wiring is ok. Visual inspection of what could be seen looks fine.
Of course, I cleaned the bearings, axles and hubs of old grease and repacked the bearings and reinstalled with new grease seals.
But, I will take the recommendations and purchase new backing plate assemblies with auto adjusters and replace them next time I pull the hubs.

Thanks to everyone that posted helpful hints and recommendations.

Now, where is that highway that leads to the lake.................

[LewisB]

Nice! It's always great to win one. Make sure to take it for a test drive before your next trip.

Thanks for the update!