Trailer Brakes

NotyetMHCowner · 05-08-2015, 10:14 AM

On our last TT, I was able to set the trailer brakes to where they would stop very quickly and hold the truck and camper when moving a few miles per hour. On our new fifth wheel, with the Ford integrated brake controller, I have it adjusted all the way to 10 (max) and I still feel like it isn't enough. If I let off the brakes and a complete stop, then pull the manual handle on the controller, it will take 3 to 5 feet to stop. Does this seem right?

I had read back when we first started camping, that you should drive around for several miles to get the brakes up to temperature. Then find a safe place to drive at about 25mph and pull the manual handle all the way. When the brakes start to lock up, then back it off just a little and now the brakes are set. But with the fifth wheel, I am not able to get it to really slam the brakes on like I thought it would at the highest setting. I am planning on taking off the tires to get balanced this weekend. While I am there, I am going to grease the bearings and make sure the brakes are adjusted properly.

Any thoughts?

gearhead · 05-08-2015, 11:43 AM

I haven't gotten the brakes to lock up on ours. I tried a couple times and quit trying. I'm running mine at 9.5 for some reason. I keep telling myself that I'll back it off in the rain, but I always forget.
When I hook up, I do the 5th wheel hitch pull test. Usually rolls about 1-2 feet before grabbing.
I wouldn't worry about it.
I do use a laser temp gun on the tires and drums when I stop for a break. Never noticed any temp issues.

cw3jason · 05-08-2015, 12:05 PM

From what I understand, on the self adjusting breaks, you need to manually squeeze the break controller 3 or 4 times to get them to adjust, then when you squeeze and hold they will stop your truck. A friend told me about this and I tried it and it does work. Kind of like pumping the breaks. They adjust and work fine after. Mine will hold on setting 8

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bobbecky · 05-08-2015, 12:14 PM

With the weight of the new rig, and having drum brakes, you will never get the brakes to lock up, regardless of what controller you have. It is good you are packing brakes by hand, the EZlube is pretty risky to use and not get grease on the brakes. Prior to pulling the drums, you should have new seals on hand. Your brakes are probably the forward self adjusting Dexter brakes, so, if they are working properly, you really don't have to adjust them, just make sure they are close to just getting the drum to clear the shoes, and within maybe twenty miles, using the brakes quite often, they will be fully adjusted. Trying to get the controller to use the drum brakes to stop, quickly, the trailer and the truck is asking a lot.

GaryWT · 05-08-2015, 12:24 PM

When I first got the 350 last year I did the same, moved it to the max 10 and it did not seem to work well. On one trip someone was following me and they told me the trailer brakes had locked up a couple times on the highway. I moved the controller down some. Last weekend I had to stop at a red light somewhat quickly and again, a smoke show when the wheels locked up. Currently I an at 6 and we shall see how that goes.

Javi · 05-08-2015, 01:40 PM

I run mine at 5.5 or 6.0 in dry conditions and 5.0 in wet and it will lock the trailer brakes on loose gravel and that there is gooder enough for me..

NotyetMHCowner · 05-09-2015, 05:22 PM

I adjusted the brakes today and they were pretty close. The right side was a little loose but the left side didn't need much of an adjustment at all. The bearings took over a tube of grease. Just as I thought, the factory put just a little grease on each bearing and called it good.

On a different note, I had my tires balanced and only one was good. The good one took 1 ounce while the others took 5 to 7 ounces. He said they checked the wheels and they are fine. He said it is the tires. I really hope we can get through this season with them because I don't really have it in the budget to spend $1k on tires.

sander925 · 05-09-2015, 06:15 PM

Not sure if your truck allows you to change the effort of the controller. On my f250 you can adjust the gain. You can also adjust the effort of the controller. It is factory set to low, you can change it to medium or high. The manual says start with low. I haven't needed to change it but I am only pulling about 6500lbs.

grampscamper · 05-10-2015, 05:09 AM

I run my F250 at 7.0. I had it a little higher but during a panic stop last year I noticed my trailer brakes locked up. Mine is the same as Gearhead. It will roll a couple of feet when applying the trailer brakes manually and will hold truck and trailer.
My last 5th wheel I could run at 6.0. It worked fine at that setting. I would think every truck and trailer combination may be a little different.
I would find an open area where you can play a little with the controller setting.
Good luck.

jje1960 · 05-10-2015, 10:35 AM

I've left it at the default (5.0) never really felt it necessary to change it, had to stop immediately many times....

NotyetMHCowner · 05-17-2015, 01:28 PM

I looked through the owners manual and it looks like I can only adjust the gain. I see no other adjustments. I don't believe the brakes are stopping enough. I might understand with the weight, that they would not lock up (even so I think they should with full voltage), but they should definitely stop abruptly. Luckily the truck (in tow/haul mode) is helping a lot, but I think the camper should have enough braking power to handle its own weight.

I have a few warranty items to get taken care of, so I may add this to the list and see what they say about it.

C130 · 05-17-2015, 03:06 PM

I run mine around 5.5-6.5 and did the same on my F250. If I had too much gain set I could feel a jerking motion when I would brake heavily, especially if the roads were wet. Every time it would do this I would reduce the gain a little and it alleviated the problem. I can't ever see setting them at 9-10, my brakes would definitely lock up, at least on my F250 they would.

gtsum2 · 05-18-2015, 12:19 PM

I run mine around 7 or 7.5. This is with factory ram brake controller and about 15k trailer weight

NotyetMHCowner · 05-19-2015, 08:22 AM

I am going to try to find some time to get the camper out to a large gravel area so I can "play" with the brakes. I want to travel about 20mph and pull the manual slide with it set to 10 and see if it makes a difference. I am concerned that something is just not quite right. The trailer brakes are working and helping to stop, but just not enough.

NotyetMHCowner · 06-12-2015, 03:52 AM

Well the brakes still do not perform like they should. I have the factory controller set to max (10) and was moving along at 20 mph and pulled the manual switch and it still doesn't try to stop hard. I guess the next step is to check the voltage at the trucks connector.

I have never pulled the emergency cord on any trailer I have. If I pull it, does it just go back into position without doing any permanent damage? I could try it in a parking lot, or maybe at the site I am at now.

**chuckster57** · 06-12-2015, 03:57 AM

If you pull the pin, it should go right back in. I do it to test the brakes after servicing them.

NotyetMHCowner · 06-12-2015, 04:02 AM

Ok, I may try it at my site before we leave on Sunday. The truck seems to stop it pretty good, but some of that is the tranny down shifting and holding it back. Im not sure how well it would work if I have to slam them on. I think the brakes should lock up or damn near lock when set on 10 and pull the manual switch, no matter how heavy the trailer is. They definitely work "some", but not enough, I think.

sw342 · 06-12-2015, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotyetMHCowner

Well the brakes still do not perform like they should. I have the factory controller set to max (10) and was moving along at 20 mph and pulled the manual switch and it still doesn't try to stop hard. I guess the next step is to check the voltage at the trucks connector.

I have never pulled the emergency cord on any trailer I have. If I pull it, does it just go back into position without doing any permanent damage? I could try it in a parking lot, or maybe at the site I am at now.

If I am moving along at 15-20 mph and slide the manual switch it will slowly slow the truck and trailer down to a stop, but the integrated controller in my Ram was only set around 5 and not 10. I was used to my 22 foot Nash, which would lock the brakes if I did that and had the gain set too high. I have checked my brakes and they seem to be set per the Dexter manual with a slight drag with trailer wheels off the ground and spun.

As far as the emergency cord it will not hurt anything to pull it. I forgot to hook mine up before leaving a campground and heading for home. We pulled off the freeway at a rest stop to have lunch and went to the truck side to find a couple open lanes to put the slides out. As I turned into my parking spot the loop caught on something in the bed, pulled the pin and locked the brakes so tight I could not move. Stuck halfway into my spot and halfway blocking the road with trucks coming in behind me. I didn't know what happened at first. Got out and saw the cord had been pulled. Freed the loop end and put the pin back in and everything was good. Caught me by surprise that's for sure as the brakes sure worked good then.

bsmith0404 · 06-12-2015, 09:23 AM

I have my controller set at 5.5. When I hook up and do a tug test the trailer does not lock up, but they will lock up in gravel just as Javi stated. I can feel the trailer stopping behind me when braking so I know they are working. All of that is good enough for me.

cw3jason · 06-12-2015, 10:37 AM

Just a note. If you have the self adjusting breaks, it takes several squeezes of the manual controler to get them adjusted, before they will lock the wheels. I have to do this before I give the 5ver a pull test.

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