Trailer brakes work about 1/2 the time

[DavidCJoseph]

went to Florida from Illinois for the month of Feb. when we left trailer brakes worked fine, couple hours later stopped and got gas brakes did not work, next morning they worked that afternoon they did not. took it to dealership in Florida and they said issues happen when solar panel on camper charges battery 100% it feeds back to truck and makes trailer brakes go out. new updated module would fix it. $650 later and 3 hours into heading home brakes did not work again on and off all the way home. any suggestions?

 

[RollaMo]

any suggestions?

This is an issue with your truck and not so much the camper.
So, what is the year, make, model, and trim level of your truck?

I have seen this issue posted more than once on a truck forum.
And what the dealer explained to you have been an issue in several cases.

 

[jsb5717]

There are likely a few different potential reasons for what you’re experiencing. When our trailer brakes intermittently quit working I eventually discovered that the wiring that is carried inside the axles was wearing, causing contact shorting inside the axle.

Unfortunately, the only way to really get eyes on that issue is to remove the wire from the axle. At the point you will have already made the decision to replace it. I replaced the wire from one side of the axle to the other on both axles and zip tied it securely to the top of the axles. New wire, no shorts, no more problems. Brakes have worked perfectly since.

 

[Viper02]

I would buy myself a low priced clamp on multimeter with AC/ DC amp read capability using the clamp on arm on the meter

Then have helper sit in truck and press brake pedal with RV hooked up and measure the DC amps drawn at each brake magnet wire

You can easily do this from the backside of each brake backing plate assy and determine how much amperage each magnet draws

If this is a tandem axle RV the four brake magnets are all connected in parallel

Link to service manual that includes info on amp draw on tandem axle brake setup as well as resistance reading of the magnets

https://www.dextergroup.com/user_area/content_media/raw/LDServiceOnline.pdf

Link to inexpensive multimeter that also has a clamp arm for easy AC/DC current measurement

Amazon.com

 

[workinonit]

I'm guessing he has a new GM pickup.

 

[Greg Lux]

went to Florida from Illinois for the month of Feb. when we left trailer brakes worked fine, couple hours later stopped and got gas brakes did not work, next morning they worked that afternoon they did not. took it to dealership in Florida and they said issues happen when solar panel on camper charges battery 100% it feeds back to truck and makes trailer brakes go out. new updated module would fix it. $650 later and 3 hours into heading home brakes did not work again on and off all the way home. any suggestions?

I had the same issue with my Cougar. The problem was my 2024 Silverado. Higher voltage from the camper would back feed into the truck and knock out the brake controller. I put a diode into the 12 volt line from the truck which made a one way street out of it. Problem solved. Since then, GM issued a recall for a new control module which solves the problem.

 

[DavidCJoseph]

This is an issue with your truck and not so much the camper.
So, what is the year, make, model, and trim level of your truck?

I have seen this issue posted more than once on a truck forum.
And what the dealer explained to you have been an issue in several cases.

I have a 2020 Chevrolet 2500 gas

 

[GoingPlaces]

I think I would try this experiment. Cover the solar panel(s) with cardboard so they cannot produce power, then take the rig for a ride to see what happens.

 

[JRTJH]

Or

I think I would try this experiment. Cover the solar panel(s) with cardboard so they cannot produce power, then take the rig for a ride to see what happens.

Or just turn off the charge controller. That would disable the system and is much easier (and safer) than trying to keep cardboard from flying off at highway speeds and possibly causing an accident behind you....

 

[RollaMo]

I have a 2020 Chevrolet 2500 gas

Exactly why I asked what truck you have.

It seems this issue is not uncommon with the new GM HD trucks.

 

[Viper02]

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-11004804-0001.pdf

I still do not think the truck is the issue since you stated you had the brake controller replaced ( should not have cost anything ) per the above link if your truck falls into the specified range

If I read your post correctly the issue still is present after the updated brake control module was installed

I would have to verify the brakes on the RV are working properly then proceed to the truck

 

[GoingPlaces]

Or

Or just turn off the charge controller. That would disable the system and is much easier (and safer) than trying to keep cardboard from flying off at highway speeds and possibly causing an accident behind you....

I was using my trailer as a frame of reference; I have no way to turn off my charge controller other than physically disconnect it or cover the panels. I'm not sure what equipment the OP has in his trailer. But certainly, use the switch if one is present.