I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment. I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.

You state "I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire". Did you ever consider replacing the brake controller? Maybe the controller is defective and cannot apply sufficient voltage to the brake magnets. If the controller is bad, increasing the wire size may not have helped. Just a suggestion. Ray

I have a Prodigy brake controller and it needs to be "calibrated matched" to the individual trailer for optimal braking, does yours need this also? If so check your Controller manusl for the procedure.rtate wrote:I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment. I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.

rrbowman wrote:I have a Prodigy brake controller and it needs to be "calibrated matched" to the individual trailer for optimal braking, does yours need this also? If so check your Controller manusl for the procedure.rtate wrote:I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment. I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.I am assuming he has an integral OEM brake controller.Bruce

nomad297 wrote:rrbowman wrote:I have a Prodigy brake controller and it needs to be "calibrated matched" to the individual trailer for optimal braking, does yours need this also? If so check your Controller manusl for the procedure.rtate wrote:I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment. I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.I am assuming he has an integral OEM brake controller.BruceYou are correct. I do have the oem intergrated controler. My old truck, that I rewired had a Prodigy. I am running at almost full power on my new truck. The new truck does a wonderful job of stopping the trailer, but the truck is doing 90% of the work.

You want stopping power? Ditch the antiquated braking system on your trailer and install disc brakes. At around 2500 professionally installed it is bybfar your best solution.

Difference in electric brakes | Good Sam Community

ScottG
Nomad
Jun 11, 2015
To answer your question, yes, there are different sized (or shaped really) magnets. You can view them at eTrailer.com but the bigger ones are oblong, not round.
laknox
Nomad
Jun 11, 2015
Rtate, have you adjusted the trailer brakes? I hadn't realized how much mine had changed over the years until I had mine adjusted when I had the bearings and seals replaced.

Lyle
donn0128
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2015
You want stopping power? Ditch the antiquated braking system on your trailer and install disc brakes. At around 2500 professionally installed it is bybfar your best solution.
rtate
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
nomad297 wrote:
rrbowman wrote:
I have a Prodigy brake controller and it needs to be "calibrated matched" to the individual trailer for optimal braking, does yours need this also? If so check your Controller manusl for the procedure.

rtate wrote:
I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.

My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment.

I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.

My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.

I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.

I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.

I am assuming he has an integral OEM brake controller.

Bruce

You are correct. I do have the oem intergrated controler. My old truck, that I rewired had a Prodigy. I am running at almost full power on my new truck. The new truck does a wonderful job of stopping the trailer, but the truck is doing 90% of the work.
nomad297
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
rrbowman wrote:
I have a Prodigy brake controller and it needs to be "calibrated matched" to the individual trailer for optimal braking, does yours need this also? If so check your Controller manusl for the procedure.

rtate wrote:
I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.

My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment.

I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.

My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.

I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.

I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.

I am assuming he has an integral OEM brake controller.

Bruce
rrbowman
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
I have a Prodigy brake controller and it needs to be "calibrated matched" to the individual trailer for optimal braking, does yours need this also? If so check your Controller manusl for the procedure.

rtate wrote:
I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.

My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment.

I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.

My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.

I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.

I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.
Raymon
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
You state "I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire". Did you ever consider replacing the brake controller? Maybe the controller is defective and cannot apply sufficient voltage to the brake magnets. If the controller is bad, increasing the wire size may not have helped. Just a suggestion.

Ray

Forum Discussion

Difference in electric brakes

About Fifth Wheel Group

Related Content

Electric brakes

Electric trailer brake control

Different TT construction

electric towed brake systems help

Stop Guesswork Different Banks Different Tipos de Cambios