Enjoying camping this weekend and...crash!

marspec wrote:

jetboater454 wrote:

JohnBoyToo wrote:

jetboater, I'd get the brakes checked as mine will not let me move at all if I grab a handful of manual trailer brake

I've never had trailer brakes lock just applying power to them. Next time you have a drum off,hit the controller and see if your brake shoes move.
I know my brakes work as I can lock and smoke all 6 tires on pavement.And I haul heavy most of the time.

I thought on electric brakes shoe movement was a result of the magnet dragging on the drum. If drums are off how would shoes move?

You're correct of course.

Electromagnetic brake 101: Magnet brakes rely upon the attraction of an electro magnet to a circular disk mounted to the inside face of the drum to move a camming arm. the camming arm in turn spreads the tops of the shoes only against the inside of the drum. No drum ~ you won't see any action at all.

wheel must rotate slightly to drag the camming arm and spread the shoes.

Now onto electric HYDRAULIC brakes 101. Most common system installed on RV trailers is the Dexter or Kodiac system that has an on board hydraulic pump that runs at variable speed dependent on inertia of controller unit in cab of truck. Manual over ride engaged and brakes are in good condition you ain't moving that trailer at all.

I routinely hooked up the umbilical before backing under pin as my trailer was heavy on the pin at over 4K and my truck was a ten speed with a grunt reverse so if I misjudged the pinbox height and proceeded to back under, I could easily push my trailer right over the commercial chocks but if brakes were engaged, I'd simply get out of cab to find my trailer hooked up, jaws closed and feet about 6" in the air.

Those brakes were easily capable of stopping my combined weight of 36K by themselves.