How to test the trailer brakes without a TV?
I came across information last night about trailer brakes being weak and full of grease. How common is this issue? How would we test for this, since we don't have a TV yet? Thanks for your he...
Forum Discussion
janegowest wrote:TNRIVERSIDE wrote:janegowest wrote:fitznj wrote:
Instead of jacking up each wheel; just pull the emergency pin;
The go round each wheel and touch the wheel; you should feel and hear a humming sound.
Thanks everyone!! Please tell where the emergency/break-away pin might be located...
The emergency break away pin should be near the trailer ball receiver. It is on the wire or cable that you should be attaching to the TV. If the trailer separates from the TV this cable should pull out and apply full breaking power to the trailer.
Oh...so there is this one cable to test all of the 4 brakes? Can we just jack up the whole trailer to test all four of them more quickly, or do we have to jack up one at a time only?
Other than nice to know info - not sure of the "why" for the question here, as...
"janegowest" is RV shopping.
*If* I was selling a trailer -TT or 5th- and a potential buyer wanted to go thru any of the test procedures listed, I would tell 'em they will have to take my word for it until a *non-refundable* deposit has changed hands. (Say - $100).
Then I would be happy to take 'em for a "genuine" test drive - or tell 'em I will take it to the (local) mechanic of *their* choice, on their dime.
If I'm a seller with a nice RV, there's just not enough time to play games for nit-pickers and tire-kickers when (other) potential buyers are "waiting in the wings"!
And -at least where I live (So. CA) well-kept, clean, appropriately priced RVs - are *always* in demand.
"OutWest" - Put a 20' TT on CraigsList about midnight, first call -to voicemail at 2AM- over 50 calls by 5PM following day. Started returning calls. First caller -the 2AM guy- paid cash at 9PM.
So, done deal in less than 24 hours!
BTW - he never asked about brakes, they were perfect - with pics if he wanted to see them. Same for awning we never extended.
As a buyer in (winter) snow country, or (summer) high-humidity areas of the US, the need for a brake job would be way down the list of my concerns when inspecting an RV for sale.
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