Pull Test ?
I have read in a couple of different posts about brakes not setting imediately when you use the manual slide, one person even said their brakes did not set until rolling about eight inches. I am curio...
Forum Discussion
TomHaycraft wrote:
For my pull test? I leave the chocks in place.
As to the brakes, I'm sure others will chime in with better mechanical descriptions and terminology, but in short, most trailer brakes rely on an electromagnetic system with the magnet "sticking" to the drum, with forward motion, the magnet shifts and displaces the brake shoes. So yes, it takes some forward motion, the more poorly adjusted the brakes, the more motion necessary to engage the brake shoes against the drum.
Electric over hydraulic on the other hand, use more immediate hydraulic pressure to engage the brakes.
Hope it helps!
X2 to this, especially leaving the chocks in place!!
This allows me to do my "Pull Test" as soon as the pin hits the head of the hitch. With the chocks still in place, and as a backup the Trailer brakes manually activated, and the Landing gear still supporting most of the pin weight, (I always hitch pin low) I put the tranny in 1st and do two solid tugs. Then I put the tranny back in neutral set the parking brake and get out lock the hitch, and remove and store the chocks (good old fashion yellow block kind). Yes, I know this puts the landing gear at some risk, but I haven't slid a chock yet. I feel that without the full friction of about 2,200# on the pin if something is wrong, it will come apart with less weight on it.
