trailer brakes failed, any brake experts on here?

Rockwind1, many times the wire running into the axle will chafe and short out. My old Dutchmen had the brake wires tied to the outside of the axles. The old wires were cut off and sticking out of the axle holes.
Maybe one of yours is shorted out in the axle and moving the wires was enough to break the connection. Might be worth re-wring via outside the axles.