Expected milage from 5th wheel brakes

Bob Vaughn wrote:
What is the the expected milage one could expect from the original brakes on a 5th wheel??

Too many variables. Mileage isn't a way to gauge brake "life".

Best = Pull (a) drum(s) and look...;)

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LOL.....I called a mobile repair guy that I have used a lot and he stated he did not know that they could be adjusted....so I told he he needed to google it....He also stated that they did not do any job that they would get dirty doing......how is that for being specialized.....

rhagfo wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I'm at near 20k miles on my original brakes. I have a TT, but it scales at around 9200lbs loaded (has an 11k lb GVWR. I think next year I may flip the shoes front to back. The way magnetic drum brakes work is you only use one shoe when stopping going forward, and the other one when stopping in rev. So my shoes that only work in rev still have 90+% life on them. Car/truck drum brakes use both shoes however!

:h
Drums have primary and secondary shoes, the secondary being smaller (less lining area, BUT they all work during braking either direction.
The brake shoes only have one FIXED anchor point. so when the are activates the primary shoe, it pushes the secondary shoe into contact also.

Correct..........magnet grabs face of drum. Magnet rotates causing shoes to extend and engage drum. Both shoes rotate outward regardless of trailer direction.

Expected mileage for brake shoes.......too many variables

Usually after 12,000 miles they will need adjusting

dodge guy wrote:
I'm at near 20k miles on my original brakes. I have a TT, but it scales at around 9200lbs loaded (has an 11k lb GVWR. I think next year I may flip the shoes front to back. The way magnetic drum brakes work is you only use one shoe when stopping going forward, and the other one when stopping in rev. So my shoes that only work in rev still have 90+% life on them. Car/truck drum brakes use both shoes however!

:h
Drums have primary and secondary shoes, the secondary being smaller (less lining area, BUT they all work during braking either direction.
The brake shoes only have one FIXED anchor point. so when the are activates the primary shoe, it pushes the secondary shoe into contact also.

Thanks to Mitch150 for the great photo!!!

I'm at near 20k miles on my original brakes. I have a TT, but it scales at around 9200lbs loaded (has an 11k lb GVWR. I think next year I may flip the shoes front to back. The way magnetic drum brakes work is you only use one shoe when stopping going forward, and the other one when stopping in rev. So my shoes that only work in rev still have 90+% life on them. Car/truck drum brakes use both shoes however!

I bought my trailer new. 13 seasons on it now. I have my wheel bearings packed and brakes adjusted every other year.

I seem to recall doing new brakes once in that time frame.

We used the trailer a lot in the past, mostly towing tandem. Probably averaged 7000 miles a year for the first 6 years then down to 4-5k for ten years after that. Our last two years haven't seen the trailer out as much as our interests changed.

I think it would be highly variable depending on proper adjustment, brake controller gain setting, driving techniques. Mine are 8 yrs old with about 22,000 miles and still providing plenty of braking power.

Don't think there is even an approx miles for replacing brakes. Depends on the driver. Drivers that let their engine do the work down grades, follow at longer distances so they can plan ahead will a go lot longer between brake replacements than drivers that are on the brakes all the time.

I just put new ones on my 5er not because they were worn out, but because the springs broke on two of them after 10 1/2 years.

Bob,
If your having brake issues, now might be a great time to convert to disc brakes. For around two grand DIY you can have good brakes again.