Trailer brake breakaway failure - possible warranty claim?
Cliff's notes: New trailer (less than 1 year) emergency brake cable unknowingly pulled and did not lock up the brakes but engaged them enough to destroy the brakes after about 50 miles. Is any of this on the MFG or dealer for not being properly adjusted from the factory?
Whole story:
My parents bought a new TT late last year. They park it at our private campground during the summer and store it in the winter. I am their personal delivery man.
One thing I noticed when I towed it from the dealer to storage to the campground is that I had to have my brake controller maxed out to get decent trailer brakes. On a Prodigy 2, that's 6.3 with the adjuster maxed. On my trailer, I run at 6.2 and about half on the adjuster.
The issue: When I was pulling it from the campground to storage, I stopped at a sharp turn onto the highway about a mile from camp. After I turned onto the highway, I noticed my Suburban struggled to get up to speed. I looked in my mirrors to see if the brakes had locked up, but the wheels seemed to have been turning fine.
Eventually the truck seemed to be driving fine. This trailer is about 1000 pounds heavier than mine (8000 vs 7000) so I chalked it up to that. Well, when we got home and got out and looked at the trailer, the wheels were COVERED in brake dust and the inside of the trailer stunk like burnt brakes. I looked down at the emergency trailer brake cable and it was resting on the ground!
When I turned that corner at the beginning of the trip, the angle must have been so much that it pulled the cable out and engaged the emergency brakes.
Shouldn't this have LOCKED the brakes up? I know it does on my trailer. The next day my dad pulled a wheel and inspected the brakes - they are toast. I'll be taking it to the dealer for it's annual checkup (he got suckered into the Blue Dog "Forever Warranty) in a couple weeks and he's already notified them of the brake issue.
My question is, is there any way for the dealer/mfg to have ownership of the issue because the emergency brakes did not lock up and instead just dragged to their demise?
Any other suggestions? Thanks!
Whole story:
My parents bought a new TT late last year. They park it at our private campground during the summer and store it in the winter. I am their personal delivery man.
One thing I noticed when I towed it from the dealer to storage to the campground is that I had to have my brake controller maxed out to get decent trailer brakes. On a Prodigy 2, that's 6.3 with the adjuster maxed. On my trailer, I run at 6.2 and about half on the adjuster.
The issue: When I was pulling it from the campground to storage, I stopped at a sharp turn onto the highway about a mile from camp. After I turned onto the highway, I noticed my Suburban struggled to get up to speed. I looked in my mirrors to see if the brakes had locked up, but the wheels seemed to have been turning fine.
Eventually the truck seemed to be driving fine. This trailer is about 1000 pounds heavier than mine (8000 vs 7000) so I chalked it up to that. Well, when we got home and got out and looked at the trailer, the wheels were COVERED in brake dust and the inside of the trailer stunk like burnt brakes. I looked down at the emergency trailer brake cable and it was resting on the ground!
When I turned that corner at the beginning of the trip, the angle must have been so much that it pulled the cable out and engaged the emergency brakes.
Shouldn't this have LOCKED the brakes up? I know it does on my trailer. The next day my dad pulled a wheel and inspected the brakes - they are toast. I'll be taking it to the dealer for it's annual checkup (he got suckered into the Blue Dog "Forever Warranty) in a couple weeks and he's already notified them of the brake issue.
My question is, is there any way for the dealer/mfg to have ownership of the issue because the emergency brakes did not lock up and instead just dragged to their demise?
Any other suggestions? Thanks!
