Trailer making my SUV lock up.

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

mowermech wrote:
This ol' retired mechanic doesn't believe the trailer has anything to do with the braking problems. There is just no way that I know of that the trailer brakes can be feeding back through the brake controller and causing the tow vehicle brakes to actuate. Even if the wiring is incorrect, if just can't happen, AFAIK!
Now, you say you recently redid the rear brakes on the tow vehicle, and to that point you had no problem. Now, after the brake job, the first time you towed the trailer the brakes overheated and locked up.
OK, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that tells me that something went wrong during the recent brake job. I believe you need to take those brakes apart and carefully inspect everything very carefully! Having it inspected by a professional might be a good idea.
Oh, yes, and keep your foot OFF that brake pedal unless you are stopping and/or need to keep the vehicle from rolling!

This right here is the correct answer.

I'm going to guess that a 2003 Cherokee probably has rear drum brakes and will add that possibly the rear drum shoes could be installed backwards or the hardware was installed wrong. Take it to a shop and have it looked at.

And as others have said, STOP RIDING THE BRAKES!!!!

The rear brakes are disc, but the parking brake is a small drum inside the disc. If they are dragging they could be heating the discs and making the calipers drag.

Is the parking brake adjusted correctly? Were those shoes replaced and/or installed properly?

Reading some more online: apparently the parking brake actuator at the wheel can seize and make the parking brake drag.