Happy New Year!Just a little story and a lesson I learned.DW and I traveled from south Michigan to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone this summer. We were first time Rvers.When I took possession of the trailer in March of 2014(Tracer Air 240TE with a F 150 TV) they showed me how to hook it up and away we went. I went thru the trailer brake gain setting procedure as shown in the Ford truck manual. Everything went perfectly! Little did I know, that the trailer brakes were, in fact, not functional!We drove across the Marias Pass (in the snow) and the Bear Tooth Pass in Wyoming, thinking all the while that the TT brakes were working. In the fall, I had the F150 in for service and was telling the mechanic about our trip out west. He then tested the plug and told me that I did that whole trip with out TT brakes. I was stunned! He installed a relay in the HV fuse box and told me I would get a completely different towing experience now that the brakes were functioning. :SI now have a 7-way plug tester, and I would highly recommend one for all Rvers. I have to say that our first year towing was very interesting it is the most comfortable way to travel. Except for the white knuckle ride over the Bear Tooth Pass LOL. I can't wait for next year. Thanks for all the advice, this forum is the best!!

LOL I am glad you are here to tell the tale!

The first thing I do when leaving home and a camp site is hit the manual brake slide bar thingy to make sure the trailer brakes are working.. ;)I do this every time I move the trailer and I'll even hit it manually going down the grades, just to make sure it's there.. :)I've driven a rig with a heavy trailer and no trailer brakes before and there is a big difference.. This was back in the late 80's, so vehicle braking has come a long way since then, but still..Good luck!Mitch

Wow, that is one scary thought. That's a lot of trailer to have no brakes, especially in that terrain. You are very fortunate that you didn't find out the hard way that you had no trailer brakes.Now that you have a little more experience under your belt, always check your trailer brakes as you pull out from home, out from a CG, or wherever. And it never hurts to periodically do this throughout a day of travel. I've done this gently at 60 or 65 mph...gently. I just want to feel a little tug to know that the brakes are getting the juice.Just reach down while going slow (your driveway, or the CG drive) and slide your manual brake slider over some. You will feel the trailer tug on your TV substantially. If you don't, stay off the road until you figure out why.Happy trails!

The first thing I do when leaving home and a camp site is hit the manual brake slide bar thingy to make sure the trailer brakes are working.. I do this every time I move the trailer and I'll even hit it manually going down the grades, just to make sure it's there.. X2 mitchF150 does it right

24 foot TT over the Bear Tooth WITH BRAKES would be very interesting . . . .:R

5000 miles and no TT brakes | Good Sam Community

Bionic_Man
Explorer
Jan 04, 2015
I sure can tell when I am pulling a trailer without brakes.
TenOC
Nomad
Jan 04, 2015
24 foot TT over the Bear Tooth WITH BRAKES would be very interesting . . . .:R
cyntdon2010
Explorer
Jan 04, 2015
The first thing I do when leaving home and a camp site is hit the manual brake slide bar thingy to make sure the trailer brakes are working..

I do this every time I move the trailer and I'll even hit it manually going down the grades, just to make sure it's there..

X2 mitchF150 does it right
fallsrider
Explorer
Jan 04, 2015
Wow, that is one scary thought. That's a lot of trailer to have no brakes, especially in that terrain. You are very fortunate that you didn't find out the hard way that you had no trailer brakes.

Now that you have a little more experience under your belt, always check your trailer brakes as you pull out from home, out from a CG, or wherever. And it never hurts to periodically do this throughout a day of travel. I've done this gently at 60 or 65 mph...gently. I just want to feel a little tug to know that the brakes are getting the juice.

Just reach down while going slow (your driveway, or the CG drive) and slide your manual brake slider over some. You will feel the trailer tug on your TV substantially. If you don't, stay off the road until you figure out why.

Happy trails!
MitchF150
Explorer III
Jan 04, 2015
The first thing I do when leaving home and a camp site is hit the manual brake slide bar thingy to make sure the trailer brakes are working.. ;)

I do this every time I move the trailer and I'll even hit it manually going down the grades, just to make sure it's there.. :)

I've driven a rig with a heavy trailer and no trailer brakes before and there is a big difference.. This was back in the late 80's, so vehicle braking has come a long way since then, but still..

Good luck!

Mitch
sonora
Explorer
Jan 04, 2015
LOL I am glad you are here to tell the tale!

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5000 miles and no TT brakes

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