Brakes grabby at low speeds

If the same thing has happened on 2 different trailers, I does sound like the BC.

But, just for the record in case it is relevant at all, we had really "grabby" brakes on a previous TT we owned which we bought new. It was terrible at low speeds, especially in CGs with gravel roads and the slightest touch on the brake pedal locked the TT brakes up. Complained and complained to the dealer and all they would say is that it was our BC. So we replaced it with an Prodigy P3 and nothing changed. Things went on for a year like this and we sent a letter in writing to the dealer about the problem and they finally reluctantly agreed to re & re the brakes. Got it back a week or two after the warranty expired and they said they found what they claimed was cosmoline coating everything and they said it was the factory's fault. It was probably leaking seals and grease contamination though. They found warped drums and replaced those along with the brake pads. After that the brakes worked perfectly as they should have all along.

Leaking seals on new TTs does happen. Found it in our current TT at less than a year old. 'Nuther story for another day tho...

I could have worded my response better. Most campgrounds and many parking lots I have been in have anything but ideal road surfaces.

If the controller is not solidly connected to the TV and is allowed to vibrate or wiggle from bumps etc it will cause the controller to be more aggressive.

If you read the installation instructions they will state a solid mount is required.

If the controller is allowed to vibrate or move relative to the truck from a rough road or chuck holes it will cause the brakes to be activated.

Not unless you're also applying the vehicle brakes. That's why the stop lamp switch is wired into it. I'd guess, but don't know for sure, that there's some amount of averaging/filtering going on to prevent vibrations from making much difference.

Make sure the controller is solidly mounted. The P3 is an inertia device and very sensitive to any movement.

If the controller is allowed to vibrate or move relative to the truck from a rough road or chuck holes it will cause the brakes to be activated.

Thanks for the replies. I'll tinker with it, but as mentioned the main thing is they work great at highway speeds. The slow speed issues are annoying, but not that big of a deal.

deltabravo wrote:

I love it when people tell me my experiences are wrong, as if I am lying.

It is not the experience that is "wrong", it is the conclusion drawn.

That often includes an assumption that EVERYBODY will have the same experience.....which often is not the case.

Gdetrailer wrote:

deltabravo wrote:
New brakes is the problem. Trailer brakes don't work all that great until they have quite a few start / stop cycles on them. In other words, they need to be burned in.

I did RV transport for 2 years. I ALWAYS had to run my brake controller at max setting to get much braking action for the first part of the trip. By the time i reached my destination 224 miles later, the brakes were working better, but just barely, because the trip didn't involve much stopping and starting.

Absolutely wrong.

OK, so the "new brakes" comment I made is wrong, but not the rest of the info I posted.

I love it when people tell me my experiences are wrong, as if I am lying.

My previous truck had an after market brake controller added. It was awful. Either the brakes grabbed at slow speeds and were great at higher speeds (more gain), or were smooth at slower speeds but no braking force at all in higher speeds (less gain). I was constantly changing the controller gain when traveling to keep from being yanked to death at slow speeds.

I don't think there is a "happy" setting if you are experiencing this. You have to select your poison.

When we got our last truck, it has the integrated brake controller and I couldn't believe the difference. Once I set the gain so the trailer wasn't LOCKING every time I hit the brakes, it works wonderful! Absolutely smooth as a whistle, slow and fast speeds. Truck and trailer work as one unit. If I increase the gain, the trailer will grab first, and I can feel it, at any speed. It took a little time to fine tune adjust it so it would work smooth, not grab and still brake equal with the truck. But once there, fast or slow, it soooo much different that the after market add on one I had on my previous truck.

As RoyB wrote, I always test my brake controller manually first, in the first 10 feet of movement. I have on occasion had to replug in the pigtail to the truck because I did not have it seated tight enough. I do this, not to set the brakes, but to ensure the trailer brakes are working. I always do this test first, before moving the camper very far, so if here is a problem, I can always back up, get off the road, or whatever, and check things out if they are not working. I also turn the running lights on for a quick moment and look out my rear view mirrors to see if the trailer side-lights are on. Between the brake test and the running lights on test, I know I'm now ready to hit the road.

Integrated brake controllers are fabulous!

Mine are occasionally grabby at low speed. I don't worry about it.

I have the same issue since I cleaned up my brakes. I bought the unit used and since they have the EZ lube bearings I do not think they had ever been looked at. They certainly needed adjustment.

After I cleaned and adjusted them they would grab at slow speed. After a combination of of controller tweeting, brake shoe adjustments and a break-in period, most of the grab is gone.

I was told to be sure brake shoe ends were beveled, which they were, but it seems to be a matter of getting the worn shoes to match the worn drums.