Camper brakes working properly or not?
We have a 2013 Rockwood Roo 183L (Hybrid Camper that weights ~ 3,500 lbs dry) that we've used about 6 trips. It was purchased last year so it is essentially 1 year old. The dealer set up my hitch and ...
Forum Discussion
Well, I am officially at a loss on this one.
1. I tested the voltage at the camper brakes. It is about 2 volts lower than what the Prodigy P3 brake controller display says which Tekonsha says is normal. (i.e. if the unit is set to 11 volts, the brakes are getting 9 volts, etc.) Tekonsha says that this "proves" that the Brake Controller is working and that the brakes are the issue. They also said there is no doubt that the brakes should lock up, make black marks on the pavement, jerk the truck, etc.; especially since I have it set to 13 and boost 3. It is not doing any of that, and coming to a slow and controlled stop over 113 feet.
2. I tried a 2nd brake controller - an old school Hidden Hitch Pilot. I ran the test again, and I can still not get these brakes to lock up and it is still taking me 113 ft to stop using the trailer brakes only set to maximum voltage - i.e. 13 volts. Ran the test on pavement and gravel. When driving around in general, this brake controller felt a little different because it was more "jerky", but I think this is just the difference between a brake controller that is jumping immediately to what it's set to vs the Prodigy that is more "synchronized" to the braking of the tow vehicle.
3. I had the local Dexter Axle dealer inspect the brakes. He pulled the brakes, inspected them, says they are in great shape, no grease on them, adjusted properly, etc. He said they were tight when he pulled them, that the self adjusting feature was working, etc. He said they were burnished well and were making good contact and that they still had 95% of the life in them (I have run about 1,700 miles on 6 trips). he spent a lot of time with me talking through this and he is at a loss.
The only thing I can possibly think of is that the volts are getting back there, but the magnets are not working and pushing hard enough to make everything lock up. The dealer said he didn't think the magnets were the issue because they were humming, but that is the only thing that I have not personally tested to read the Ohms. My brother is an electrical engineer, so I am going to have him take a look and help me get that reading this weekend.
Any other thoughts/advice? I am at a complete loss on this one and I really appreciate all your thoughts/feedback/assistance.
1. I tested the voltage at the camper brakes. It is about 2 volts lower than what the Prodigy P3 brake controller display says which Tekonsha says is normal. (i.e. if the unit is set to 11 volts, the brakes are getting 9 volts, etc.) Tekonsha says that this "proves" that the Brake Controller is working and that the brakes are the issue. They also said there is no doubt that the brakes should lock up, make black marks on the pavement, jerk the truck, etc.; especially since I have it set to 13 and boost 3. It is not doing any of that, and coming to a slow and controlled stop over 113 feet.
2. I tried a 2nd brake controller - an old school Hidden Hitch Pilot. I ran the test again, and I can still not get these brakes to lock up and it is still taking me 113 ft to stop using the trailer brakes only set to maximum voltage - i.e. 13 volts. Ran the test on pavement and gravel. When driving around in general, this brake controller felt a little different because it was more "jerky", but I think this is just the difference between a brake controller that is jumping immediately to what it's set to vs the Prodigy that is more "synchronized" to the braking of the tow vehicle.
3. I had the local Dexter Axle dealer inspect the brakes. He pulled the brakes, inspected them, says they are in great shape, no grease on them, adjusted properly, etc. He said they were tight when he pulled them, that the self adjusting feature was working, etc. He said they were burnished well and were making good contact and that they still had 95% of the life in them (I have run about 1,700 miles on 6 trips). he spent a lot of time with me talking through this and he is at a loss.
The only thing I can possibly think of is that the volts are getting back there, but the magnets are not working and pushing hard enough to make everything lock up. The dealer said he didn't think the magnets were the issue because they were humming, but that is the only thing that I have not personally tested to read the Ohms. My brother is an electrical engineer, so I am going to have him take a look and help me get that reading this weekend.
Any other thoughts/advice? I am at a complete loss on this one and I really appreciate all your thoughts/feedback/assistance.
