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NanciL's avatar
NanciL
Explorer II
Mar 21, 2014

Good TV truck brakes

I have been pulling travel trailers for almost twenty years now, and yesterday for the first time forgot to plug in the cable from the truck to the trailer.
Fortunately when we are at a camp site, I always keep it wrapped around my tongue jack and handle, so it didn't suffer any damage.
The trailer is a 25 footer. 5000 pound one.
I never even noticed that I was unplugged until about fifteen miles away, after stopping at red lights and various interchanges.
While driving it all of a sudden dawned on me that I couldn't recall plugging so pulled over in a safe spot.
The truck is a new 2014 Dodge Ram so I guess it has good brakes, (or used to have good ones)

Jack L

18 Replies

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  • spike99's avatar
    spike99
    Explorer
    Mar 22, 2014
    rbpru wrote:
    My wife likes to double check my work, she knows me all too well. That is why I like the little green light on the brake controler.


    This works for me as well. And, if something is missed, it's HER FAULT (not me). LOL!!!
  • _tiredTeacher's avatar
    _tiredTeacher
    Explorer II
    Mar 22, 2014
    ChooChooMan74 wrote:

    4) Didn't do a running brake test using the manual trailer brake.

    I do this every time and clear the are at the console where the contoller is located. DW didn't want to give up her cup holder 'til I explained why I needed to be able to reach the doohickey.

    Teach
  • ChooChooMan74's avatar
    ChooChooMan74
    Explorer
    Mar 22, 2014
    I see many failures here that scare me.

    1) Didn't double check the hitch work
    2) Didn't do a light check
    3) Didn't check the brake controller connection status
    4) Didn't do a running brake test using the manual trailer brake.

    Four opportunities to have caught. this potentially deadly situation.
  • love2tow's avatar
    love2tow
    Explorer
    Mar 21, 2014
    rbpru wrote:
    My wife likes to double check my work, she knows me all too well.

    That is why I like the little green light on the brake controler.


    My wife likes to double check most things I do as well. What we found to be very helpful is the "Check it again" checklist app on the iphone. I put in all the steps for arriving and departing and check it off each task as I complete them. Then, my wife goes through with the same checklist and checks it again. Since we started doing this, we have done pretty well. Almost lost the tv antennae on our first trip with our first TT :)
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Mar 21, 2014
    My wife likes to double check my work, she knows me all too well.

    That is why I like the little green light on the brake controler.
  • AH64ID's avatar
    AH64ID
    Explorer
    Mar 21, 2014
    I always peek at the brake controller for a connection, and the clearance lights on the trailer, as I drive away.
  • BTPO1's avatar
    BTPO1
    Explorer
    Mar 21, 2014
    Jack,

    I am glad that you caught it before you really needed it to help stop you.

    At my age since I am forgetting to do things, I always do a walk around checking everything two times. This helps me since I sometimes forget something. JMO

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