Trailer Feels Heavier After Hauling for Period of Time
Hey all. I have some ideas of what the problem could be, but I wanted to see if anyone else had a similar experience and might be able to offer some insights.
I have an ’02 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Z71 (7100 lbs max towing).
I have an ’06 Keystone Zeppelin Z291 (4890 lbs dry).
Water tank is 45 gallons, which equates to 375 lbs when completely full.
I don’t tow with black or grey with contents for very far, if at all.
We have roughly 200 lbs of extra gear and supplies.
So everything added together we are at roughly 5500 lbs (1600 lbs under the max towing), not including human beings.
When I first start towing it tows like a dream. Acceleration isn’t perfect, but I’m also pulling 5500 lbs, so nothing out of the ordinary.
The problem comes after a period of time has passed of driving with the trailer.
It begins to feel ridiculously heavy and coming to a complete stop, and then breaking inertia can feel like I’m pulling a trailer full of concrete.
Sometimes when I floor the accelerator and will get no more than 2500 rpm on a level surface.
The feelings are particularly pronounced with city driving because of all the starting and stopping.
I am starting to wonder if it is related to the trailer brakes. I’m thinking that there is a build-up of brake fluid in the line that isn’t releasing the pressure fully after releasing the brakes. The more I use the brakes (like in city driving), the more the brake fluid builds up and puts pressure on the brakes, causing them to continue to rub and create resistance after the brakes have been released on my end.
I have also noticed a smell of what seems to be hot rubber coming from the wheels, but I had always chalked it up to the tires being warm from the weather.
Can anyone else weigh in on this? Perhaps you’ve had this happen or seen this before?
Thanks!
I have an ’02 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Z71 (7100 lbs max towing).
I have an ’06 Keystone Zeppelin Z291 (4890 lbs dry).
Water tank is 45 gallons, which equates to 375 lbs when completely full.
I don’t tow with black or grey with contents for very far, if at all.
We have roughly 200 lbs of extra gear and supplies.
So everything added together we are at roughly 5500 lbs (1600 lbs under the max towing), not including human beings.
When I first start towing it tows like a dream. Acceleration isn’t perfect, but I’m also pulling 5500 lbs, so nothing out of the ordinary.
The problem comes after a period of time has passed of driving with the trailer.
It begins to feel ridiculously heavy and coming to a complete stop, and then breaking inertia can feel like I’m pulling a trailer full of concrete.
Sometimes when I floor the accelerator and will get no more than 2500 rpm on a level surface.
The feelings are particularly pronounced with city driving because of all the starting and stopping.
I am starting to wonder if it is related to the trailer brakes. I’m thinking that there is a build-up of brake fluid in the line that isn’t releasing the pressure fully after releasing the brakes. The more I use the brakes (like in city driving), the more the brake fluid builds up and puts pressure on the brakes, causing them to continue to rub and create resistance after the brakes have been released on my end.
I have also noticed a smell of what seems to be hot rubber coming from the wheels, but I had always chalked it up to the tires being warm from the weather.
Can anyone else weigh in on this? Perhaps you’ve had this happen or seen this before?
Thanks!
