Forum Discussion

phiko73's avatar
phiko73
Explorer
Aug 01, 2019

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!

35 Replies

Show More
  • badsix's avatar
    badsix
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2019
    Jebby14 wrote:
    sounds like its almost time to buy a Ford


    I would rather push my Chevy than drive a ford.
    Jay D.
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    Aug 01, 2019
    afidel wrote:
    Tow/haul actually makes the transmission want to downshift more quickly (though not so often that the torque converter overheats the tranny fluid), and locks out overdrive (generally) so you shouldn't see it wanting to stay in a high great too long while in T/H.

    I don't know if I agree with that but I don't have the exact transmission the OP does either. Tow/haul usually makes the transmission want to shift less often. Sometimes that means staying in a higher gear with the torque converter locked and the engine lugging some. The unlocked torque converter during shifts is what makes all of the heat.
  • afidel's avatar
    afidel
    Explorer II
    Aug 01, 2019
    phiko73 wrote:
    opnspaces wrote:
    I disagree on the two different issues, one electrical for the brakes and one mechanical for the lack of power. This really sounds to me like his Chevy electrical has a problem and is applying voltage to the trailer brakes and here's why I think so.

    One test of an automatic transmission is to check the stall speed. You press very firmly on the brakes and then floor the accelerator while watching the tachometer. The engine will rev up into the two thousands range and stay there as it tries to overcome the brakes and move the vehicle. So I can fully see where the Op's truck is not able to rev past 2500 rpm if his truck is applying the trailer brakes.

    phiko73, When the brakes seem to be dragging is it a persistent problem or does it come and go. If it's persistent you could try pulling into a parking lot and park. Go put your ear near a wheel and see if there is a hum sound from the brakes being engaged. If you hear a hum it means your truck is feeding power down the brake line. You can verify this by having somebody unplug the trailer from the truck while you listen for the hum. If it goes silent you have verified that the truck wiring is somehow faulty and keeping the brakes on.

    Also, if I am correct and the 2,500 rpm limit you are experiencing is the trailer holding you back then your transmission torque converter has been slipping which is normal, but can generate a tremendous amount of heat in a very short time. This can significantly shorten the life of the transmission fluid. You will probably want to get the transmission serviced to get the fluid changed if you're taking it to the shop anyway.


    Thanks for all the replies again!

    I should mention that the 2500 rpm's is a rough estimate and it only happens on occasion. Usually when accelerating up a hill or if I try to floor it half way through a gear. The truck doesn't want to down shift because it's in tow mode.

    But on a level surface I shouldn't have any issues. That's where I think it may be the brakes, but I will get the tranny looked at too. And the cat.


    As for you comment about the brakes being intermittent. I can't actually feel any distinct pulling from the brakes. When I press the brakes I can feel the trailer brakes apply a second later just like normal. And it continues like this the whole time I am towing.

    I will definitely try the things you suggested. They seem like some solid suggestions. Ultimately, I am going to get the truck into the shop in a week or two to take a look at it's problems first. Then I will get someone to look at the brakes on the trailer.


    Tow/haul actually makes the transmission want to downshift more quickly (though not so often that the torque converter overheats the tranny fluid), and locks out overdrive (generally) so you shouldn't see it wanting to stay in a high great too long while in T/H.
  • jnslprd's avatar
    jnslprd
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2019
    I recently had a weird issue that after the truck was warm and we started hitting the hills, the truck would not downshift and we were going up the hills floored going 40 mph. Same issue happened on the way home, even manually downshiffting wouldn't let the truck go into passing gear. I brought the truck to my local transmission shop to get it checked out and also get a transmission cooler installed. Problem ended up being the throttle position sensor and it was not recognizing where the gas peddle was at and keeping the truck in a high gear even when it needed to downshift. The mechanic got it right on the first try. The truck is a 2000 chevy 2500 with 190000 miles on it, Still runs great and will use it til finally blows up. I am towing an 8000lb trailer with a Reese anti sway hitch.

    Best of luck
  • RoyBell's avatar
    RoyBell
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2019
    This is easy to check by disconnecting the trailer wiring when it starts to act up....on a side road with no traffic. Also by letting off the gas if it does not coast like it normally does, then it's likely the brakes.

    Bad trans will slip, not lug the motor.
    Bad engine will be bad from start to stop, not act up in the middle of a tow....usually. This is ofcourse assuming all needles are where they should be- Coolant, oil, trans temps, etc.
  • phiko73's avatar
    phiko73
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2019
    opnspaces wrote:
    I disagree on the two different issues, one electrical for the brakes and one mechanical for the lack of power. This really sounds to me like his Chevy electrical has a problem and is applying voltage to the trailer brakes and here's why I think so.

    One test of an automatic transmission is to check the stall speed. You press very firmly on the brakes and then floor the accelerator while watching the tachometer. The engine will rev up into the two thousands range and stay there as it tries to overcome the brakes and move the vehicle. So I can fully see where the Op's truck is not able to rev past 2500 rpm if his truck is applying the trailer brakes.

    phiko73, When the brakes seem to be dragging is it a persistent problem or does it come and go. If it's persistent you could try pulling into a parking lot and park. Go put your ear near a wheel and see if there is a hum sound from the brakes being engaged. If you hear a hum it means your truck is feeding power down the brake line. You can verify this by having somebody unplug the trailer from the truck while you listen for the hum. If it goes silent you have verified that the truck wiring is somehow faulty and keeping the brakes on.

    Also, if I am correct and the 2,500 rpm limit you are experiencing is the trailer holding you back then your transmission torque converter has been slipping which is normal, but can generate a tremendous amount of heat in a very short time. This can significantly shorten the life of the transmission fluid. You will probably want to get the transmission serviced to get the fluid changed if you're taking it to the shop anyway.


    Thanks for all the replies again!

    I should mention that the 2500 rpm's is a rough estimate and it only happens on occasion. Usually when accelerating up a hill or if I try to floor it half way through a gear. The truck doesn't want to down shift because it's in tow mode.

    But on a level surface I shouldn't have any issues. That's where I think it may be the brakes, but I will get the tranny looked at too. And the cat.


    As for you comment about the brakes being intermittent. I can't actually feel any distinct pulling from the brakes. When I press the brakes I can feel the trailer brakes apply a second later just like normal. And it continues like this the whole time I am towing.

    I will definitely try the things you suggested. They seem like some solid suggestions. Ultimately, I am going to get the truck into the shop in a week or two to take a look at it's problems first. Then I will get someone to look at the brakes on the trailer.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Aug 01, 2019
    I think you might be a bit over your truck GVWR and tow rating. Have you ever been on a scale?

    Not sure the gear ratio in that vehicle but a set of 4.10 would go a long way and help keep the rpm up.

    As for the trailer... when was the last time the brakes were inspected and adjusted? Do the trailer brakes pull hard or even lock up when you manually apply full brakes? Do the trailer brakes seem to fully release when the manual lever is released?
  • eend's avatar
    eend
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2019
    The truck is getting tired, engine and transmission.
  • sgfrye's avatar
    sgfrye
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2019
    Mickeyfan0805 wrote:
    phiko73 wrote:


    Sometimes when I floor the accelerator and will get no more than 2500 rpm on a level surface.


    I am the last person to give mechanical advice, but this is the element of your story that stands out to me. If you are flooring the accelerator and your RPM's are staying low, that doesn't sound like a braking or drag issue in the trailer. Stuck breaks would simply have your engine rev higher as you tried to get it started.

    This sounds like it has more to do with the truck than the trailer.


    im no mechanic either but these rpms show a problem with the vehicle regardless of TT

About Travel Trailer Group

44,056 PostsLatest Activity: Apr 07, 2017