Difference in electric brakes

[rtate]

I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.

My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment.

I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.

My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.

I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.

I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.

[nomad297]

rrbowman wrote:
I have a Prodigy brake controller and it needs to be "calibrated matched" to the individual trailer for optimal braking, does yours need this also? If so check your Controller manusl for the procedure.

rtate wrote:
I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.

My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment.

I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.

My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.

I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.

I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.

I am assuming he has an integral OEM brake controller.

Bruce

[rrbowman]

I have a Prodigy brake controller and it needs to be "calibrated matched" to the individual trailer for optimal braking, does yours need this also? If so check your Controller manusl for the procedure.

rtate wrote:
I have never been happy with the brakes on my trailer. They seem to have very little stopping power. If I activate them with the brake controler I can feel some drag but not much. I have read some people say they can lock up the wheels on their trailer.I have had this same experience on three trailers and two tow vehicles.

My last rig was, a Artic Fox 29V towed with a Ram 2500. I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire. Never got much improvment.

I have the same problem now with my Ram 3500 and Big Horn fifth wheel. I am knowledgeable in adjusting and replacing brakes. There is no grease on drums. Just not enough stopping power.

My observation is that all the replacement brakes have very little lining material, which should have no effect on stopping power, only on how long they last. Two things that would affect the efficency of the brakes is the lining material and the size of the magnet.

I have 12" brakes. How do I purchase a set of brakes that would improve my stopping power? Is there differences in the magnet size.

I dont want to go to the expense of installing disk brakes now.

[Raymon]

You state "I totally rewired both the trailer braking system and the trucks braking system with heavier gauge wire". Did you ever consider replacing the brake controller? Maybe the controller is defective and cannot apply sufficient voltage to the brake magnets. If the controller is bad, increasing the wire size may not have helped. Just a suggestion.

Ray