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Dmax is a hell of a puller, aka, I smoked my trailer brakes

Balance_Of_Judg
Explorer
Explorer
so much power I didnt even notice the breakaway plug got pulled and locked up the brakes on the camper!
was on a camping/fishing trip with the family
dont know how it happened. was in when we left the camp ground. pulled in the driveway, smelt burning brakepads and saw smoke
coming from the camper wheels

was still getting 14mpg towing tripple with the locked up 28foot camper and 20foot fiberglass CCboat
sooo...what do you suppose I will need to replace? breaks still seem to work, not sure how much pad I have, wheels still seem to spin freely
16 REPLIES 16

transamz9
Explorer
Explorer
Grit dog wrote:
Balance Of Judgment wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
14 mpg towing doubles, 28' camper and a 4000 lb boat behind that?

I've heard it all now! Dude that truck is worth a fortune with the kind of mpgs it gets. What do you get empty? Must have one of those 30 mpg Duramaxes!!

19MPG unloaded at 60MPH hand calc:R

oh, and I would love to know where you got that it was a 4000lbs boat...


Sounds about right.
On the boat, I guessed by CC you meant Correct Craft, as in Nautique. 20' ski nautique, little under 3k lbs + trailer = about 4k lbs. 20' Air Nautique of some flavor, over 3k lns + trailer = maybe 5klbs total. SHouldnt be too far off there!:R

I must need to move back to the midwest or something. You and the guy with the cummins pulling the other tripppple getting 14mpg at 60mph while smoking the trailer brakes are getting phenominal mileage!


I didn't think about him saying he got 14 with dragging brakes, sorry. I can get it easily with brakes working correctly. I average 19.5 everyday mix empty and 22+ on the empty road trips @ 75 mph. At 60 empty I'm close to 27 mpg.
2016 Ram 3500 Mega Cab Limited/2013 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins(sold)/2005 RAM 2500 Cummins/2011 Sandpiper 345 RET (sold) 2015 Sanibel 3601/2008 Nitro Z9 Mercury 250 PRO XS the best motor made.

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Balance Of Judgment wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
14 mpg towing doubles, 28' camper and a 4000 lb boat behind that?

I've heard it all now! Dude that truck is worth a fortune with the kind of mpgs it gets. What do you get empty? Must have one of those 30 mpg Duramaxes!!

19MPG unloaded at 60MPH hand calc:R

oh, and I would love to know where you got that it was a 4000lbs boat...


Sounds about right.
On the boat, I guessed by CC you meant Correct Craft, as in Nautique. 20' ski nautique, little under 3k lbs + trailer = about 4k lbs. 20' Air Nautique of some flavor, over 3k lns + trailer = maybe 5klbs total. SHouldnt be too far off there!:R

I must need to move back to the midwest or something. You and the guy with the cummins pulling the other tripppple getting 14mpg at 60mph while smoking the trailer brakes are getting phenominal mileage!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

john_bet
Explorer II
Explorer II
Mine pulled out once and I immediately knew it. No move. I won't move if there is even a little pull back from trailer. Has nothing to do with how much power you have.
2018 Ram 3500 SRW CC LB 6.7L Cummins Auto 3.42 gears
2018 Grand Design 337RLS

cwboyscooby
Explorer
Explorer
mkirsch wrote:
It's a good thing this happened. Your brakes are/were out of adjustment and not performing up to snuff. Now they will get some much-needed maintenance.


+1

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
mkirsch wrote:
Balance Of Judgment wrote:
the brakes locked on mine, but wheels kept spinning...


If the wheels were spinning the brakes were NOT locked.

It's a good thing this happened. Your brakes are/were out of adjustment and not performing up to snuff. Now they will get some much-needed maintenance.


X2

Locked up means just that, shoes locked to drums, wheel not turning. Sounds like nothing more than a heavy drag!

Sorry about you worn out brake shoes, likely destroyed drums.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

mkirsch
Nomad II
Nomad II
Balance Of Judgment wrote:
the brakes locked on mine, but wheels kept spinning...


If the wheels were spinning the brakes were NOT locked.

It's a good thing this happened. Your brakes are/were out of adjustment and not performing up to snuff. Now they will get some much-needed maintenance.

Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.

transamz9
Explorer
Explorer
Grit dog wrote:
14 mpg towing doubles, 28' camper and a 4000 lb boat behind that?

I've heard it all now! Dude that truck is worth a fortune with the kind of mpgs it gets. What do you get empty? Must have one of those 30 mpg Duramaxes!!


I can get that with my Cummins and running 60 and I'm pulling more load than he is. I don't see the problem with his numbers.

OP your brakes were just dragging not locked because if they were locked you would definitely know it. You had problems before this problem. I would pull the drums and inspect for heat damage. If it were me I would just replace the backing plates. You can buy them already loaded with all the hardware ready to install. Check the drums for cracks.
2016 Ram 3500 Mega Cab Limited/2013 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins(sold)/2005 RAM 2500 Cummins/2011 Sandpiper 345 RET (sold) 2015 Sanibel 3601/2008 Nitro Z9 Mercury 250 PRO XS the best motor made.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Your trailer brakes were energized with full battery voltage.
They engaged but didn't lock up otherwise the wheels would not have been spinning.

Worst case......new drums, new brake assemblies and new bearings

You will need to inspect each wheel (brake/bearing assemblies).
Brake shoes worn out
Drums scored
Brake magnets damaged from full voltage
Bearings/races scored from high temp
Bearing grease burnt up
Spindles scored

Tires flat spotted
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

Balance_Of_Judg
Explorer
Explorer
fireman41 wrote:
Hey you said you were pulling triples and you listed only two trailed what was the third. 🙂
MN law refers to towing triple as a three vehicle combination including the TV.

Balance_Of_Judg
Explorer
Explorer
Grit dog wrote:
14 mpg towing doubles, 28' camper and a 4000 lb boat behind that?

I've heard it all now! Dude that truck is worth a fortune with the kind of mpgs it gets. What do you get empty? Must have one of those 30 mpg Duramaxes!!

19MPG unloaded at 60MPH hand calc:R

oh, and I would love to know where you got that it was a 4000lbs boat...

Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Explorer II
Grit dog wrote:
14 mpg towing doubles, 28' camper and a 4000 lb boat behind that?

I've heard it all now! Dude that truck is worth a fortune with the kind of mpgs it gets. What do you get empty? Must have one of those 30 mpg Duramaxes!!


You are right about that. I think the next time I am out I will try to get my trailer brkes to lock so the mileage will go sky high. all the OP forgot was to start that yarn with once upon a time. :B

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
14 mpg towing doubles, 28' camper and a 4000 lb boat behind that?

I've heard it all now! Dude that truck is worth a fortune with the kind of mpgs it gets. What do you get empty? Must have one of those 30 mpg Duramaxes!!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

fireman41
Explorer
Explorer
Hey you said you were pulling triples and you listed only two trailed what was the third. 🙂

352
Explorer
Explorer
$300 per axle to make as new if you do it yourself.
The manatees of Halls river Homosassa Springs Fl

1985 Chevy Silverado c10. 454 stroker / 495 CI = 675 HP. 650lb of torque. Turb0 400 tranny. 3000 stall converter. Aluminum heads. 3 inch exhaust flowmasters. 2 inch headers. Heat and air. Tubed.