Trailer brake breakaway failure - possible warranty claim?

[Drew510]

Cliff's notes: New trailer (less than 1 year) emergency brake cable unknowingly pulled and did not lock up the brakes but engaged them enough to destroy the brakes after about 50 miles. Is any of this on the MFG or dealer for not being properly adjusted from the factory?

Whole story:
My parents bought a new TT late last year. They park it at our private campground during the summer and store it in the winter. I am their personal delivery man.

One thing I noticed when I towed it from the dealer to storage to the campground is that I had to have my brake controller maxed out to get decent trailer brakes. On a Prodigy 2, that's 6.3 with the adjuster maxed. On my trailer, I run at 6.2 and about half on the adjuster.

The issue: When I was pulling it from the campground to storage, I stopped at a sharp turn onto the highway about a mile from camp. After I turned onto the highway, I noticed my Suburban struggled to get up to speed. I looked in my mirrors to see if the brakes had locked up, but the wheels seemed to have been turning fine.

Eventually the truck seemed to be driving fine. This trailer is about 1000 pounds heavier than mine (8000 vs 7000) so I chalked it up to that. Well, when we got home and got out and looked at the trailer, the wheels were COVERED in brake dust and the inside of the trailer stunk like burnt brakes. I looked down at the emergency trailer brake cable and it was resting on the ground!

When I turned that corner at the beginning of the trip, the angle must have been so much that it pulled the cable out and engaged the emergency brakes.

Shouldn't this have LOCKED the brakes up? I know it does on my trailer. The next day my dad pulled a wheel and inspected the brakes - they are toast. I'll be taking it to the dealer for it's annual checkup (he got suckered into the Blue Dog "Forever Warranty) in a couple weeks and he's already notified them of the brake issue.

My question is, is there any way for the dealer/mfg to have ownership of the issue because the emergency brakes did not lock up and instead just dragged to their demise?

Any other suggestions? Thanks!

[Drew510]

Yeah, that's what my gut told me, but I thought I would at least pose the question. The cable in question is quite long so I was actually worried about it dragging more than anything.

I get that they would not lock up at speed, but my guess is that the switch was activated when I was making that turn from a complete stop, which I would THINK would lock them up.

I am going to replace the pin with a stretch cord version (like an old phone cord) like I have on my trailer, which seems to be a much better option than the cable.

Not looking forward to the bill on the brakes. 😞 Thanks all.

[naturist]

Sounds like user error to me too. I don't think that brake is supposed to lock up the brakes, just apply them heavily to stop the trailer. Locked brakes would produce a skidding sled that could go anywhere and won't necessarily stop faster than one with wheels still turning but brakes applied. Simple physics says a skidding tire has LESS grip on the road than one that is rolling.

[colliehauler]

Operator error. Brakes worked fine.

[time2roll]

Operator error to have the breakaway cable connected poorly.
Hitch set up is responsibility of the driver.

Don't fret about it. RVs have lots of systems that do not protect themselves from user oversight. We have all done something that has caused inadvertent damage. If no one is hurt it is a good day.

And go ahead and test those new brakes that they perform as expected. If you expect them to lock up discuss that with the dealer but often they do not.

[wa8yxm]

If I were an adjuster I'd have to decline warranty on that .. Basically it is YOUR responsibility to insure the break-away is properly inserted.

[KD4UPL]

I don't know if the brakes should necessarily be locked up when you're applying power to continue pulling it. I would say you shouldn't have had the breakaway cable so tight that a sharp turn pulled it loose.

[donn0128]

Sounds like the owners, or person towing did not bother to check the brake adjustment prior to moving it. Trailer brakes do need adjustment once in a while. Not done equals higher brake controller setting. The brake away did what is was suppose to do.

[DutchmenSport]

Sounds like the break-away did exactly what it was suppose to do. It kept the breaks engaged on the trailer. Of course, the trailer wheels just turn, the tow vehicle wheels have power behind them, and can over come locked up trailer wheels.

If a separation between tow vehicle and trailer occurred, the trailer brakes would have stopped the trailer rather quickly. But your tow vehicle kept forcing the thing to move, thus overheating the breaks, causing the dust, and finally failure. You are extremely lucky the trailer breaks did not catch fire from dragging it so long.

I don't think this is a manufacturer issue, rather a user issue. When you first noticed the extra drag on the trailer, it should have been inspected closer right then.

My trailer breaks do not "lock up" my trailer wheels. The sheer weight of the trailer in motion is too much for breaks to "lock up".

I once pulled my break-away cable and re-inserted it. I then proceeded to hitch up and move the vehicle. Although I could move the vehicle, it was the most stubborn attempt I'd ever encountered. I immediately checked the break away cable, pulled it again and reinserted it. The brakes freed-up then. The trailer rolled normal again.

I think it's user error on this one. But .... don't take my advise. It's still worth checking with your dealer. Maybe they will determine the breaks should have been adjusted tighter or something. You just never know how they will respond.