Wire Size to Brake Magnets - Is it Worth It?
Now that my 2012 5th wheel is beyond the warranty period I have been researching increasing the wire gauge to the brake magnets. I've seen numerous testimonials about the improved performance a...
Forum Discussion
Is this a preventative maintenance item or are you trying to solve a brake problem? For example the controller is always at the max setting.
For preventative maintenance here are some things to look for:
1) Ensure crimps are good quality and sealed from the elements - just because they are factory does not mean they're good.... It's likely they are exposed to the elements and the wires will corrode over time, causing the connection to gradually get worse.
If the crimps are of the type where you can see the cut end of the wire and if you move the insulation side of the wire and can see wires on the cut side moving, then I would call that a "bad" crimp. That is also exposed to the elements....
I'm not convinced that wire nuts are good either.
2) Ensure there are no "extra" connections in the system - main run pieced together from smaller pieces (the only fix here is to re-wire).
3) Watch for problems with wire run through axle tubes (grommet rotted or missing for example)
4) Dexter and Lippert have a minimum wire gauge of 12 in the case where the axle is less than 30 feet from the hitch. It's 10 if the distance is more than 30 feet or for any tri axle trailer. Don't assume that the trailer manufacturer followed those minimum guidelines.
If you end up redoing the wire because of (#2 or #4) I would suggest at least 10 gauge as the main run.
The only way to make things worse is if you end up making bad connections and the brakes don't get the power they need.
For preventative maintenance here are some things to look for:
1) Ensure crimps are good quality and sealed from the elements - just because they are factory does not mean they're good.... It's likely they are exposed to the elements and the wires will corrode over time, causing the connection to gradually get worse.
If the crimps are of the type where you can see the cut end of the wire and if you move the insulation side of the wire and can see wires on the cut side moving, then I would call that a "bad" crimp. That is also exposed to the elements....
I'm not convinced that wire nuts are good either.
2) Ensure there are no "extra" connections in the system - main run pieced together from smaller pieces (the only fix here is to re-wire).
3) Watch for problems with wire run through axle tubes (grommet rotted or missing for example)
4) Dexter and Lippert have a minimum wire gauge of 12 in the case where the axle is less than 30 feet from the hitch. It's 10 if the distance is more than 30 feet or for any tri axle trailer. Don't assume that the trailer manufacturer followed those minimum guidelines.
If you end up redoing the wire because of (#2 or #4) I would suggest at least 10 gauge as the main run.
The only way to make things worse is if you end up making bad connections and the brakes don't get the power they need.
