Checking brakes on travel trailer surprised what I found

[evanrem]

Just an fyi for folks who don't service or check brakes on the travel trailer. My trailer is going on it 5th year and we are weekend warriors and get out about 45 days a year in it. I thought I would give the wheels bearings and brakes a check since it has not been done since I bought it. I know they say yearly but I'm sure I'm not the only one. I only had time to do the right side and one was missing the clip that holds the magnet in place, it was still braking but not sure what kind of problems the missing clip caused. The other wheel, one of the wires to the magnet broke so that brake was not working at all. From the looks of the magnet and pads it looks like it was broke for a while. Plus the rear seal was damaged and a bunch of grease was in there. So I need to gather all parts I need to repair that. Curious to see what the other side looks like. Just a reminder if yours have not been checked in a while might want to look into it.

[westend]

Chuck the Hammer wrote:
...being a retired auto mechanic.. I trust no one...

Sad, but so very true. I'm still doing all of my vehicle maintenance and repair. In a few years, I'll need to find a shop and mechanic I can trust. There is a small independent shop I have my eye on.

[DutchmenSport]

Had my bearing repacked last November, brakes checked also. First time since we purchased it (2 years earlier). All was good, done just in time before our Florida trip over Christmas.

[Chuck_thehammer]

Check every year. BECAUSE

last summer I purchased a used trailer from a dealer.... before delivery I asked the brakes and bearing be checked and or serviced... 2 different people said they were serviced..

being a retired auto mechanic.. I trust no one ... I pulled the wheels/brake drums.. 3 of the 4 brakes were destroyed.... only 1 was working.

retuned trailer...with photos... got all new brakes and installed... Free.. and a New battery.

[cbshoestring]

Pennsylvania requires mine to be checked every year (no 5 year lapse of good sense for me). They don't even trust me to do it...a "certified" trailer inspector person must do it.

Really :h Five years, and not even a single check to make sure the bearings had a bit of grease in/on them??????

Did you atleast "test" the brakes by using the little knobby thing on the brake controller once a year or so :@

Sorry...snarky, borderline troll.

[evanrem]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Didn't your brake controller tell you the brake with the broken wire had an open? When one of my trailer wires broke I instantly knew it because of the controller. :h

it did not. I use the factory controller that came with my Silverado.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Didn't your brake controller tell you the brake with the broken wire had an open? When one of my trailer wires broke I instantly knew it because of the controller. :h

[96Bounder30E]

Moved from Class A

[bluwtr49]

Nice he found his problem but the info isn't of much value on the MH forum...don't know of any with electric brakes.

[phillyg]

I suspect all four brakes and parts will have been affected over the five-year period. I've found it easier, and not really all that more expensive, to order complete assemblies, plus your bearings and races. I've gotten good service and prices from e-trailer.com

[BB_TX]

You might ask a moderator to move this from class A to travel trailer forum.

Before each season I jack up one wheel slightly off the ground, pull the emergency breakaway cable, spin that wheel, and make sure it locks up. If good, I put the cable back and repeat with the other three. If all good, then great. If one does not lock up, then I find out why and further check the others.