Emergency break-away switch

[MetalGrand]

I just bought a travel trailer the other day and the emergency break away switch is sticking out quite a lot. If I pull it, it comes out really easy. I try to push it in all the way and it wont budge past a certain point. I dont want to push it too hard and possibly break it. Does this look normal?

[Old-Biscuit]

MetalGrand wrote:
I just bought a travel trailer the other day and the emergency break away switch is sticking out quite a lot. If I pull it, it comes out really easy. I try to push it in all the way and it wont budge past a certain point. I dont want to push it too hard and possibly break it. Does this look normal?

If you towed it and brakes were not locked p/got hot after towing them trailer brakes are NOT working

Pin was not in so switch should have been closed and FULL battery voltage applied to brake magnets

So either magnets are damaged or trailer battery was no good

Hopefully battery no good.

You need to have a good fully charged battery installed
Jack up one wheel position at a time and check braking
While hand spinning wheel have someone pull pin........brake should full engage prevent you from continuing to spin wheel by hand

If you can still spin...then place compass next to wheel in magnet area and see if needle deflects towards magnet when pin is pulled out.
If so......

Probably need to manually adjust brakes and then retest by hand spinning and pulling pin. Properly adjusted brakes with good magnet you should not be able to hand spin wheel

Only leave pin out long enough to do testing then put back in!!!

[RoyB]

My quick test is when I get it all hooked up and start out of my neighborhood road. After I get up to a low speed I will use the SLIDER lever on the Electric Brakes and not the brake pedal. In my neighborhood I have a stop sign just a block away so this is great spot for me to test my stop just using the slider lever on the electric brakes...

This should bring you to a good stop which is only using the trailer electric brakes...

Some of the newer trucks with OEM Brake Controllers have everything tied into the truck computer and may not operate if you are under 10 MPH when using the Truck brake pedal to stop the trailer. This is why I am saying use the slider lever to do the trailer braking at slow speeds.

Obvisously the previous owner was using the trailer without working trailer brakes so I would figure out a way to see if everything is hooked-up properly.. The wiring to the trailer brakes may be disconnected or something.

You will be violating a DOT SAFETY LAW if you tow this trailer on public roadways without trailer brakes. Its kinda dangerous to do so too...

You can check with ETRAILER.COM and learn more about the electric brakes wiring with connector pin-outs etc...

Roy Ken

[mosseater]

Thanks goodness no one asked where to attach the cable (again).

[MetalGrand]

Okay thanks for the info. I pulled the batteries out after I parked it and I've had it plugged into shore power. How will I know something isn't working right when we take it out for the first time?

[RoyB]

Great - Glad it worked...

Each brake magnet will pull a good 3 Amps DC current with 12.3VDC applied from your trailer battery ... for single axle that would be 6AMPs total... a double axle will be 12AMPs DC current... Won't take too long to drain the battery...

Also the electric brakes are not designed to be left in the ON position for long time periods as well...
Since you got it this way you need to really check to see if the Electric Brakes are working now... They may be blown now or the previous owner did something to disable the 12.3VDC going to the brake Magnets...

Hopefully it is all working when being towed. It is DOT SAFETY REQUIREMENT to have a working Brake setup in case the trailer becomes disconnected from the tow vehicle while being towed on public highways. If something happens and the Insurance Company figures out the brakes were not in working order you may get stuck with the bill or worse yet someone gets hurt...

Roy Ken

[RoyB]

OOPS... Double post

[MetalGrand]

Thanks guys, I needed to push just a little bit harder, and I got it in. 😉

[enblethen]

Verify the key is right side up.
Did you grease the key?

[opnspaces]

Two points, Disconnect your battery as it is draining it with the pin pulled. And do not plug the trailer into the tow vehicle or you might burn out the brake controller.

[pigman1]

Nope, not normal. Push it all the way in. They do go bad but a replacement can be found in most auto supply stores. I think I paid less than $12 for a switch, cable and pin a couple of years ago when mine failed.