RK_Hauler
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Re: Prodigy P3 Overload Warning
Bigbird - I had a spare magnet that was in decent shape but decided not to mess with it as I only had a thousand miles or so to get home. If I were to stick with the electric brakes I would have needed all new backing plates and drums. Once the magnet surface on the drum is grooved they don't work very well. Disc brakes are electric over hydraulic. 3x the cost of electrics, but I haven't heard from anyone who has them that says they aren't worth it. Lots of info and sources on the internet.511Views0likes0CommentsRe: Prodigy P3 Overload Warning
BigBird - Your problem sounds exactly like mine. I started this thread hoping for help. I suspected and still believe my problem was a bad magnet and drum. I figured it out by cutting the wires to one brake at a time then driving it. If the P3 still gave the overload warning when stopping I would use butt connectors to reconnect and try the next one. I suspected which one it was based on the condition of the magnet surface of the drum when I did the brakes last summer. So got lucky and cut the right one the first time. No warnings since and I've pulled it more miles than I should say on three brakes.... My problem was really repeatable - it would do it every time I stopped unless it was a really slow light stop. What I believe is happening is the magnet surface in the drum is badly grooved. When stopping the magnet (which is also probably badly worn) is pulled into the groove, rocks a bit, and shorts itself in the groove. When you let off the brake it moves out of the groove and no more short. Not sure if that makes sense. Regardless...just delivered today - a brand new disc brake kit I'm about to install. Pricey but looking forward to better stopping and easier to maintain brakes. Good luck with yours.370Views0likes0CommentsRe: Any Mountaineer 347THT Owners?
We've spent 3 months in our 5er no problem. If I was going to full time I would prefer to have something with more living area. The garage does help, but we don't use it for anything other than storage....or if we have visitors we put the air bed from the sofa back there so it is like a spare bedroom.435Views0likes0CommentsRe: Any Mountaineer 347THT Owners?
Not a full-timer. The 347THT is one of the lightest toy haulers out there. Just about any diesel truck would pull it. At $20K you are probably looking at 10 to 15 year old trucks. Stopping is the biggest problem with a large 5th wheel. I don't believe a 350/3500 would do that any better than a 250/2500, especially in older trucks. They both usually have the same brakes. Only the springs and maybe rear axles are beefier. Also, if you are relying on the truck to stop the 5th wheel you are in trouble with anything short of a very large truck. The trailer brakes need to stop the trailer. Tires, axles, and springs need to be rated to support the weight. The engine and tranny need to be heavy duty enough to pull it up the mountain. Good luck with your search.435Views0likes0CommentsRe: Prodigy P3 Overload Warning
Haven't tried yet, but hoping I can reproduce the overload with the trailer sitting. After stopping and sitting still I can pump the brakes all day long and no warning. Gonna take some work that's all there is to it. I'll share what I find....or hopefully find. Thanks for all the good tips.371Views0likes0CommentsRe: Prodigy P3 Overload Warning
Larry's advice is good - I should reroute those wires outside the axle as an improvement. The predictability of my overload warning makes me think that is probably not my problem though. If it were a bare wire in the axle it seems an overload would occur at various times when braking, not just when the rig comes to a complete stop. My question involves how best to check one brake at a time without removing the drums to visually inspect magnets and wires.137Views0likes0CommentsRe: Prodigy P3 Overload Warning
Thanks to all for the good tips. The part that has me stumped is how to figure out which magnet/wheel is causing the problem. I did mess with the P3 diagnostic, but that measures amps on the whole system. I give the compass test a try first, but suspect all are working until the brake assembly on one of the wheels is torqued to engage the brake shoes against the drum. Then something gets shorted...a bare wire or a bad magnet. Then it quits when the brake is released. The only solution may be to cut the wires on one magnet at a time until the warning doesn't pop up going down the road. Would rather find an easy way to figure it out in the driveway though. Might be seeing a disk brake conversion in my future - sure tired of the drum brake problems.104Views0likes0CommentsProdigy P3 Overload Warning
I am getting an intermittent overload warning on my P3 controller that just started about 500 miles ago during our last trip. I would like to get it resolved to get us back and then R&R the whole system. The warning only happens after I come to a complete stop, then disappears when I let off and/or pump the brake. It doesn't show up until I come to a complete stop again. No warning when in the process of stopping so haven't lost brakes when stopping. I suspect it is a magnet or a bad wire inside the drum and would like to test to see which one it is without removing drums. Wondering if anyone has advice on a good/best way to do this sort of test? Thanks in advance, Greg16KViews0likes35CommentsRe: Any Mountaineer 347THT Owners?
Wow three years FT is impressive and must be fun! I get an email when someone posts in this thread - and I also can't believe it's almost 5 years since my first question! Still have our 347. Stayed in it three months over the summer last year and not since - hopefully soon though. For tires, you might consider a commercial truck tire like BFG Commercial T/A, Michelin XPS, or Firestone Transforce. We put the Firestones on ours in 2011. They've been to AK and back and a couple trips to FL - no probs and hardly show any wear. The weight rating (3042#) on these don't mean much. ST tires have an easier rating system than passenger tires because they technically don't haul passengers, so a lesser factor of safety on them compared to commercial truck tires. Good luck343Views0likes0Comments
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