CAR HAULER
Not many people know what indicates the need for replacement brakes in their RV trailer. First off, should your trailer weigh more than three thousand pounds, it should be fitted with its own brakes. (Contact your local DMV for legal guidelines.) If you own a 5th wheeler, Trailer RV or car hauler, it probably does feature electric brakes. So, what other kinds of brakes are there? Well, many other tow-vehicles feature hydraulic brakes, much like the brakes found on today's cars and trucks. And, truth be told, your electric brakes operate in pretty much the same manner as hydraulic brakes. However, there are some significant distinctions that can wreak havoc on your trailer's integrity, your wallet and your sanity, if you don't understand some important electrical brake, basics. Here's what you need to know to address some major trailer brake issues as expediently and inexpensively as possible.
Look at the front section of your trailer. (Known as the tongue, area.) You'll see a breakaway switch (Figure One) and a battery (Figure Two). The 2 items work in tandem as your emergency backup. If your trailer ever gets disconnected from your tow vehicle, this emergency system is designed to automatically, engage the trailer's brake. This occurs because as the trailer pulls away from the tow rig, the breakaway plunger gets pulled, out, activating the breakaway switch. This releases current to the unhitched trailer's braking system, activates the brakes and stops the trailer.
What's the best way to determine whether your 5th wheel or car hauler 's breakaway system is truly working properly? First off, we recommend a simple test that should be utilized every time you hit the road. First, pull the emergency switch plunger from its receptacle (fig #3). Using a screwdriver, find a wheel with a brake drum and touch the screwdriver to that brake drum. (Fig. #4). If the screwdriver feels as if you've touched a magnet, this means your emergency breakaway battery and breakaway system are in good working order. This is because, be it RV trailer, fifth wheeler or car hauler, the trailer's braking system uses an electromagnetic brake engagement system. When a current is sent to the brake magnet, the magnet surface comes in contract with the brake drum and magnetizes the drum. Since we're discussing magnetized drums, it's important to know that after several years of use, your RV trailer or fifth wheel brake drums may become permanently magnetized.
When this occurs, it's important to be able to distinguish this problem from problems with brake shoes, brake clusters or brakes simply needing an adjustment. This could save you unnecessary part replacement or diagnostic costs as well as the hassle of having your system completely torn down. As soon as you feel that your car hauler or trailer RV brakes aren't working properly, first, disconnect the trailer electrically (fig. #5) from the tow vehicle.
Then take your screwdriver and touch the brake drum. If the screwdriver feels as if you've touched a magnet, your drums have become magnetized and require replacement. (Fig.#6) It's just that simple.
People often wonder about the brake's inner workings and the root cause of this problem. Well, it's much like the effect caused when two magnets repel, rather than attract, one another. In this instance, the electro magnet activating the braking system has a stronger magnetic field due to the induction of current to the magnet. While it has a stronger magnetic field than the drum, it is designed to work properly when it's not being repelled by a magnetic force, even a weak one. This is why you can set the braking power, on a brake control head, to the highest power, without locking the brakes. The weak magnetic force of a magnetized drum, will not allow the brake magnet to interface correctly with your RV Trailer 's brake drum surface. This is what causes the brakes to feel slightly engaged, while not functioning properly.
To be on the safe side, check your trailer brakes annually. Spring is a popular time for RV trailer owners, preparing their gear for yet another year of family fun. For more tips and tricks on trailer safety, contact your trailer's manufacturer. They should always be happy to help keep you safe and well informed. Now, let's get back to having fun on the road!