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Old 06-20-2017, 12:30 PM   #1
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Brake question

Hi all, I just got my 27' Kodiak 240BHSL back from the shop. I got the shackles inspected and I had the brakes inspected and adjusted. My brakes were almost completely gone when I brought it in (pads ok, just not working). I almost lost my TV brakes coming down a pass a few weeks back, smoke poured out of my TV wheels!
Anyway, I picked up the trailer last night and hooked everything up. My brake controller goes from 1 - 14.5 (max output). The brakes still felt weak to me when I pulled the manual handle on the controller. The tech set me on 8 and let the truck creep forward (no speed at all) then pulled the manual handle on the controller and the truck came to a stop in about 5-10ft. At setting 12 I still could not get the trailer wheels to lock up. I thought you set it so you have lock up then back it down a few steps but honestly I have no idea.
Almost losing the brakes was a pretty frightening experience with the wife and 2 boys in the truck. The "what could have happened!" I just want to make sure things are right. I'm not sure if the mechanic was just pretty laid back or wasn't sure of what he was doing but he did not give me confidence when leaving for some reason.
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Old 06-20-2017, 01:22 PM   #2
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Not a brake expert, but when adjusting my controller for the first time, they would easily lock up if the setting was too high. When properly adjusted, there was no doubt they worked very well.
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Old 06-22-2017, 08:21 PM   #3
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Thanks!

Thanks for the reply, I drove it in the mountains out to Crested Butte, Co yesterday and had no trouble but I'm still not convinced everything is right. The brake is working I feel adequately set at 8.5 (out of 14.5) but again even at setting 12 I can not get the wheels to lock up. Not that I want them to lock but I just feel the controller is set way to high at 8.5 and there isn't any reserve for an emergency stop. I'll probably take it to another shop for a second opinion.
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Old 05-02-2018, 12:38 PM   #4
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I have trailer brake concerns also. I have a '14 39' voltage 3605. I've had it 6 months and haven't received a lesson about setting the brakes properly. So far I've manually braked the controller until I feel the trailer braking pretty strong and then tap my tv breaks to feel the breaking ability together. If I feel to much trailer I back it off some. It seems about 6.8 is best. I'm most concerned with my wife my dog and my safety so on steep hills to moderately steep hills I use tw/haul 2nd gear and at 25 mph I tap tv breaks back to 20 then at 25 back to 20... I almost lost my brakes also once and will never do that again. COMMENTS!
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Old 05-03-2018, 08:06 PM   #5
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How steep was that hill that you went down at 25 mph. You must have backed up traffic behind you. You didn't say what your tow vehicle is but 6.8 on the brake setting sounds low to me.
I had the same Voltage as you. Out here in the west were we have mountains 3rd gear is the lowest I've ever used down hill.
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Old 07-12-2018, 12:46 AM   #6
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I adjusted my own trailer brakes on our 2017 Coleman 27 foot 262BH before our trip to the mountains a couple of weeks ago. I have pretty much the same feel on the brakes. I think my controller is getting weak. But, the brakes worked great even coming down Black Mountain pass. No trouble at all slowing or stopping. I'm not convinced that being able to lock the brakes is the norm. When I close the manual/hand brake on the controller the brakes stop the trailer and the TV very well but, no lock ups. When I apply the TV brakes and the trailer brakes kick in the rig stops comfortably and I don't get any push at all.



I just sleep better having had my hands on those adjusters and knowing exactly how they were set. It's so bloody easy to adjust trailer brakes. When I did mine for the first time after delivery from the dealership two wheels were pretty close and two were way out of adjustment, probably not doing anything much. The mechanic at the dealership gave us the new unit walk around said that we shouldn't mess with the axle bearings for 10 years unless were were doing really long distance trips. We tow about 3000 miles a year. I haven't repacked yet. I did pull the rubber hub covers and saw that there was plenty of grease in there so, I'll probably not mess with then for another couple of years. Then I'll just use the EZ lube function.
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Old 07-12-2018, 02:44 AM   #7
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There is a reason I went with disc brakes. The controller on my Ram had a EOH setting. Set to 6.5 and I almost don’t know the trailer is back there. Almost.
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