Big trouble with prodigy/camper trailer electric brakes.

Submitted: Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:05

ThreadID: 80879 Views:5205 Replies:7 FollowUps:3

This Thread has been Archived

Member - Boo Boo (NSW)

G'day all

I had electric brakes put on the camper trailer while we were in Rockhampton.

The idea was good, ie safety etc, but have had quite a bit of trouble with the brakes.

First the wiring put on the trailer was wrong and had to be fixed.

I asked about the hubs being very, very hot around town with little use of the brakes and was told they will get a little hot.

On the way home toScone every thing appeared ok, although I did jack the wheels up and checked that the wheels ran free as they were quite hot about 30 mins out of Rocky.

Got to within 1 hour of Scone and the nearside brake was not releasing and I could hear them scrapping.

Got home and backed up the driveway (about 50 mtrs) got out of the car and went to put the trailer handbrake on, but couldn't as the wire was as tight as a drum.

Got under the trailer and it appears the axle has turned about a quarter of a turn.

Have I done something wrong?

Help would be appreciated.

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:17

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:17

Hi Boo Boo. A couple of possibilitys for the cause could be some current flowing continuously to the brakes from your car controller. You would need a dc volt meter to check this or the brake system was adjusted up too tight causing shoes to rub continuously. It seems like you may have a round axle for it to be able to turn that far which could be possible if the brakes were binding hard but the axle should have a flat spring plate welded to it so it would have to break the weld on both sides. You may have to get someone local to have a look for you. Regards,Bob

AnswerID: 428053

Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 20:15

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 20:15

Bob

Good point about the weld. I will have a look when I get home next weekend.

At present we are in Sydney and left the camper at home.

FollowupID: 698748

Reply By: Notso - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:19

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:19

There is no reason at all for the hubs to get hot just because you have electric brakes fitted.

If they are fitted correctly and adjusted correctly then they will run just as cool as they would without the brakes.

So I'd be heading to a reputable caravan repair shop and get em to check out the system.

AnswerID: 428054

Follow Up By: Notso - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:20

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:20

The brake linings and drums are probably shot by now as well.

FollowupID: 698736

Follow Up By: smithy_1 - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:53

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:53

The axle nut which holds the bearings in might have been on a little too tight. This can cause overheating, and can occur even on a new trailer, as was the case with us. We were told the hub should feel just warm, and anything beyond that is a problem. One of ours got warm, and we backed off the nut 1/4 turn and no problems after that.

FollowupID: 698742

Reply By: Member - Ian H (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:48

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:48

If the original axle had no brakes and was round in section it may not have flat plates welded on at the spring mount points.
Put brakes on it then and the axle can be rotated in the U bolts during braking efforts.
Worth checking out first.

AnswerID: 428058

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:55

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 19:55

If your handbrake wire was tight it sounds like it was too tight from the start and would cause them to come on heat up and rub. If the axle wound BACK it would tighten the handbrake as well.
Also check the bearings werent done up too tight as that would heat things up fairly quickly.

The way to set a Prodigy is to get up to about 45k and use the manual lever and it should pull the rig up without locking up.
If not adjust the gain so its on a bit more.
Mine is up to 6.2. and stops a 6000kg rig Ok

AnswerID: 428061

Reply By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 20:22

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 20:22

Thanks fellas

It is going into the local mechanic tomorrow week when we get back to Scone.
With the info you have proveded I can at least give him some info regarding the problem, and know if he spins me a story!

AnswerID: 428071

Reply By: Batt's - Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 20:23

Sunday, Aug 22, 2010 at 20:23

Just something else to check the angle the brake controler has been mounted in your car the manufacturer has this in the handbook though not related to your problem

AnswerID: 428072

Reply By: Gazal Champion - Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 18:04

Monday, Aug 23, 2010 at 18:04

Hi Boo Boo,
Your electric brakes normally would run cool when working properly, as mine do on our 2 tonne van. My personal opinion is that electric brakes are the best thing since sliced bread given the level of control they give you.

As Bob said it sounds like the axle is at fault.
If the hand brake cable lever is fitted to the bottom of the backing plate, then a quarter turn would be enough to do what you have described. In fact the hand brake cable would have applied the brakes and stopped it rotating any further. That would be why they got hot.

If you are any good with an electric welder you can fit some plates to the axle between the spring and axle. As I say, weld them to the axle and this will stop the rotation.

Otherwise as the others say take it to a good mechanic and get them to fix it for you.

Cheers, Bruce.