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Old 03-25-2018, 06:38 AM   #1
Nclauri
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Brakes on our 5th wheel

We are having a recurring issue with our 5th wheel. The brake wiring is fraying and then it stops working. We have taken it in for repair 4 times. This last time we were told that it may be the axle or wheel plate. They don’t know. We thought the issue was fixed last year and we have just started a 6 month trip. We live in our 5th wheel full time. We have a 2017 Montana 3720.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any solutions to getting this fixed quickly? Neither of us have any experience with braking systems.

Thank you.
 
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Old 03-25-2018, 07:26 AM   #2
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I had intermittent brake problems and found where the wires go into the hollow axle free frayed. New wires taped and wire tied outside the axle. No more problems
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Old 03-25-2018, 08:12 AM   #3
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X2 /\/\

Of course there is that disc brake mod...............
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Old 03-25-2018, 08:25 AM   #4
1retired06
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nclauri View Post
We are having a recurring issue with our 5th wheel. The brake wiring is fraying and then it stops working. We have taken it in for repair 4 times. This last time we were told that it may be the axle or wheel plate. They don’t know. We thought the issue was fixed last year and we have just started a 6 month trip. We live in our 5th wheel full time. We have a 2017 Montana 3720.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any solutions to getting this fixed quickly? Neither of us have any experience with braking systems.

Thank you.
In four times for repair, not a sharp technician. Also experiencing frayed wiring, I split lengths of rubber vacuum hose I had laying around, encased the wiring with them and wrapped with heavy duty electrical tape where the wiring was fraying. I cut the wiring at the axle, used it to pull new wiring thru the length of the axle, but found no fraying occured within the axle itself. No further problems. Lots of options to protect the wiring from the back plate to the axle, am sure someone has a better one than mine.
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Old 03-25-2018, 10:22 AM   #5
mtlakejim
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Might try heat shrink at potential abrasion points.
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Old 03-25-2018, 04:30 PM   #6
DadsHemi
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We had this issue and I was dug he wires to the magnet were all chewed up inside the drum breaks. The factory had excess wire inside.....bone heads. I’ve also heard the the wire running through the axial tubes can be Chaffet and short out. Have they even pulled the drums to make sure it all good inside with the magnet wires.
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Old 04-13-2018, 09:16 AM   #7
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It is only two wires that can be hooked up either way as they are not polarity dependant. Go under the rv and find out where the fraying is...if you can see it. You can always use a meter to measure the impedance of each wheel magnet to see which are shorted or open.
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Old 04-13-2018, 10:05 AM   #8
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The brakes are not that complex. Four times to service and they still do not know what the problem is does not speak very highly for the service department. I would schedule a conference with the service manager if he has not yet been directly involved. If he has, then you may be out of luck with that service department.
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Old 04-15-2018, 05:52 PM   #9
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We have started to have issues too on our current trip. I can't see any fraying, so I think I'm going to start splitting the harness up to troubleshoot it. The worst part its intermittent.

Those of you who have replaced wiring, what type of wire and spices (connectors) did you use?
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Old 04-15-2018, 06:04 PM   #10
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We have started to have issues too on our current trip. I can't see any fraying, so I think I'm going to start splitting the harness up to troubleshoot it. ......,,,,..
Are the brakes on your 2011 self adjusting or manual? My 2007 are manual and when I noticed less efficient braking all it needed was to adjust the brakes.
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Old 04-15-2018, 07:55 PM   #11
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My suggestion for connectors is to use the connectors that have heat shrink as they are weatherproof. The sealed connections don't corrode as much as standard crimp connectors. In addition the heat shrink also acts as a strain relief to reduce the chance of wiring pulling out.


Wherever the wiring runs thru a wall, I suggest using rubber donuts to reduce the chance of the wire being frayed on a sharp surface. If you really want to go all out run the wiring inside conduit. That step is justified considering the critical safety nature of brake wiring!!! Nothing like hitting the brake pedal for a panic stop and finding out that your trailer brakes are shorted out!!!
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Old 04-15-2018, 09:13 PM   #12
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Ours are self adjusting. My brake controller is what is detecting the short.
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Old 04-15-2018, 09:17 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by mtlakejim View Post
My suggestion for connectors is to use the connectors that have heat shrink as they are weatherproof. The sealed connections don't corrode as much as standard crimp connectors. In addition the heat shrink also acts as a strain relief to reduce the chance of wiring pulling out.


Wherever the wiring runs thru a wall, I suggest using rubber donuts to reduce the chance of the wire being frayed on a sharp surface. If you really want to go all out run the wiring inside conduit. That step is justified considering the critical safety nature of brake wiring!!! Nothing like hitting the brake pedal for a panic stop and finding out that your trailer brakes are shorted out!!!
Thanks for the tips. I'm considering running the wires inside plastic flex and tie wrapping it to the outside of the axle. That way it will be easier to examine if I have any problems in the future. I wonder what the original wiring insulation is made of?
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Old 04-16-2018, 09:30 AM   #14
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Just replace the wires with something same wire gauge or heavier wire to insure adequate current flow for magnets.
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Old 04-16-2018, 03:35 PM   #15
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Well, I found my problem, moisture got in the bulkhead connector in the side wall in the bed of my truck. Even after drying it out, more moisture was leaking out of the body of the connector where the pins come through. With the help of contact cleaner and a can of air, I was able to dry it out and correct my issue. I think it's time for a new connector with seals.
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Old 04-16-2018, 05:12 PM   #16
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If you are full timing bite the bullet and go with disc brakes. Absolutely the best mod we have ever done. Don't know where you are, but if you get to South Texas I know of a great place to have it done.
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Old 04-16-2018, 11:28 PM   #17
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Zanetti's in Weatherford Tx just west of Fort Worth does disc brakes. There was a write-up about them a couple of years ago in Trailer Life magazine.
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Old 04-17-2018, 12:09 PM   #18
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Southwest Wheel on Gembler Road has done all of my axle work since I have owned my Montana. They initially installed the wet bolt kit. A couple of years ago I wanted to upgrade the axles and go to the rims that would allow me to use the G614's. They did the brake upgrade to discs at the same time for a ery reasonable cost. They build trailers from scratch there and really know their stuff. They also installed the Level Up for me. Very honest and highly skilled.
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Old 04-17-2018, 12:10 PM   #19
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I forgot to add-Southwest Wheel is in San Antonio.
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