Should the trailer brakes be able to lock up?

[Ishler]

When we first purchased the 3670 last year I set the Prodigy to 6 or 7 and seemed to have no problems stoping. I left the adjustment when we purchased the new truck and all seemed ok. I was adjusting the brakes and inspecting the bearings and decided to set up the controller per the manual. Even at the strongest setting the wheels don't lock. So back to my question, should they? The connections look good, I did remove the line splices between the axels and soldered and sealed the connections.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

I would not want my brake controller to be able to lock the brakes. Locked or Skidding tires have little effect on stopping a vehicle in an emergency situation. That is the very reason for anti-lock braking on all new vehicles. Who knows, maybe the folks at Prodigy have discovered anti-lock braking for trailers.

[sreigle]

I know the instructions say to adjust until it locks the brakes and then back it off but we've used several different controllers with our two Montanas, including the Prodigy (excellent controller in my book), and never could get the wheels to lock up. I really don't know why but that's what I found.

[Bill and Ann]

I have never been able to get my brakes to lock up either. I set the Prodigy a 6.7 Boost 2 and it works great for me.

[Ishler]

Thanks for all the good feedback! Looks like mine is functioning normally.

[RMccord]

I talked to Prodigy and they said that many trailers the brakes won't lock up. That you should set the numerical setting for the braking effect you desire and then the B value to how much you want the trailer braking to work ahead of the trucks. They said some trailers will lock up and the procedure they describe is based on that but that the bottom line is adjust to get the amount of braking you like. I suggested they modify the instruction a bit or atleast make that statement. They said the tech dept has made it several times but the addition to the instructions has not been made. No idea if it ever will.
My brake problems have been found. Bad magnet intermittent short. Dealer replacing it and checking all other wheels, readjusting the brakes and hopefully I should have it back tonight or tomorrow.