Trailer Brakes - Montana Owners Club

Chasersr · 12-17-2018, 08:47 PM

Hello.. I have a 2017 Chevy 3500 crew cab dually. I have a 2017 Montana fifth wheel 3820fk that I have been having a problem with The problem is either the truck or trailer. Not sure which. Driving down the road I get a message on my information center saying check trailer wiring ( I have) then right away (most times) trailer connected. All the time the chime goes off. During the time it says check wiring I have no brakes. This does this constantly! The chiming can drive you nuts. Not to ignore how unsafe it is not having brakes.
Has anyone experienced this and if so what is the problem?

**AZ Traveler** · 12-17-2018, 09:20 PM

Several possibilities, the first thing I would check is the brake wiring going into your drums for chaffing. Another place to look is the 7 pin connector between the truck and trailer.

DadsHemi · 12-17-2018, 10:12 PM

I had this problem on my 17 3160RL right after I bought it, it needed up being way to much brake wires in the brake drum which in turn striped the shield off the wires and was grounding out.

**Carl n Susan** · 12-17-2018, 10:46 PM

This problem is more common than you would think. Lots of places for shorts to occur. The 7 pin plug in the truck, the 4"square junction box on the pin box, bad connectors at a brake, chafed wires inside brake drum (check the right rear first) and/or chafed wires inside the axle have all been causes.

A Search will uncover a trove of information including diagnosis and repair. Unfortunately it isn't easy to find the intermittent fault.

ctwebb · 12-18-2018, 06:34 AM

Most common problem is there is a wire in one of the brake drums that is grounding out. Need to pull off the drum and look for naked wires touching metal. I had same problem with a 14 high country . Sent to two different dealers under warranty neither could find the issue because they did not remove the drum, After sending back to the original dealer I purchased it from I demanded they remove the drums and what do you know? naked wires.

Chasersr · 12-18-2018, 08:44 AM

Thank you for the info.

mtheo · 12-19-2018, 09:07 AM

Chaffing wires in brake drum. Happen to me.

twindman · 12-19-2018, 10:25 PM

To rule out the 7 pin connection, if your truck is like mine there is the in bed connector and the bumper connector. Try using the other one for a day and see if anything changes.

Chasersr · 12-20-2018, 11:35 AM

I took my trailer into repair shop and the answer they have is that the brakes are working fine. They cleaned 7 pin connector and pulled trailer with their truck (dodge 3500) and brakes did just fine. I will pick it up with my truck (3500 Chevy). If it still acts up I will take truck in. Question is could it be in truck and is it possibly a Chevy problem?
Thank you in advance for any and all feedback.

**AZ Traveler** · 12-20-2018, 02:11 PM

Yes it could be the truck. I would not rule out that you have a trailer issue based on a single test drive if the problem was intermittent before.

Chasersr · 12-20-2018, 06:25 PM

Gotcha. That is my thought also. Thank you.

vipermanden · 12-23-2018, 01:30 PM

I have a RAM 3500 dually and the 3820FK, and we had that annoying chime and same message you had, especially after hitting big bumps in the Hwy. So it was so intermittent, that some days it would do it all day, and I would just turn the radio up, and some days not at all. Well after we hit huge potholes from Connecticut to Gettysburg, we had the heat and pressure rise on our front left tire. Once we got there and took off the hub, the brake adjuster and spring fell out! So the mobile repair guy fixed all that and adjusted the brakes, and we never had the problem arise again for about 2,500 miles. Then we sold it when we got home. So maybe the spring was dangling in there and finally came loose? Anyway, I think a bare wire or like we had could be going on in one of your drums?

laverdur · 12-23-2018, 01:51 PM

Had this problem on my Monty starting at about 30,000 miles. Intermittent problems are very hard to find. I checked both current and resistance at brake magnets and all checked out. I reworked all the connections at the wheel to no avail. Also replace the 7-pin pigtail to no avail. Checked TV and Monty wiring and proved nothing. Drove me nuts for two years. Heading to St. Joe, MO at about 45,000 miles, I never knew if I had trailer brakes or not. Very unnerving to say the least. Finally went to NAPA in St. Joe, MO and bought a spool of wire, crimp connectors, zip ties and liquid tape. Got under the Monty in the RV park in St. Joe, cut the wires running through the axles and ran now ones on the outside. Now at 75,000 miles and have not had the problem again since the fix in St. Joe. Finally pulled the wires out of the axles and both showed exposed wires in several places where the insulation had been worn away by vibration going down the road.

cmccuan · 12-23-2018, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasersr

Thank you for the info.

Had the same problem. It was our truck connection. Inside bed was bad. Outside bed works perfectly.

bradufault · 12-23-2018, 04:35 PM

I have a 2015 3500HD and had the same problem. The dealer end up replacing the sensor and the problem went away,

bradufault · 12-23-2018, 04:40 PM

I have a Chevy 2015 3500HD and on our last trip this same thing kept happening. Every time I would get out and the connection. Bought into a dealer and explain what was happening; after running a few test he identified a faulty sensor. Problem fix.
This is a issue you want to be resolved sooner then later.

Chasersr · 12-23-2018, 06:06 PM

Thanks for all responses. I will pick up camper on the 26th. They pulled it on the interstates and could not replicate the problem. ( Other issues needed fixed also)
Will see if hooking up my truck repeats the same problem. If so I will go from there. More later!

jcurryii · 12-23-2018, 10:21 PM

Never had a problem with our Monty, but had same problem with our gooseneck last week. Sprayed 7 pin connector with WD40 pulled over a hundred miles, no problem.

Chasersr · 12-23-2018, 11:49 PM

Thank you everyone. I am anxious to pick up our Monty and get this figured out. Hopefully with the information I received from everyone I can track down problem. Have a trip planned the end of January.
Merry Christmas everyone.

rmayo38895 · 12-24-2018, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasersr

Hello.. I have a 2017 Chevy 3500 crew cab dually. I have a 2017 Montana fifth wheel 3820fk that I have been having a problem with The problem is either the truck or trailer. Not sure which. Driving down the road I get a message on my information center saying check trailer wiring ( I have) then right away (most times) trailer connected. All the time the chime goes off. During the time it says check wiring I have no brakes. This does this constantly! The chiming can drive you nuts. Not to ignore how unsafe it is not having brakes.
Has anyone experienced this and if so what is the problem?

I have the same problem with my 2018/3811,I have been in and out of the shop ( Camping World) and can’t get them to pull the drums and check wiring,I pull mine with a 2017 Dodge 3500,I thought it might be my truck but now I see that my truck is not the problem,Thanks for posting this

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