Trailer brakes - Montana Owners Club

ALAN · 10-14-2009, 12:48 PM

I am pulling a 3400RL with an 05 Ford and a slider hitch. My question is that I was trying to move the slider hitch via the instructions on the hitch, and the brakes on the trailer did not hold. I talked with Keystone and they said the electric brakes should grab as soon as I activate the brakes. I found that the brakes would not grab until the truck was exceeding 10 mph. I moved the trailer about 50 ft under 10 mph with no effect. When I exceeded 10 Mph, they grabed immediately. I guess if I want to move the slider, I will have to find a way to block the tires. Any ideas?

Alan & Kathy

Champ_49 · 10-14-2009, 01:27 PM

Alan

My guess is that your brake actuator might not be tuned right. Or that it isn't working correctly. My brake control (Prodigy) holds right where I am at. Always check my hitch hook up to make sure I have a good hitch by applying trailer brakes only and giving some throttle both forward and backwards. I would check your brake control.

Champ_49 · 10-14-2009, 01:29 PM

Alan

I also forgot to mention that I always look at the hitch with a flashlight to make sure on the hookup. Just didn't want to leave that out.

Dave

Mudchief · 10-14-2009, 01:30 PM

Alan, what year is your 5th wheel? I know on my 07 model the brakes work sitting still. If fact every trailer I have ever owned has worked that way.

ALAN · 10-14-2009, 01:44 PM

Built 5/20/09. 3400RL 2010 Hickory edition

Tom S. · 10-14-2009, 02:00 PM

I too suspect your controller, but to rule out the trailer, try pulling your emergency stop pin and see if they lock up.

richfaa · 10-14-2009, 02:39 PM

You have the 05 Ford with the integrated brake controller. What you are experiencing is normal for the early models of the brake controller. There was a fix on later builds of the 05 Ford.. We had the same thing with our 05- F-350. BTW Ford would not change them out under warranty because there was nothing wrong with them...

hamcamper · 05-12-2010, 04:01 AM

Speaking of trailer brakes. Has anyone adjusted them? Mine don't seem to have the stopping power they had originally and I'm thinking they need adjusting. Any suggestions are welcome.

PapaBeav · 05-12-2010, 04:45 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by hamcamper

Speaking of trailer brakes. Has anyone adjusted them? Mine don't seem to have the stopping power they had originally and I'm thinking they need adjusting. Any suggestions are welcome.

To adjust them just jack up your rig one side at a time. Then remove the rubber plug on the back (inside) of the backing plate and tighten the adjuster with a brake adjustment tool until you can't turn the wheel by hand anymore Then back off the adjuster about 8 clicks. Do this for each wheel.

Art-n-Marge · 05-12-2010, 08:04 AM

I do pretty much what PapaBeav does but only back off enough clicks so the wheel turns but you still feel some friction. Most times when I do this it's less than 8 clicks for me. The goal is for the brake shoes to still have some contact (you should still hear a little bit of the scraping sound) with the drum so that you know the shoe is as close to the drum as you can get it. Too much drag and you're wasting brake shoes. Make sure you remember to use the same amount of spin friction all around so it's even at all wheels.

A few tips when adjusting brakes. You might want to adjust the brakes while hitched to your TV and/or chock the opposing wheels for extra holding power because the RV emergency brake pin (or whatever it's called) must be in place so you can freely spin the wheels.

SlickWillie · 05-12-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

You have the 05 Ford with the integrated brake controller. What you are experiencing is normal for the early models of the brake controller. There was a fix on later builds of the 05 Ford.. We had the same thing with our 05- F-350. BTW Ford would not change them out under warranty because there was nothing wrong with them...

So there is no way to activate the brakes by hand without the truck moving?

Crossthread · 05-12-2010, 10:25 AM

Slick Willie,That's the way my early 05 is. I was told that I had to be doing 15 mph for power to be applied to the brakes. I found a 12v always hot wire, installed a momentary on switch,ran that past the intergrated controller,hooked it into the brake wire. When I hold the switch. I have 12v to the brakes. The brake controller does it's job in normal driving. I've towed the Monty around 25k miles, no problems.Bill

RKassl · 05-12-2010, 12:28 PM

We just had the brakes totally replaced on our 05 Monty. The new ones are self adjusting and really are a world of difference from the OEM. The shop used the Dexter complete replacement kit for each wheel, everything is new and working well.

bill maietta · 05-12-2010, 03:33 PM

Bob,
Considering doing the same. How much did they charge for the replacement?

Slufoot733 · 05-20-2010, 08:41 PM

Alan, I'm not familiar with the '05 brake function under 10 MPH as mentioned above. However, if you need to activate the brake in order to change the slider from towing to maneuvering (I also have this hitch) you can pull the brake away pin to lock the brakes while you adjust your hitch position. By pulling the pin you effectively bypass any brake controller in your truck. This will allow you to slowly and carefully move your truck forward or backward to make your adjustments. After you have the hitch locked in position you can reinsert the pin which will release the brakes. This is somewhat tedious but it will work. Good luck,

Kevin

richfaa · 05-21-2010, 11:49 AM

Dexter will do that self adjusting brake replacement at the fall rally and that is my "rally improvement" for this year.

noneck · 05-21-2010, 01:53 PM

I use an old controller that I've wired into a socket so I can test each wheel...

MuddyPaws · 05-25-2010, 05:58 PM

Or you could pull the breakaway switch on your Montana. If that doesn't lock up your brakes you have a problem.
Be sure to put it back.

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