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THEPILL · 12-29-2009, 08:10 PM

Does it have electric brakes?

I have a 07 F250 with a 5 pin towing package.

Also, I can't go in reverse because the brakes lock-up on the trailer.But only in reverse.

Wiring?

Shane

vswingfield · 12-29-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

Does it have electric brakes?

I have a 07 F250 with a 5 pin towing package.

Also, I can't go in reverse because the brakes lock-up on the trailer.But only in reverse.

Wiring?

Shane

Hi Shane,

Yes, the brakes are electric. Sounds like a wiring problem to me too. How are they working going forward?

If they are locking up in reverse, the brakes could be wired to the backup lights instead of the brake circuit. They wouldn't work at all going forward if the wires were switched in this manner. They could also be wired correctly and your old wiring has a couple of breaks in the insulation allowing the backup light circuit to energize the brake circuit.

As a test, you could remove the fuse to the backup lights in your truck and see if the behavior persists.

silverleeper · 12-29-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

Does it have electric brakes?

I have a 07 F250 with a 5 pin towing package.

Also, I can't go in reverse because the brakes lock-up on the trailer.But only in reverse.

Wiring?

Shane

Hi Shane, Yes your Argy has electric brakes and the reason your brakes are locking up in reverse is the wiring is wrong. I can't see how the trailer is wired but it should be a 7-pin setup like the pic below.

This is a good link too. Trailer Wiring Diagrams

THEPILL · 12-29-2009, 08:23 PM

Heres some more info.....There is no battery in the trailer....does that have anything to do with it?

BTW...pulls great forward.

vswingfield · 12-29-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverleeper

Hi Shane, Yes your Argy has electric brakes and the reason your brakes are locking up in reverse is the wiring is wrong. I can't see how the trailer is wired but it should be a 7-pin setup like the pic below.

Thanks for that diagram Lee, it's a good one. The color coding helps a lot.

The 5-pin connector sounds strange on a new F250. My 2000 F150 has a properly wired 7-pin connector from the factory.

vswingfield · 12-29-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

Heres some more info.....There is no battery in the trailer....does that have anything to do with it?

I don't think that it would make that kind of difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

BTW...pulls great forward.

Good, but how does it stop?

THEPILL · 12-29-2009, 08:30 PM

It stops well, I guess. i have a big truck and don't really feel anything. I've pulled a lot of horse trailers and boats in my life and it doesn't feel any different but I wouldn't know the difference. Also I do have a trailer Gain/Output in my truck, but that wouldnt work on this old trailer would it?

vswingfield · 12-29-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

It stops well, I guess. i have a big truck and don't really feel anything. I've pulled a lot of horse trailers and boats in my life and it doesn't feel any different but I wouldn't know the difference. Also I do have a trailer Gain/Output in my truck, but that wouldnt work on this old trailer would it?

It should work. Electric brakes haven't changed much unless you switch to the hydraulic disk units. Try activating the brakes manually from your controller to verify that they are working. Then use the gain setting to adjust the stopping power of the trailer brakes. The Argosy should be stopping itself, not relying on your F250 to stop it.

The manual control can also come in handy in slick conditions. Of course, we should avoid slick conditions, but having the option can help. Sometimes things come up.

THEPILL · 12-29-2009, 08:50 PM

I did flip the gain switch while driving her home and it said trailer dissconnected.

I don't know, sounds like more money to me.......

Shane

silverleeper · 12-29-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

Heres some more info.....There is no battery in the trailer....does that have anything to do with it?

BTW...pulls great forward.

Your breakaway switch will not work if you don't have a battery in the trailer. This is a big safety issue if your trailer comes loose while towing.

THEPILL · 12-29-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverleeper

Your breakaway switch will not work if you don't have a battery in the trailer. This is a big safety issue if your trailer comes loose while towing.

Thanks, I know that. Battery goes in tomorrow. Not going to tow it for awhile, though.

Just concerned about these mounting problems.

Shane

vswingfield · 12-29-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

I did flip the gain switch while driving her home and it said trailer dissconnected.

I don't know, sounds like more money to me.......

Shane

Hi Shane,

I think that it sounds like another indicator that you have a wiring problem.

Use that wiring diagram that Lee posted and get everything straightened out. All of that should work without spending a lot if the brakes are in working condition. They sound like they are working in reverse, so when the wiring is correct you may be better off than you think right now.

He's also right about wanting a battery in the trailer for the breakaway when you are towing. It's another thing that is already installed and just needs attention, including a battery, to get it working properly.

You need a battery anyway.

Best of luck, I'll keep an eye on your adventures.

THEPILL · 12-29-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverleeper

Hi Shane, Yes your Argy has electric brakes and the reason your brakes are locking up in reverse is the wiring is wrong. I can't see how the trailer is wired but it should be a 7-pin setup like the pic below.

This is a good link too. Trailer Wiring Diagrams

I ment 7.....

Sorry.

Shane

silverleeper · 12-29-2009, 09:08 PM

Shane, Ya a trailer can nickel and dime you but it is worth it. IMO

Take a look here. Trailer Wiring Diagrams. The more you can DIY the less you have to pay.

THEPILL · 12-29-2009, 09:22 PM

Look what I found....does this make sense?

As simple as surge brakes are, they cannot tell the difference between normal braking and backing up. Consequently, they either need a free backing mechanism that releases the brakes when backing up, or a reverse solenoid wired to the tow vehicle's backup lights to vent brake pressure when backing up.

silverleeper · 12-29-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

Look what I found....does this make sense?

As simple as surge brakes are, they cannot tell the difference between normal braking and backing up. Consequently, they either need a free backing mechanism that releases the brakes when backing up, or a reverse solenoid wired to the tow vehicle's backup lights to vent brake pressure when backing up.

You have electric brakes not surge brakes. This is great though you are learning about the brakes on your Argy.

More to learn here. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you...ler_brake_drum

2airishuman · 12-29-2009, 09:32 PM

the 250 has a modern 7 pin and a modern 4 pin connector.

the gosy has an OLD style connector (different pattern) unless some1 has updated it.

the ford probably has an integrated trailer brake controller too.

however the ITBC will NOT work with the old style gosy connector UNTIL it is updated.

then the ITBC needs to be calibrated, this is in the ford manual.
_______

so probably u are towing WITHOUT the trailer brakes, except in reverse.

1. fix the wiring
2. calibrate the controller.

cheers
2air'

bwoodtx · 12-29-2009, 09:36 PM

Shane,
Have you had the wheels off to repack the bearings yet. If not, then start here. Remove the hubs to pack the bearings. Check all mechanical aspects of your brakes: Shoes, magnets, wiring. If all looks good the check the tailer wiring as suggested and then the truck wiring. your can check trailer wiring with a battery charger by simply connecting a pigtail from the positive side of the charger to the trailer brake wire and the the ground side of the charger to trailer ground. This way you can try to spin the wheels to see if brakes are activating.

vswingfield · 12-29-2009, 09:41 PM

Lee said it perfectly.

Don't I remember that you had a (some) manual(s) coming from another of your posts, Shane? An Owner's Manual and a Service Manual, even if they are not exactly the same year, would help answer a lot of questions and help put your mind at ease. If I had to choose one over the other, I would pick the Service Manual even though they are more expensive. I rarely consult my Owner's Manual but am often checking something in my Service Manual (reprints from https://store.airstream.com/index.php?cPath=51).

For instance, there are instructions in the Service Manual on how to adjust the thermostat in the oven. Mine in the Excella was way off, but after a simple adjustment, it works perfectly. My first gut reaction was to price new replacements. While glass door on mine has lost some silvering, it still looks new otherwise. It works like new now too.

You will have experiences like this with yours too. Somethings things will not work out like you planned and other times you will catch a break. The more you know, the better off you are.

THEPILL · 12-30-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

the 250 has a modern 7 pin and a modern 4 pin connector.

the gosy has an OLD style connector (different pattern) unless some1 has updated it.

the ford probably has an integrated trailer brake controller too.

however the ITBC will NOT work with the old style gosy connector UNTIL it is updated.

then the ITBC needs to be calibrated, this is in the ford manual.
_______

so probably u are towing WITHOUT the trailer brakes, except in reverse.

1. fix the wiring
2. calibrate the controller.

cheers
2air'

When you say fix the wiring, do you mean go buy a new pigtail? Or do you mean swap wires to the right "slot"

Thanks,
Shane