Need Advice ASAP please - Brake controller question

[LizGK]

Complete newbie here. This weekend my husband and I drove from Rochester, NY to Cincinnati to "meet" and pick up our AS Classic 31'. Got the hitch installed yesterday morning with gracious help from the previous owner (after 5 hours in the rain) and when it was time to tow there was a question with the Genesis brake controller working properly.
Before pulling out for a driving lesson the previous owner had us test the Genesis Brake controller and you could hear the brakes on the AS engage. But when you pressed on the brake pedal - nothing. He was not comfortable not hearing the brakes so we headed out to research the problem on our own.
Multimeter shows power. All lights, turn signals, etc. are working just fine. Connections seem to be good.
Do you have a recommended setting for the Genesis? P or E or C?


We are 500 miles from home and none of the RV dealers can see us (no appointment and busy with the start of RV season) so we're trying to troubleshoot so we can drive home tomorrow.


Our reading suggests that we shouldn't hear the brakes when parked. We need to take on a test drive first to test engagement.


I will take any and all advice. We'd like to avoid driving home without the AS and having to return again in a few weeks. But we will absolutely do whatever is right and safe.


Thank you so much!!
Liz

[AtomicNo13]

Personally I despise those Genesis controllers.... I have been through SEVERAL. You might hear am occasional noise from the magnets at park. There is a circuit in the controller that checks to make sure the trailer is plugged in, thus the audible warning alarm. You should set the controller to e for your stock brakes.
Please be aware there is a known issue with the thingies inside known as an accelerometer which is like a digital pendulum and applys your trailer brakes in proportion to your tow vehicle.
My opinion would be to ditch the Genesis and buy a Prodigy P3. You'll set it and forget it. You'll be much safer. Google opinions for those controllers, you'll see whit I mean. You aren't the only one with this problem. I have 4 sitting in my garage with the same problem.

[Steve & Mary]

Do you still have the Acti-brake unit? It failed on our 2008 Classic while sitting in storage. AS replaced it with the Dexter 1600 unit. You should have dics brakes like mine. What are you pulling with?......... steve

[LizGK]

Thanks for the speedy reply. If we can't tow home right now then we wait. Since we work staying in Ohio until someone can see us for an appointment isn't an option. We want an uneventful first tow!!

[AtomicNo13]

Oh.... I assumed drums! Controller should be set for electric over hydraulic. Nonetheless I still have a negative opinion of the Hayes unit! For what its worth I have discs on both my 34's
You can test the brakes by applying 12 volts directly to the brake wire. You'll have full on brakes but at least know they are there.

[Steve & Mary]

What is your tow vehicle Liz?

[LizGK]

Ford 250. Let me find out about the acti-brake unit.

[AtomicNo13]

Tom Raper RV on route 4 in Fairfield (North 275) in Cincinnati. Will have the best selection of parts. Open weekends too.
Confirm for us your brake situation. Have you disc or drum brakes?

[Steve & Mary]

I have a 2012 F-250 and have had issues with the factory brake controller working with the Dexter 1600 unit. I have lots of experience in troubleshooting this. Got a meeting :-)

[LizGK]

When we activate the manual control on the Genesis controller, we can hear the hydraulic brake pump in the front of the Airstream operate. When we press the brake pedal, we don't hear the pump operate - but should we? In reading (online and instruction manual) it indicates that this is a proportional brake controller that senses the deceleration of the tow vehicle and applies power to the brakes. The suggest method to check out the brakes (and to set the percent power) is to hook up, set the power setting to 50% power and get up to 25mph on a level road and apply the brakes. If you feel the trailer pushing the tow vehicle, then you need to increase the % power, if the brakes lock up, decrease the % power.


Thanks for any and all suggestions

[J. Morgan]

You do know most modern brake controllers won't "hit " if the brake pedal is depressed when the car is not moving right?

[LizGK]

Just called Tom Raper RV and they'll see us this morning. We appreciate all of the support and advice.

[AtomicNo13]

At a stop you should hear the pump run. I believe the Hayes will allow you to select a percentage of 100.... 5/10/15% at a stand still.

[dznf0g]

I believe the Hayes DOES apply brakes at a while stopped. I had one and I don't recall a setting to shut off when stopped. My Direclink has a setting to choose. Hayes was just an "OK" controller. I'd upgrade to a Direclink (have experience) or a Prodigy (no experience, but often highly recommended on the forums).

[LizGK]

J. Morgan - our research from the last 24 hours had led us to learn the brakes won't hit. But the previous owner had the same set-up and was very concerned it wasn't connected properly. He is exceptionally knowledgable and we respect his opinion on this. Just won't start out on the road until we are 100% confident we won't have technical problems.

[AtomicNo13]

While up that way, plan a visit to Jungle Jim's, it's 1/4 mile south of Tom Raper. Go hungry and buy goodies for your new pantry. Plan in 2 hours there. It will be your first Airstream adventure!

[LizGK]

There's a Jungle Jim close to our hotel. We thought it was an indoor play area. Guess not. We'll check it out.

[J. Morgan]

Trailer brakes are important, I won't drive without them, but did you try a rolling stop?

[LizGK]

Previous owner really advised against it. AS still in storage location and safe.

[J. Morgan]

A. 5 MPH stop in a parking lot would suffice, it would suck to chase down a problem that isn't there.