Temporary lock up.

[Robbie R.]

Tried to move mine today, hooked up properly and connected lights/brakes and it would not move due to trailer brakes locking.

Would not move forward or backwards.

Unhooked my plug and cleaned, reconnected and it still would not work.

Did it again and checked back up lights and all lights worked perfectly.

Then I backed it up and it pulled forward, it started working perfectly, what could have happened ?

Heavy rain and sitting for a couple weeks after a 700 mile trip ?

Robbie R.

[HowieE]

It is hard to envision anything that would LOCK the brake from sitting.

It is common for the brakes to LOCK at low speed during the first stop after starting. This is the reaction of rust on the drums causing the brake shoes to JAM. This generally only happens once and then the rust is removed.

If this happens again disconnect the umbilical and try to move the trailer. If it moves that problem is electrical and coming from the TV. Brake controller manual may be activated or a short in the TV wiring.

One other thing can cause a lock up. The emergency brake switch. But nothing you mentioned gave any indication it was involved.

[Jim & Susan]

What about a break-away switch malfunction of some kind? I'm really very familiar with the way those things work, but maybe a possibility?

Jim

[Robbie R.]

I am a little confused about this. Hopefully no big deal since I did get it working.

TV wiring is perfect, plug is perfect. Evey time I tried to pull foward the camper would start to move and the the tongue would bow down like the trailer brakes were engaging.

I tried 3 or 4 times very lightly so as not to hurt the brakes and then checked all connections and lights.

All lights on TV and camper were working perfectly, even back up on trailer.

So I unplugged and cleaned the connections, no go.

I wiggle the plug hard, then tried to back and it did, then went forward.

The only thing I can think of is the camper was pulled over 700 miles and locked down (hot brakes) at my house and not moved for about two weeks........during which we have had very hard rains on and on.

I am thinking the brakes maybe rusted and were froze.......maybe ?

Thanks for all the comments.

Robbie R.

[HowieE]

Yes the drums can form a rust surface when sitting in wet weather but that rust could not form if the brake shoes, a none metallic material, were in contact with the drums. What I refered to above is the drum becoming rust covered and that rust causing the brakes to jam at the first application of the brakes. Once that happens that action is enough to remove the rust and thing go back to normal.

It may be time to remove a drum and take a look at the bearings. If you overheated a bearing and then shut down you may have a ceased the bearing.