Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Gulf Stream Owners RV Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-04-2010, 08:34 PM   #1
03heritagerider
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 389
Default Brake lights & Trailer brakes.

I've presented this scenario to a few folks and got varried responses. Let's try it here

I pull a 24 ft cargo trailer with electric brakes and a Tecnosha controller.

Simple part: Apply the brakes in the coach and the trailer brakes are applied.

I've been told by the trailer dealer that the trailer brakes work off the motorhome's brake lights. Makes sense, right?

I then noticed that when the engine retarder is engaged the coach brake lights come on. I asked the triler dealer if that means the trailer brakes are applied when the engine retarded is engaged. His response was "I would think so. If you are slowing the coach you want the trailer brakes to be applied as well." Makes sense too, right?

Now the big question is this. Does the coach know the difference between the brake lights and the hazzard flashers? Are my trailer brakes being pulsed with the flashers when I'm climbing a steep grade at 25 or 30 MPH?

Since I don't know the answer, I have been adjusting my brake controller to the off position when I have to use the flashers going up a hill. I get nervous when I have to use the flashers going down hill.

Your thoughts?
__________________
'03 41' Friendship & 24' trailer with HIS '03 H-D Heritage Springer, HER '15 H-D Freewheeler Trike, and '08 Smart Car.
"Adventure is found in the journey, not the destination."
03heritagerider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2010, 01:19 AM   #2
Nanaeve
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Payson
Posts: 94
Default Brakes and Lights

In all my 56 years I've never heard that one. The electric brake on your trailer is just a big DC electromagnet. Your controller is a variable resistor that applies a different amount of DC Voltage to the trailer magnet that applies the brakes. The switch that activates your brakelights does only that. Light on/Light off. When you press on the brakepedal your controller senses the position of the pedal and sends the amount of voltage that the controller is set to deliver down a wire just for the trailer brakes. Your connecter to the trailer has seperate wires for turnsignals, lights, brakelights, sometimes the turnsignal bulb is used as a brakelight, depending on how yours is setup, often another wire for 12 Volts DC to power your lights inside the trailer from the battery in your coach, and finally, another wire to your electric brakes on your trailer. What a run-on sentence! You need a different trailer guy!
__________________
2009 Gulf Stream Endura on the International Chassis. Joe at J&L RV in Fontana, CA did the work for GS and it appears that its finally done right. Seems GS "forgot" 5 seals in the 2 slideouts
Nanaeve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2010, 07:12 AM   #3
03heritagerider
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 389
Default

Nanaeve,

Thanks, your explanation seems the most logical. Perhaps that's why the guy at the trailer shop is at the desk and not in the garage''

Considering what you have told me, should I assume that the trailer brakes are not applied when the engine retarder is engaged?
__________________
'03 41' Friendship & 24' trailer with HIS '03 H-D Heritage Springer, HER '15 H-D Freewheeler Trike, and '08 Smart Car.
"Adventure is found in the journey, not the destination."
03heritagerider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2010, 10:08 AM   #4
frank
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Prince George
Posts: 67
Default

when you apply the brakes the controler [or whenever the controler is controling] should indicate the the brakes are applied, some lighted signal, strength,etc. i would think if there is no indication showing up on the controler then it should not be sending any voltage to the tow trailer.that is ofcoures if the brakes are wired up to the controler first.
__________________
1999 gulf stream sun voyager svb
frank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2010, 06:55 PM   #5
11B
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 95
Default

I'll bet the brakes on the trailer are applied by tongue pressure to the hitch. Check and see if you have a sleeve that the trailer tongue fits into then runs the rest of the distance( in a larger sleeve) to the hitch. It's been my experiance (20 years selling trailers) that this is a demand build feature on all small trailers weather they are set up for elec. brake systems or not.

Part of the reasoning behinde this that a lot of folks will pull barrowed or rented trailers without the lights hooked up or have the abitity to hook them up.

This feature would explain why your trailer brakes apply when the retarder kickis in. No power required.
__________________
2007 42' Friendship Quattro
2007 Liberty Toad
No Rodents
Kids raised and only barrow money
400 Cummins Bad Milage
11B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2010, 01:03 AM   #6
RayChez1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,257
Default

Nanaeve gave you the correct information on how electric brakes work from your controller to your trailer. Flashers don't have anything to do with the brakes on the trailer.
__________________
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
2018 Buick Envision Essence
Neway Freightliner chassis
Aventa II Blue Ox
RayChez1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Access to tail and brake lights Snookmjt Class A 4 07-04-2023 02:03 PM
08 Crescendo - No Brake Lights on trailer Navy Old Dog Class A 3 02-22-2019 12:55 PM
Trailer Brakes mkcahill Class C 1 08-22-2014 04:06 PM
Trailer lights buckeyemac Class C 0 08-04-2014 08:52 PM
Brake Lights larrybell Class A 2 05-10-2008 10:03 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×