Brakes question on a New Palomino Puma XLE 18-FBE -

[JoeGibbs]

We have a 2018 Palomino Puma XLE 18-FBE is our first RV of any type and our towing experience is currently limited to short runs.

We added electric brakes to our towing vehicle (2017 Toyota Highlander) and noticed that the brakes seem to pulse when I apply them. The dealer said that was normal and i needed a few hundred miles of break in time before they settled down.

I don't remember having that issue with any of the new cars that we purchased so am suspicious.

So my question is: Is the pulsing of the brakes normal on a Travel Trailer or should I get someone else to lift it and check the brakes?

Thanks
Joe Gibbs

[rockfordroo]

You may need to provide some additional info.

1. When you say you "added electric brakes," do you mean you had a factory brake controller added after purchase, or did you have an after-market brake controller, like a Prodigy P3, installed?

2. When you say the brakes are pulsing, is it the Highlanders brakes or the trailers brakes? (You should be able to apply the trailer brakes without applying the Highlanders brakes.)

3. If it's the Highlanders brakes that are pulsing, do they pulse with no trailer hooked up?

Pulsing brakes on vehicles is not unusual, usually due to warped rotors. Could be a coincidence that they warped at the same time you had the electric brake controller installed. OR it could be your controller isn't working properly, not applying the trailer brakes, so your Highlander is doing all the braking and subsequently warped the rotors.

[JoeGibbs]

Thanks for the reply.

Installed aftermarket electronic brake controller on the Highlander. Will have to check the model they installed and look it up on the web.

It feels like the Puma brakes are pulsing.

The Highlander does not pulse when using it without the Puma. however I did notice that the toyota brakes squeal a little when backing.

I am bringing my Highlander into the dealer to be checked out anyway.

[rockfordroo]

If it's the trailer that's pulsing, you could have an out-of-round brake drum.

[Iwannacamp]

Sounds like the "old wait till it's out of warranty then bring it back" so we can charge you deal...

IMO the first thing to check is the ground to the RV and the controller gound connection. Cheap check.

I get a "pluse" of the the electric brakes when the controller energizes the brakes and then as the rolling stops...this of course while going very slow/coming to a stop.

I also assume the pulsing is only when towing and goes away when you aren't?

I get a "surge" on the highway at app. 50-60 MPH. It sometimes like a have a rubber band connector between the TV and the RV, but this totally unrelated to brakes.

[llr]

when I had my prodigy controller it would pulse if I had the boost set fairly high when driving and stopping at slow speeds. I would try to remember to raise the boost on the interstate and lower it on surface roads

[trees]

I think you are experiencing and describing normal electric trailer brakes. The pulsing you describe is not what most of us think of and refer to it as pulsating such as warped rotor on disc brakes.

Electric trailer brakes are on or off. They are engaged or not engaged. The controller can adjust the electric power going to your electric trailer brakes to either brake hard or less hard. More expensive brake controllers can change the power according to your tow vehicle stopping deceleration. Meaning if you stop hard the controller will sense the acceleration and apply more power to trailer brakes.

Your description to me sounds like when the trailer brakes are on and when they go off when you release vehicle brake. You can definitely feel the pulse. You will have a manual over ride on your brake controller. You may just use this over ride to engage trailer brake and usually you can push the over ride switch to apply more trailer brakes.

Anyways, fool around with the controller and this will help you get a handle on what settings work the best for you.

[youroo]

Go to Dexters site or contact Dexter for their Booklet in regards to "How to Burnish/Seat New Drum Brakes! Dexter passes them out in their Booth at the "Goshen Rally"! If you do what they say you will have Trailer Brakes! Youroo!!

[rmoore0852]

Originally Posted by JoeGibbs

Thanks for the reply.

Installed aftermarket electronic brake controller on the Highlander. Will have to check the model they installed and look it up on the web.

It feels like the Puma brakes are pulsing.

The Highlander does not pulse when using it without the Puma. however I did notice that the toyota brakes squeal a little when backing.

I am bringing my Highlander into the dealer to be checked out anyway.

There are two types of trailer brake controllers, timed and progressive/proportional. The Timed ones are fine for a flatbed utility trailer or such, but give a really crappy towing experience with a heavier trailer, including grabbing and surging.

Let us know what controller you have and we will help more.

[Rich5117]

X2 youroo, so many people do not know that this should be done with new unit and new brakes. Also agree the brake controller may not be properly adjusted. The other possibility is that if the unit was towed any distance the brakes may need readjusted or could have been damaged.

[babock]

Pulsing can also be caused by contamination of the brake shoes caused by grease leaking pass the grease seal. I would pull the drums to check.

[Thurman]

I understand that TT and 5-er brakes sort of pulse as the electricity is applied to the electro-magnet. On my previous TT, a 29 footer, I hardly ever felt this. But, on this TT, a 31 footer and heavier, I can feel the pulsing whenever I apply the brakes period. I read some time back that these type brakes will pulse until the warm up. Now when we leave the house with the TT I ride the brakes just a little as I am going down the street, maybe 1/8 of a mile to a stop sign. The next stop is a 4-lane highway with stop light and when I stop there I feel very little pulsing when I apply full braking.

[rockfordroo]

I pulled my Roo with a Chevy Traverse and a Chevy 1/2 ton, both with a Prodigy P3. I've pulled my Mini Lite with the Chevy 1/2 ton/Prodigy and with a Chevy 3/4 ton with factory brake controller. I've never had pulsing brakes.

[Scrapper]

Maybe I'm wrong, but is the pulsing felt in the brake pedal? If so then TV is trying to do all the stopping and the ABS on your TV is keeping the brakes from locking. If this is the case then you need to adjust the gain for the electric brake controller. If it is your trailer brakes are doing the pulsing it should not be felt in the TV's brake pedal.

JMHO.

[AdamKam]

Usually after market brake controllers come with adjustment directions. It sounds like the brakes are coming on too strong. The adjustment has to be done while moving at a slow speed, also some use a mercury switch so have to be level to function properly. It is definitely a controller adjustment.

[babock]

No modern controller uses a mercury switch. They use solid state accelerometers.