Rockwood 2306 Brakes not locking up

[StateParked]

Thank you all for sharing your own experiences, as mentioned above locking the brakes is part of the initial calibration/set up process. What initially got me concerned is that not being capable of lock up was the discovered picking the trailer up on its maiden voyage home, so it will never be this lite ever again, and the weather was wet and slick. I am hoping the drums and shoes need to "wear" in together. Once I,vet got some miles on it I will report back. As I said, I,m not concerned about the amount of brake force, I just don't like anything dialed up to 100% especially brakes!

[ebcobra93]

Originally Posted by StateParked

Thank you all for sharing your own experiences, as mentioned above locking the brakes is part of the initial calibration/set up process. What initially got me concerned is that not being capable of lock up was the discovered picking the trailer up on its maiden voyage home, so it will never be this lite ever again, and the weather was wet and slick. I am hoping the drums and shoes need to "wear" in together. Once I,vet got some miles on it I will report back. As I said, I,m not concerned about the amount of brake force, I just don't like anything dialed up to 100% especially brakes!

I'm in the exact same situation. My brakes may be working as designed, but having the brake controller dialed up to 100% makes me wonder if something is wrong. I'm getting the trailer/brakes checked out as soon as the snow melts.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Big Bill

The Dexter manual will tell you how to "burish " (Barack in) the brakes, adj before and after .

Correct,this will make a BIG improvement,and is the proper way to do it! Youroo!!

[dmdomokos]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

So far as I can tell, they seem to be working OK. We've only been out a couple times with the 2500HD as we just got it in July (I've had it 8 months and it's only got 2200 miles on it - LOL). I'm not sure where I have the controller set at this point. Definitely not at the highest setting, though

My 2500HD owners manual says the following regarding setup:

Trailer wheel lock-up may not occur if towing a heavily loaded trailer. In this case, adjust the Trailer Gain to the highest allowable setting for the towing condition.

What the last sentence means is anyone's guess!

There's another thread on the 2500HDs not being able to lockup trailer brakes. I had a P3 in a suburban that would lock them up, but went to a 2500HD which would not. I have the brakes checked and adjusted and still no lock. My trailer is 7500lbs loaded and I run at 8.5 gain in the 2500HD. Seems to be more than enough stopping power. I had one emergency stop recently and I believe the trailer brakes were close to locking.

[KnP]

I think is not a good idea to lock up the brakes. A wheel that is spining is under control, specialy on slippery/wet surfaces. Mine is setup to take the majority of the trailer stoping load (breaking) but not all the load. Will hate to see that trailer fishtaling.

[ebcobra93]

Originally Posted by KnP

I think is not a good idea to lock up the brakes. A wheel that is spining is under control, specialy on slippery/wet surfaces. Mine is setup to take the majority of the trailer stoping load (breaking) but not all the load. Will hate to see that trailer fishtaling.

KnP, I think everyone would agree with you. The lock up that we are discussing is only for calibrating the brake controller and is done under controlled circumstances and low speeds.

[StateParked]

After putting a few miles on the trailer now, I can confirm that they are significantly better than when new, I guess they need to bed in.

[captaindomon]

Had the exact same problem with our new 2017 2504S with never-adjust brakes. After a 200 mile trip they auto-adjusted and now work great. I haven't tried to get them to lock up but I was able to dial back from 100% on the brake controller and still have good controlled braking.

[StateParked]

I have to follow up and say that after a few tips under our belt the brakes are awesome/ very strong. My brake controller is dialed down to about 35% of when I originally wrote this thread. I guess new brakes (as mentioned prior) need to bed in or "marry" together.

[ebcobra93]

Thanks for awakening this thread. I've been meaning to post an update as well.
I took my trailer to a local trusted RV shop for a brake system inspection. The service manager took an hour (for free) to drive around, checked brakes, all connections, etc. His diagnosis is that everything is working great. I'm still not getting lock up on the highest setting, but he said that's pretty normal.
I'm adjusting the brake controller based on "feel" now, rather than lock up. They do seem to grab very hard, just rarely lockup while calibrating.

[captaindomon]

FYI, I also have never been able to lock up my brakes. They did improve significantly after a few hundred miles of wearing in. I have the never-adjust ones. Dealer also told me it's ok if they don't lock up, as long as I feel I have control and sufficient braking. Still seems strange to drive with the controller at max, but it seems to be working fine.

[ebcobra93]

Originally Posted by captaindomon

Still seems strange to drive with the controller at max, but it seems to be working fine.

Even though I can never achieve lockup, I no longer tow with the brake controller at max. The braking felt better to me around 7 or 8 on the controller. Higher than that, I felt the trailer brakes more than I thought I should. But, I think it's all about preference, as long as the brakes are working.

[K7TNT]

Very good thread. I'm new to all this and with a new 2506S. I was also wondering about my brakes. My son in law trailer I can lock them up. With my new trailer it will not. So with all the info, I will give it some time to seat in. Thanks

[missed]

I have the same camper with a cheapy brake controller and on set up mine locks up the brakes at power level 88. I have to run it less than 60% otherwise it will lock up while driving.

[itat]

Originally Posted by itat

I've found the same thing with my new F-250. You're supposed to set the brakes by finding the setting where they just lock up and then go to one setting below that. I can't get my TT's brakes to lock up at the max. setting. I take my TT to a local specialist trailer company every Spring to do the brakes and bearings so I'll get them to confirm everything is as good as it can be in the Spring.

I had my brakes and bearings done in late Spring. Still can't lock them up manually with my 2016 F-250 but they are definitely working. I have my brake controller set at almost the highest gain.

[rteribury]

Originally Posted by itat

I had my brakes and bearings done in late Spring. Still can't lock them up manually with my 2016 F-250 but they are definitely working. I have my brake controller set at almost the highest gain.

I know with my factory Ford controller I leave the setting higher and the truck automatically applies more gain to the trailer brakes the harder I hit the truck brakes. With the trailer hooked up if you go to the screen in the dash where it shows the brake controller settings you will be able to see this work.
Manually engaging the controller will not lock my brakes up either but I had somebody pull out in front of me and got on the brakes extremely hard and the camper brakes did lock up