Electric brakes malfunction

[brl1956]

The electric brake that Camping World installed hooks up to the Highlander with a Hopkins brake plug-in. The cover to the Hopkins plug-in broke and I had Hopkins Mfg. send me a new one. They did not explain how the spring attaches to the cover, so I left it off.

I guess without the spring, the brake 7-pin plug-in came out during the trip and dragged on the ground. You can see in the picture. My question is this: Can I replace the cord on the trailer? And how does it attach to the box? And finally, how does the spring attach to the cover?

[smkauffman]

I had the cord get caught up in the chains or something my second trip out with my camper. I found an RV store in the area and bought a new plug then installed it in the campground the next day.

The cord doesn't actually attach to the box, it's just and electrical junction box. The wires from the cord feed into the box and connect to the wires from the camper with wire nuts or something inside the box. Mine looked about like this picture.

[brl1956]

Thanks. I'll check it with my box on the Roo.

[Lins]

Looks like just the plug is damaged and just those can be replaced. As for the spring I'm not sure without pictures but maybe the hinge pin unscrews or can be carefully driven out with a punch and small hammer.

[NavyLCDR]

If you are really in a bind, when you plug the connector from the trailer into the TV receptacle, you can just hold the cover tight against the plug to keep the plug from coming out by wrapping it a couple times with paper masking tape. Should hold good enough unless it gets really wet. Then when time to disconnect, the paper masking tape is easy to tear and peel off.

[brl1956]

I’ll try to post you a picture of the spring, Lin’s, and yes to Navy, we did use duck tape to get us home, but I’m not sure if my rear lights were working or not after we got in motion.

[brl1956]

Hey, SM, thanks for the diagram at the box. Since then, I looked at eTrailer and also saw that I could do it at the plug for a lot cheaper. I’ll have to look inside the box to see which way to go. Anybody had any trouble with the screw-on plugs?

[smkauffman]

Just the plug does look like it's definitely cheaper and easier, no rolling around on the ground under the thing either. I didn't really have a choice on mine since it was the cord that was mangled about halfway between the plug and the box. I also had limited resources for tools and had to take what I could find in parts being out on the road.

[Bama Rambler]

I've replaced the plug on almost every RV we've owned. The screw terminal type is what I use. I usually 'tin' the conductors with solder when I make up the connections, but it isn't required.