trailer brake question

[stubbsboogie]

Not a problem but I ran into something this weekend that I have not known of before.

My trailer has brakes. Typical trailer brake set up when vehichle brakes momentum engages the trailer brakes.

My question is, this weekend I was moving the boat arouind the yard. I did gnothook up light chains or anything but the hitch and ball. It is kinda tight and some weird angles of backing up. My trailer brakes locked up. I could not backup any further. Forward fine but no back. I then decided maybe it was some sort of safety mechanism so I hooked it up the way it is supposed to be and all was fine. Is this a safety or coincidence that I just got it out of a bind at the same time.

Just wondering as I have never had a trailer with brakes before. It has the five pin flat connection to the car.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: trailer brake question

You have the newer style with the backup lockout sloenoid. Thus the five wire flat instead of four, the fifth is the backup lights when they come on it powers the solenoid and locks out the acuator so you can back up without the brakes engaging. If you have a test light you can verify which pin is the reverse lights which might be nice to know if you have troubles in the future with the other lights you can eliminate that one.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: trailer brake question

There should be a locking pin to secure the trailer hitch to your ball. It's usually a metal pin about 1/4" diameter and 4" long that goes through holes in the hitch just behind the ball.
The pin can also be used to mechanically lock out the brakes. When the hitch is fully extended (brakes are fully "off") there should be a hole in the side of the front part of the hitch you can put the pin into to prevent the trailer from sliding forward and applying the brakes. This manual lockout should only be used at slow speed.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: trailer brake question

Awesome! Thanks guys. I thought it felt like a safety feature. Now I know.
I will check for the lock out hole tomorrow. Thanks again

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trailer brake question

It has nothing to do with safety. It is all about being able to back up a trailer with surge brakes. If you don't have a lockout solenoid and don't use the lockout pin, trying to back up is the same as trying to stop when going forward -- the brakes actuate just like they are intended to do.

 

[mike343]

Re: trailer brake question

If you have disk brakes you should have a five pin trailer connector that operates a solenoid to prevent brake engagement when backing. With drum brakes it is usually no problem to back up except for hills and maybe your unique geometry. Any way, you need to block the actuator somehow when backing. Not all have "pins"

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: trailer brake question

I checked before leaving for work this morning. I do have the "pin" as well as the 5 pin connection.

Brakes are a safety feature. Just never had a trailer that has brakes before.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trailer brake question

Obviously brakes are a safety feature. Your post was about not being able to back up. The pin and reversing solenoid have nothing to do with safety.