Brakes lock when backing up

[twgerber]

I have a new (old) pickup and had it wired (5 wire) to pull my boat. I have verified twice that I have proper electrical working to the harness connection.

When I try to backup - even at the slightest up hill incline the brakes engage. I am not really sure it only happens on up hill.

I have noticed that the tires are very low on the trailer could that impact it? Also when I start to backup the brakes engage as the trailer toungue move in an upward motion. I am not sure if this is because the brakes are engaging so quickly?

Oh - there is a little push switch just by the ball hitch to press to make sure brakes are disengaged. I have pushed that too.

Also is there a way to make it so the brakes don't engage at all?

It is a custom 2004 prestige trailer - dual axle. I don't have a manual for the trailer so I am not even sure what kind of brakes they are.

Final question - if the trailed when hooked up to the boat is not level (sitting high at ball connection point) will that affect it too?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

Welcome to iboats.

Is there a master cylinder on the trailer tongue or do you have electric brakes?

There is probably a brake lock out pin which will prevent the brakes from activating while backing up

 

[twgerber]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

There is no cylinder on the tongue - there appears to be one near each brake.

Where would I find a lock out pin?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

Post a photo of the tongue......

There are two master cylinder's ???? Yup a pic of them too.

 

[twgerber]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

Here are some pictures. One of the tongue and the rest of the wheels/brakes as best I could get from underneath.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

Yes you have surge brakes...... there is a place on the tongue to insert a pin that will lock out the surge action.

 

[burp]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

twgerber,

Prestige Trailers made a real nice trailer. It's shame the economic downturn forced them to close their doors.

Most Prestige trailers had surge brakes and could have either drum or disk brakes installed on either one or both axles. Trailers with disk brakes had a 5 wire electrical connector. The 5th wire (blue in color) was for the electrical reverse lockout solenoid.

For starters, a trailer will tow the best when the trailer is level when attached to the tow vehicle. An extreme tongue high condition could cause the brake actuator to be partially actuated or actuate with a slight forward movement of the trailer on the hitch ball.

If the trailer electrical connector has the blue 5th wire, check for 12 volts to be applied on the blue wire when the tow vehicle is placed into reverse. If the 12 volts is not present, check the tow vehicle wiring. Next make sure the trailer brakes are NOT actuated before you try to back up. By this, I mean if you are going downhill and stop the tow vehicle/trailer, the brakes should be actuated. Now, when you put the tow vehicle in reverse, the lockout solenoid should actuate and any existing brake fluid pressure will keep the brakes actuated and backing up will be difficult/impossible. To see if this is the source of the problem, once you stop on the downhill, chock a trailer tire and then try to pull forward slightly to release the trailer brakes. Now put the tow vehicle in reverse (lockout solenoid actuates and no brake fluid pressure should have the trailer brakes actuated) and try to back up.

Your comment about the "little push switch" makes me think you don't have the electrical lockout and have a mechanical lockout which would require a lockout key to be inserted while backing up.

Tires air pressure should most likely be 50 PSI or whatever the maximum load pressure is indicated on the sidewall.

I've had Prestige trailers since 1998 with drum and disk surge brakes. They require minimal maintenance. The surge brake actuators were either made by UFP or Titan/Dico.

 

[twgerber]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

See attached picture. This shows the little push button underneath. On top of the tongue it says to push the button to ensure the brakes are released. Is it the little hole by the button?

 

[twgerber]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

When you say "chock a trailer tire" I assume you mean in front so when I pull forward I am pulling into/onto the tire block?

 

[burp]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

Yes, place the chock in front of the trailer tire and pull forward slightly, just enough to pull the trailer hitch ball forward in the coupler to make sure the surge brake actuator is not actuated.

My older trailer had an actuator manufactured by UFP and the little release lever on bottom is for the breakaway cable. It will do nothing for you regarding backing up. The hole behind the lever could be used to actuate the brakes with a screwdriver when bleeding the brakes.

http://www.ufpnet.com/Actuators/tabid/54/Default.aspx

In your last picture, there is a label which indicates a 7/12/2010 date... Has the surge brake actuator been replaced since you say you have a 2004 trailer?

Does your trailer side electrical connector have 5 wires...one of which is a blue color wire?? If so, is there a solenoid on the aft end of the surge brake actuator with the blue wire connected to it? The brake line will be connected to the solenoid.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

I had this same problem when I took mine out of storage a couple weeks back. Trailer rolled fine on the garage floor but when I moved it into the yard where the grass was soft the brakes locked up when in reverse. I assumed when I put the boat away I didn't disengage the lever underneath like yours has and when it sat for 6-7 months and the pads corroded to the rotor. I took the trailer out on the main road and did some hard stops with it to engage the brakes. When I got back home, trailer was able to be backed up with no problems. I also have the 5 pin plug, but didn't think to check the connector for corrosion.

 

[twgerber]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

I had to have the ball socket part replaced last year. The marina bent it somehow so they replaced for free.

I have a 5-wire connector and there is a blue wire. I had a mechanic check the voltage at the truck end of the plug. I will look for the actuator connection.

 

[twgerber]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

Here is a picture of what I think is the Actuator you are referring to? It is just behind the ball assembly.

 

[burp]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

That appears to be the reverse lockout solenoid, which is mounted on the back of the surge brake actuator. When the tow vehicle is placed in reverse, 12 volts should be present on the blue wire and the solenoid should activate, blocking any brake fluid pressure to the brakes......and allowing you to back up hill.

If you have 12 volts present at the lockout solenoid, I'd ohm out the solenoid to see if it was an open circuit (it should not be an open circuit). Another possibility would be to feel the solenoid to see if you can feel it actuate as someone shifts in and out of reverse.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

There's a shut off valve that you can buy for about $15.00 ,it fits where your brake line starts. it fits between the back of the reciever and your brake line. It's a screw on thing. I had one on my load rite trailer, all you have to do is stop turn the small **** handle and then back up. It shuts off the fluid to the brakes so you can back up. They also make an elecric one for about $75.00

 

[twgerber]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

This seemed to work. I put the chock in front and pulled forward. I later had no problem backing down the boat ramp.

Thanks everyone!

 

[maproy99]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

I am thinking that, you go downhill to get to your ramp/parking lot and your brakes slightly apply, you fixed that, my suggestion is, stop before the hill, disable your brakes and you'll save time when you get to the bottom because you won't have to chock your wheels and pull forward and then get the chocks loaded.

 

[burp]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

maproy99,

The brakes are "disabled"/locked out when the tow vehicle is placed in reverse. If the brakes are activated before the tow vehicle is put in reverse, then once the tow vehicle is in reverse, the brakes stay activated and you will not be able to back up. By placing a chock in front of a trailer tire after you stop and pulling foward, the brakes will not be activated when the tow vehicle is put in reverse and thus you can back up.

 

[maproy99]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

maproy99,

The brakes are "disabled"/locked out when the tow vehicle is placed in reverse. If the brakes are activated before the tow vehicle is put in reverse, then once the tow vehicle is in reverse, the brakes stay activated and you will not be able to back up. By placing a chock in front of a trailer tire after you stop and pulling forward, the brakes will not be activated when the tow vehicle is put in reverse and thus you can back up.

Brakes are not normally applied when your just driving (if they were you would kill your tires). If it's on your property just keep the brakes disabled (they aren't going to do much good anyway) but if you have a launch ramp like the one I am thinking of, hill going down to the launch ramp and you have to pull around and back over a hump, if you disabled your brakes before that hill, you may not have a problem at the bottom when you have to lock your brakes out.

 

[wvstriper]

Re: Brakes lock when backing up

You need this:
http://www.ufpnet.com/Portals/0/PDFs/A-60,%2075%20_%2084%20Actuator%20Maintenance.pdf

You have an A-60