Being how you have a brand new trailer, the first thing I would do is check and make sure your trailer has the electric brakes installed on it. They come standard on the 16, but I think they still are an option the 13.
Yes my trailer has trailer brakes option. Yes I have confirmed that since I have adjusted the shoes myself more than once.
so after the trip this weekend. under certain braking I can feel the trailer brakes working slightly, Keep in mind the brake controller is still at max setting. I also have it on boost setting #1. however at any speed if i manually engage only the trailer brakes, you really do not notice anything. maybe a very slight drag. its almost hard to tell if its the brakes or just wind resistance from the trailer.
Can someone with a 13' equipped with trailer brakes please chime in and let me know if im expecting too much out of it? or if it sounds like something is wrong?
I had an 81 13 with brakes and I could lock them up with the controller. Also could use the manual lever and feel the brakes engage. There was some feedback I read somewhere that the glaze on new brakes needs to burn off. Again, I'd call Scamp and tell them what is going on.
As far as using the trailer no issue. Brakes aren't really necessary for a 13, but since you have them they should get them usable for you somewhere down the line.
They called back and told me to jack up the trailer with it connected to the vehicle and spin the wheel then apply the trailer brakes. If it stops then they are working fine. They also told me that the brakes would not lock up, and are not designed to stop the car and trailer. which im aware of.
I'm sure that when it jack up the trailer that the brakes will stop the wheels just free spinning. I however do not think its an accurate representation of their stopping ability. I guess im not real pleased with the brakes at this point. Between the price of the option from the factory and two brake controllers in both my tow vehicles, its pretty expensive for something that isn't even noticeable.
I'll do their test and see what happens. But I think I already know the answer.
When I hooked up my lights and brakes on our new Nissan P.U. I had to get a special wiring harness that connected a bunch of module converters to the existing wiring down under the dash. One set of converters for the lights and one set for the brakes. The Nissan manual stated that they were needed because the vehicle battery was used as a direct power source to the trailer. The truck's tail lights act as a switch to activate the power from the battery to the trailer. Apparently my truck light circuits do not have the power to handle the load from the trailer light and brake systems. Maybe you're not getting enough power to your brakes.
What kind of vehicle do you have? Have you checked your vehicle manual to see if you need any additional electrical equipment installed for towing.
I've got a 2010 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI diesel. the car is working fine. We have the Tekonsha diagnostic tester at work It shows the vehicle working fine. with plenty of voltage to the brakes.
I still haven't performed the test they wanted my too yet. been busy working alot. I have Sunday off. I hope to get it done then.
Dan-o, I agree that the test they are asking you to perform will yield no valid results. If your brakes are working only slightly the wheel will stop turning with the slightest of braking activity.
Bottom line, your trailer brakes should be strong enough to stop the trailer without the tow vehicle attached ( in theory, the tow vehicle stops itself and the trailer stops itself in a balanced manner ). With this "Balanced Braking" in mind, you should feel a good amount of braking when using the trailer brakes alone at speeds around 25 - 30 mph. Not enough braking to use if you are approaching a Red Light, but enough to stop your Tow Vehicle and the Trailer in about twice the length as you could if you used the Tow Vehicle brakes, in other words, if you apply just the trailer brakes (with TV in Neutral) you should feel a significant amount of stopping. What you are describing is a minimal / almost nonexistent amount of braking coming from the trailer alone.
At this point you have done a significant amount of testing and you still have the problem (jacking up your trailer and spinning the wheels is not going to solve, or diagnose, your issue).
At this point-in-time, I am thinking you might have an electrical issue, perhaps your 7-pin plug was wired incorrectly and the proper amount of power is not getting to the brakes ( check your voltages at the brake magnets by varying your Controller settings ). Also, I am thinking that the brake lights might be wired to your brakes or you have a faulty ground wire on the brakes. Additionally, the brakes could have been installed backwards and the brakes are trying to engage in the reverse direction and the leverage created by the magnet is not as strong in the reverse direction.
I think you should find a competent trailer mechanic, one who works on trailer brakes all day, and have them figure out what is wrong.
Alternately, if you want to deal with this on Sunday, you need to pull the wheels and see what is actually going on with your brakes from the inside.
Something is not right and I think Scamp is simply blowing you off by asking you to perform this ridiculous test.
Thanks for the reply, I completely agree with you on the function of the brakes. I plan to attempt a fix on my own. Its brakes and electricity. Not rocket science. the way the brake are now. It would take 2 city blocks to stop just the trailer from 30mph. maybe more. It does Kind of irritate me that Scamp seams to be blowing me off. But I also have trust issues with taking my vehicles/trailer somewhere to have someone else work on it. I've always done all my own repairs. Sunday is looking busy and I may not get to the scamp. but sometime this week I should.
Good News...
You've identified the problem as a problem on the Scamp.
Even Better News...
You are still under warranty, when you return, you can call Scamp and let them figure it out !!!!
Be careful on your trip and have a GREAT TIME !!!
As Always,
Happy Scamping !!!
Being how you have a brand new trailer, the first thing I would do is check and make sure your trailer has the electric brakes installed on it. They come standard on the 16, but I think they still are an option the 13.
Yes my trailer has trailer brakes option. Yes I have confirmed that since I have adjusted the shoes myself more than once.
so after the trip this weekend. under certain braking I can feel the trailer brakes working slightly, Keep in mind the brake controller is still at max setting. I also have it on boost setting #1. however at any speed if i manually engage only the trailer brakes, you really do not notice anything. maybe a very slight drag. its almost hard to tell if its the brakes or just wind resistance from the trailer.
Can someone with a 13' equipped with trailer brakes please chime in and let me know if im expecting too much out of it? or if it sounds like something is wrong?
I had an 81 13 with brakes and I could lock them up with the controller. Also could use the manual lever and feel the brakes engage. There was some feedback I read somewhere that the glaze on new brakes needs to burn off. Again, I'd call Scamp and tell them what is going on.
As far as using the trailer no issue. Brakes aren't really necessary for a 13, but since you have them they should get them usable for you somewhere down the line.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
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Thank you.
I've got a call into them but the person they wanted me to talk to wasn't available so they are supposed to call me back.
I'll Update when I hear back.
They called back and told me to jack up the trailer with it connected to the vehicle and spin the wheel then apply the trailer brakes. If it stops then they are working fine. They also told me that the brakes would not lock up, and are not designed to stop the car and trailer. which im aware of.
I'm sure that when it jack up the trailer that the brakes will stop the wheels just free spinning. I however do not think its an accurate representation of their stopping ability. I guess im not real pleased with the brakes at this point. Between the price of the option from the factory and two brake controllers in both my tow vehicles, its pretty expensive for something that isn't even noticeable.
I'll do their test and see what happens. But I think I already know the answer.
When I hooked up my lights and brakes on our new Nissan P.U. I had to get a special wiring harness that connected a bunch of module converters to the existing wiring down under the dash. One set of converters for the lights and one set for the brakes. The Nissan manual stated that they were needed because the vehicle battery was used as a direct power source to the trailer. The truck's tail lights act as a switch to activate the power from the battery to the trailer. Apparently my truck light circuits do not have the power to handle the load from the trailer light and brake systems. Maybe you're not getting enough power to your brakes.
What kind of vehicle do you have? Have you checked your vehicle manual to see if you need any additional electrical equipment installed for towing.
I've got a 2010 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI diesel. the car is working fine. We have the Tekonsha diagnostic tester at work It shows the vehicle working fine. with plenty of voltage to the brakes.
I still haven't performed the test they wanted my too yet. been busy working alot. I have Sunday off. I hope to get it done then.
Dan-o, I agree that the test they are asking you to perform will yield no valid results. If your brakes are working only slightly the wheel will stop turning with the slightest of braking activity.
Bottom line, your trailer brakes should be strong enough to stop the trailer without the tow vehicle attached ( in theory, the tow vehicle stops itself and the trailer stops itself in a balanced manner ). With this "Balanced Braking" in mind, you should feel a good amount of braking when using the trailer brakes alone at speeds around 25 - 30 mph. Not enough braking to use if you are approaching a Red Light, but enough to stop your Tow Vehicle and the Trailer in about twice the length as you could if you used the Tow Vehicle brakes, in other words, if you apply just the trailer brakes (with TV in Neutral) you should feel a significant amount of stopping. What you are describing is a minimal / almost nonexistent amount of braking coming from the trailer alone.
At this point you have done a significant amount of testing and you still have the problem (jacking up your trailer and spinning the wheels is not going to solve, or diagnose, your issue).
At this point-in-time, I am thinking you might have an electrical issue, perhaps your 7-pin plug was wired incorrectly and the proper amount of power is not getting to the brakes ( check your voltages at the brake magnets by varying your Controller settings ). Also, I am thinking that the brake lights might be wired to your brakes or you have a faulty ground wire on the brakes. Additionally, the brakes could have been installed backwards and the brakes are trying to engage in the reverse direction and the leverage created by the magnet is not as strong in the reverse direction.
I think you should find a competent trailer mechanic, one who works on trailer brakes all day, and have them figure out what is wrong.
Alternately, if you want to deal with this on Sunday, you need to pull the wheels and see what is actually going on with your brakes from the inside.
Something is not right and I think Scamp is simply blowing you off by asking you to perform this ridiculous test.
As Always,
Happy Scamping !!!
Thanks for the reply, I completely agree with you on the function of the brakes. I plan to attempt a fix on my own. Its brakes and electricity. Not rocket science. the way the brake are now. It would take 2 city blocks to stop just the trailer from 30mph. maybe more. It does Kind of irritate me that Scamp seams to be blowing me off. But I also have trust issues with taking my vehicles/trailer somewhere to have someone else work on it. I've always done all my own repairs. Sunday is looking busy and I may not get to the scamp. but sometime this week I should.
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