Trailer warning, this could happen to you

[Hay Dude]

I have your typical Pequea 10,000lb 20’ trailer. It’s a 2022, so still fairly new. Been a very good trailer.
Typical uses are hauling mowers and lighter equipment around, nothing unusual.

One time last year, while running empty down the highway, I hit a huge bump. Trailer actually “got air”, landed and the trailer brakes locked. By the time I quickly got pulled over, I lost 2 of the 4 tires. Came very close to a loss of control of the trailer. I never understood why the brakes locked. Trailer worked perfectly since that event. I replaced the 2 bad tires, trailer break-away kit and the battery and the battery housing, just in case it had some kind of glitch in it.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago and the same thing happened, but at very low speed, so just a couple skid marks.
Then last week, it happened again on my driveway, again at low speed, but I knew I needed to figure this out before a tragedy. Looked at everything I could think of.

While disconnecting the trailer, I pulled the 7 pin plug and heard a rattle in the plug itself. I removed the tiny locking screw and slid the cover back on the plug. Inside the cover, one of the short brass wire anchoring screws (the one for the center lug) had come loose and was floating around.

I believe that randomly, that wire anchoring screw would jump into the right spot where the brake connection wire is and ground out with the terminal next to it and cause the brakes to lock. Could this have been the reason the brakes locked? Makes sense to me.

I thought to myself that anyone with a trailer plug could have this happen. Pull the cover off your plug. Tighten the small screws. Make sure you remove or greatly tighten/use thread lock on any that are unused!

 

[dodge man]

Good catch and a tough one to find.

 

[Topzide]

I've got a wire in all 7 locations on mine. Hopefully, that'll keep them locked in place, but I will check them when I do my annual on it. Good catch and sure that would cause that issue. Never thought how nice it is to have reverse lights on the car trailer!

 

[JPRambo]

I thought you were going to tell the same story I had once. Towing my empty 14' duel axle and hit a bump and the leaf springs on the front axle flipped. Causing the tail to wag the dog. Exciting at 50 mph.

 

[Fixastuff]

I fill them with silicone when I put them back together.

 

[nyone]

That's a good catch. Now why did only 2 of the 4 brakes lock up?

 

[M59]

I have your typical Pequea 10,000lb 20’ trailer. It’s a 2022, so still fairly new.

One time last year, while running empty down the highway, I hit a huge bump. Trailer actually “got air”, landed and the trailer brakes locked. By the time I quickly got pulled over, I lost 2 of the 4 tires. Came very close to a loss of control of the trailer. I never understood why the brakes locked. Trailer worked perfectly since that event. I replaced the 2 bad tires, trailer break-away kit and the battery and the battery housing, just in case it had some kind of glitch in it.

I believe that randomly, that wire anchoring screw would jump into the right spot where the brake connection wire is and ground out with the terminal next to it and cause the brakes to lock. Could this have been the reason the brakes locked? Makes sense to me.

I thought to myself that anyone with a trailer plug could have this happen. Pull the cover off your plug. Tighten the small screws. Make sure you remove or greatly tighten/use thread lock on any that are unused!

Thanks for the heads up. Another reason I am part of this forum.

That's the kind of exciting day no one ever wants. Good to hear you ran it to ground. (pun intended )

 

[LouNY]

I fill them with silicone when I put them back together.

Many "silicone's" will cause corrosion, they have an acetic acid base that citrus smell that you smell while working with it. A latex caulk will not cause corrosion

 

[Fixastuff]

Many "silicone's" will cause corrosion, they have an acetic acid base that citrus smell that you smell while working with it. A latex caulk will not cause corrosion

Thanks! I’m not sure what caulk I used last time actually but I’ll make sure it’s latex next time.

 

[gengine]

I have had the whole center pin come out, not just the screw and do the dame thing. I was going to respond with that, but you already had it solved. Thanks for posting!