Hey guys, my first post. I hope you can help.
I picked up the new to me fiver last night, and the truck pulled it fine.
The problem is going down the road out of nowhere the trailer wheels start locking up! I had to finally stop,and unplug the 7way plug to just get home. Can you help me out. Thanx Tony

 

Welcome to DTR!!

Check to make sure your emergency break-away brake plunger is fully engaged on the trailer. It may be part way out and when you hit a bump, that is enough to activate it.

What kind of brake controller are you running? What is your truck? Trailer?

When you get a chance, fill in your sig line so we can know what you are working with.

Good luck.

 

So lets start with the basics. Did you attempt to adjust the trailer brake setting (A **** or wheel on the side of the controller)? This will affect how the trailer brakes actuate.
Like radshooter said, check your breakaway cable/box.
Another issue may be that the brake control is sitting at the wrong angle, and if you hit bumps too hard, it may be actuating inadvertently? (I've never heard of this happening, but I guess it may be possible)

 

Are you sure the plug on the truck and trailer are wired correct?
You could have a turn signal wire where the brake wire is supposed to be.
It sounds like the brake wire is getting power when it is not suppossed to.
I would pull apart the plug on the truck and trailer and inspect both, maybe possible that the 12 volt power supply is freyed and is just barely touching the brake wire or (and this is rare) corrosion inside the plug acting as a conductor.

It can't be too difficult, there are only 7 wires! (at the plug)

Make sure your brake controller is wired correctly and check to see if it has power at the plug without touching the brake peddle, check for power with someone holding the brake.

Then again, the brake controller could have taken a DUMP!

 

My first thought matched what Casketman said. I'll bet the plug wiring doesn't match.

 

Sorry for not getting back sooner, thanks for the help.

I haven't been able to check everything yet. I did check the emergency wire, and it is all right. I did go ahead and buy a new controller. When I wired it up the light that indicates the trailer is connected to the truck is on! without being connected. So something is not right. Thanks, again for the help. Later, Tony

 

Hey guys, finally got some time to check the plug, well I'm sure that is the problem. The brake wire was cut, and never connected to the plug. Also the company that wired the plug for me used a 6 strand set of wires for a 7 way plug. So Monday I guess I'll go and, see them. Thanks for the help. Later, Tony

 

I hate to be a pain, but I have another question. What wire is supposed to be connected to the auxillary terminal on the truck side of the plug? Thanks again, Tony

 

If you are talking about the center plug....that's where my backup lights are wired. It must be fairly common because Dodge even printed "backup lights" on the plastic plug cover on the truck.

 

I guess I've looked at too many wires today. What I'm concerned with now, is that when the fifth wheel is connected to the truck the battery is not getting charged. I thought that the center terminal was to charge the battery, but there is not but 6 wires in this strand of wires to begin with.Thanks, Tony

 

When you say "6 wires" are you talking about the trailer?

Try these links:

http://dodgeram.org/tech/mods/electric/trailer_wire.htm

http://www.marksrv.com/wiring.htm

 

Handymantim, I looked at the links, and that is the problem they're showing 7 wires, and I've only got 6 wires going to the plug on the truck end. I've got 7 wires on the fifth wheel end. Thanks, againb for your help

 

You mentioned "they cut the brake wire." Is that the wire that's missing on the truck end? If you're not sure which wire is missing get a test light or a volt meter and turn things (blinkers, running lights, etc) on one at a time and check each wire until you know what it does. Then you'll know what's missing.

What year truck do you have?