Why Would Trailer Brakes Feel Very Weak at First

Published 07/18/2018

Question:

I have a new trailer and ran into an issue when trying to set the initial power setting. I speed up to about 25 miles per hour on flat ground and apply the manual brake knob and cant seem to get the power level to increase. I tried many times increasing the power button, as high as 9+, and couldnt get the brakes in the trailer to lock up nor did it seem to increase at all. I might have had the boost on B1 when trying to set this, cant recall. New trailer is a 2,100 lb camper. Thank you,

asked by: Russell H

Expert Reply:

New trailers notoriously don't have the brake assemblies adjusted properly which is why they'll feel like they have weak brakes at first. Most brake assemblies are self-adjusting which means that after enough brake applications they'll be tight enough to work properly. What we normally tell people is to go out in an empty parking lot or street and at a low speed apply the brakes several times with the manual overrride lever. The brakes will get tighter with every application until they are finally the proper adjustment.

expert reply by: Jameson C