Electric Over Hydraulic Trailer Brakes Working Intermittently on New Trailer and Truck

Updated 02/04/2020 | Published 02/03/2020

Question:

Have a 2019 Ford F-350 and a 2020 VanLeigh Beacon 5th wheel. Truck recognizes connected and trailer brakes work fine. Drive awhile and trailer brakes quit...they are ELECTRIC over HYDRAULIC. Next time I hook up, may or may not work. If they work, they again quit after awhile. Had truck checked and Ford says it is fine. Took 5th wheel to RV dealer and they can’t find anything. Really need ideas. Thanks!

asked by: Lonald L

Expert Reply:

Usually when you're experiencing intermittent brake functioning on your trailer brakes, it comes down to an issue with the ground wire. I don't believe this is connected to your HydraStar Actuator # HBA16. I would start by inspecting the ground wire on the trailer to make sure that it is firmly connected to a paint and corrosion free surface. I would also make sure that the truck and trailer connector are free from dirt and corrosion which could be creating issues with the connection; any corrosion or dirt can cause intermittent connection issues.

If there are no issues with the ground wire on the trailer or the 7 way connectors, your next course of action would be to check the wires on the trailer brakes to make sure there is not any damage on the brake wires; there could be some damage to the wire that is creating a short on the system. You'll want to check for cuts to the wire or potential rubbing that may be allowing a bare trailer wire to contact the frame of the trailer.

If you've gone through these troubleshooting steps, please let me know and I can recommend a couple of other steps that you can look at.

expert reply by: Erik B