Brakes

[TrexBees]

Truck end is good. I tow weekly with it and no issue with e brakes on the dump trailer. Truck is not sensing HiLo.
I’ve checked continuity from the plug all the way back to the brake hubs via the blue wire. When I get to the wheel hubs all is good.
Can’t check voltage on the blue because truck won’t call for it unless it detects trailer brake circuit is hooked up. HILO turning, brake light all work.
Checked for grounds/shorts and opens forward of the hub, all tested sat.

Where do I go? I’m thinking it’s an issue with the hub itself.

 

[JackandJanet]

Possibly the ground/negative wire is not connected properly or has a corroded connection? Do the brakes lock up when you pull the trailer disconnect safety switch?

You SHOULD be able to connect a multimeter to the brake wires where they are joined to the hub wires by wire nuts. That way, the tow vehicle will still "see" the trailer (if you simply add the multimeter to the existing circuit) and you can see if there is power being sent to that point.

It's possible the trailer plug is faulty on the brake connection. While the wiring from the plug to the brakes may be sound, if the connection there to the tow vehicle is faulty, you won't have braking. I had to replace my trailer plug a while back due to bad connections.

- Jack

 

[sam-HILO]

Jack gave you good advice. Our Parts manager at our HiLo RV dealer ship sells five hundred trailer plugs a year. He changes all the plugs before he takes the trailers to the winter rv show. This reminds me I should carry a spare.

 

[Vetters2]

Truck end is good. I tow weekly with it and no issue with e brakes on the dump trailer. Truck is not sensing HiLo.
I’ve checked continuity from the plug all the way back to the brake hubs via the blue wire. When I get to the wheel hubs all is good.
Can’t check voltage on the blue because truck won’t call for it unless it detects trailer brake circuit is hooked up. HILO turning, brake light all work.
Checked for grounds/shorts and opens forward of the hub, all tested sat.

Where do I go? I’m thinking it’s an issue with the hub itself.

Before you do that, let me ask you this have you changed the tail lights to led on your Hilo? I used to work at a dealership and certain trow vehicles namely newer Chevys and we would always have issues with getting them to find the trailers with led lights. Its an issue with the amount of power being put out by the truck, the fix is simple furrion makes a chevy adapter that provides the extra juice needed it plugs into your 7 way and then your rv plugs into it..problem solved. I cant tell you how many times we ran I to that issue.

 

[JackandJanet]

Respectfully, while I can understand the issue with LEDs in lighting drawing very little current, thereby making the trailer "invisible" to the tow vehicle, that has nothing to do with the brakes. And, the battery charging circuit will still be showing a strong draw too. So, the trailer should be seen by the tow vehicle - mine is, and I've put LEDs in the exterior lighting. I'm guessing Chevys use the lighting circuits to detect a trailer.

The "adapter" you speak of probably contains resistors that add an Amperage draw to the lighting/turn signal and brake light circuits. That makes those lights "visible" to the tow vehicle, at the expense of an increased current draw from the tow vehicle's alternator.

- Jack

 

[TrexBees]

Before you do that, let me ask you this have you changed the tail lights to led on your Hilo? I used to work at a dealership and certain trow vehicles namely newer Chevys and we would always have issues with getting them to find the trailers with led lights. Its an issue with the amount of power being put out by the truck, the fix is simple furrion makes a chevy adapter that provides the extra juice needed it plugs into your 7 way and then your rv plugs into it..problem solved. I cant tell you how many times we ran I to that issue.

I have not, BUT I’ll look to see if the previous owners did. Thanks for the tip!!

 

[JackandJanet]

In my opinion, Trex - You're overlooking the simple causes of your problem. You KNOW the issue is in the wiring in the trailer since the brakes work on your dump trailer. And, the brake wiring is not connected in any way to the lighting on the trailer.

There are two weak points in the trailer wiring. One is the trailer plug itself. The other is the wire nuts that connect the wiring to the brakes. These wire nuts are under the trailer on the inside side of the wheels. If one or more of them has fallen off, or if a wire has come out of them, the brakes will not work. Check them - they are easy to get to.

- Jack