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Old 07-14-2014, 01:00 PM   #1
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TT Brakes not doing their fair share of the work.

With previous trailers I've always felt the tug of the brakes on the trailer while slowing. I run a bit more gain than most, but that's the feeling I like. When I got our new trailer in April unless I used the boost +2 feature on the P3 I never felt like I had enough initial brake feel from the TT.

I test pulled with my new truck this past weekend and turned up the controller to 10 and still didn't get anything close to the feeling I wanted. I would say the truck was doing at least 75% of the braking. Since it decided to rain I crawled under the TT and checked the drums. The rear axle was fine with a bit of drag but the fronts I had to turn 8 times before there was any drag on the drum. Looks like the factory forgot to adjust them and the dealer never looked.

I got them adjusted them and went for a drive, the rear axle will lock up on gravel now but I still have to keep the controller up around 8 to feel like the TT is doing anything.

Is there anything else I could be missing?

Towing with the F350 is effortless, I think it gets to 65 with the trailer connected faster than the Avalanche did without.
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Old 07-14-2014, 02:04 PM   #2
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Pull the drums, check for grease on them, some dealers will shoot too much grease in there and the grease will get all over the inside of the drums
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Old 07-14-2014, 02:38 PM   #3
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If the trailer brakes are adjusted correct and the brake controller is adjusted correctly you should not feel the trailer pushing or pulling under normal braking. It should be as if the trailer is not there. That is the way my Prodigy P3 is.

Under emergency braking with your truck in ABS the trailer should not lock up and you may feel some push as your truck has more braking effort than the trailer has.
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Old 07-14-2014, 04:01 PM   #4
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The prodigy also has the amperage reading to the brake feed. That could be checked...And not to be dumb, but did you double check the prodigy is set to the correct style of brakes?
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Old 07-14-2014, 07:40 PM   #5
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If the Trailer is new as of April and you have not driven it much, the brake shoes may not have seated yet to the drum.
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Old 07-14-2014, 08:13 PM   #6
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If the Trailer is new as of April and you have not driven it much, the brake shoes may not have seated yet to the drum.
Wasn't there a break in process described in a previous thread somewhere? I think Mark5W posted it.
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Old 07-15-2014, 05:36 AM   #7
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you've got a 2011 F350 with the integrated brake controller - why not use it instead of the prodigy?
The IBC incorporates the built in sway control, ABS, ESP, etc...

Can go to go to Settings>Driver Assist>Trailer Brake Mode to set elec or elec over hyd brakes...

am I correct to assume your rv has a 7 pin connector?
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Old 07-15-2014, 05:41 AM   #8
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Sorry for the confusion I only used the P3 in my avalanche. All the pulling with the 350 has been with the factory unit. I'm going to try and pull the drums next week and see if they are fouled by grease. We've pulled the trailer about 800 miles so far so I'd expect they are bedded now. Yes it's 7 pin
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Old 07-15-2014, 08:39 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by Coopers_dad View Post
Sorry for the confusion I only used the P3 in my avalanche. All the pulling with the 350 has been with the factory unit. I'm going to try and pull the drums next week and see if they are fouled by grease. We've pulled the trailer about 800 miles so far so I'd expect they are bedded now. Yes it's 7 pin
The factory unit sometimes takes a bit to get used to. It doesn't react the same as something like a Prodigy. It brings the brakes on gradual when driving and you have to be over 15 or 20 mph to get them to react at all. Best test is to get up to 20 mph and use the manual slider for the brake control only and see how fast it starts to tug. The next test is to park the unit and pull the emergency brake switch and try to pull forward. If all four brakes on the trailer are not locked you need the trailer brakes adjusted, not the truck controller. I pull 12,500 lbs behind my F350 and my gain is set at 7.5 and it is enough that the truck and trailer stop seamlessly. The IBC is very sensitive and based in the truck braking and force it applies more to the trailer as necessary, almost so you don't feel it. But when I need to stop from 65mph in a hurry it does the job perfectly at that gain setting.

Pulling the emergency cable out will lock my trailer brakes and stop my 8,300lb truck dead in its tracks. I know this because it happened twice while turning a corner before I out a Fastway cable on.
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Old 07-15-2014, 11:33 AM   #10
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Scott, are you saying you can't pull the manual brake slider on your truck and make it slide the trailer tires if you are going to slow?
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Old 07-15-2014, 07:26 PM   #11
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Bump
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Old 07-15-2014, 07:43 PM   #12
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Lloyd, now you're going to have to explain what "bump" means. I know from some other garage sales sites, not sure all the others know.
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Old 07-15-2014, 07:45 PM   #13
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Bump means I'm putting this thread back up to the top.
Hoping Scott will see it.
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Old 07-16-2014, 06:57 AM   #14
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Scott, are you saying you can't pull the manual brake slider on your truck and make it slide the trailer tires if you are going to slow?
That's right, if driving slowly and I manually push the TBC slider on, it won't lock the brakes. However, if you pull out the emergency brake cable at slow speeds they lock. May have changed it on newer versions, but on my 2011 F350 that's how it works.
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Old 07-16-2014, 07:03 AM   #15
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They must have changed things along to way. It surprised me to read that cause mine will lock them right up. I don't even have to be moving. When I hookup I do the pull test, the brakes are locked.
Seems odd they would have it set up that way.
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Old 07-16-2014, 07:34 AM   #16
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They must have changed things along to way. It surprised me to read that cause mine will lock them right up. I don't even have to be moving. When I hookup I do the pull test, the brakes are locked.
Seems odd they would have it set up that way.
I hear there have been some changes. Don't get me wrong, I can stop the trailer with the slider, just not lock the brakes.
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Old 07-16-2014, 10:01 AM   #17
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I have NO experience with IBC's...but based on TrailerLife articles, there may be a big difference from 2011 to 2013. Seems they are continually changing (and improving) the IBC designs.
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