Trailer Hop

[Bodybomber]

Anyone have any idea what could cause this?? Im new to big trailers with electric brakes. Occasionally under medium braking my goose neck trailer feels like its hopping. Gets worse if more brake is used and stops if there is room to let up. It is a Redrago 10 ton triple 7K Dexters with 6 electric brakes. Using a Tekonsha Sentinal controller. This only happens when loaded. It has done it so hard a couple times Im glad I had a seat belt on. Could this all be caused by warped drums?? I didnt turn them when I replaced all bearings and shoes because they were not that bad. Oscillating controller perhaps?? All wiring is new but the brakes have never been very impressive even when empty. Any ideas??????

 

[PaulG]

maybe the controler is making them brake to hard? the only other two things i can think of is maybe some of the brake are binding or warped and the other tires are not? i don't think warped drums will cause that normally that is just like a pulsing action not a hoping lock-up type thing.

 

[y-knot]

I'm also thinking you are applying to much trailer brake, maybe turn down the voltage on the brake controller and see how it does.

 

[Bodybomber]

Maybe hop is not the right description. The one time it was real bad I was actualy hitting the shoulder belt with some force. Felt like the truck was jumping up and down. I think the abs was starting to take over too. Correct me if Im wrong but shouldnt the trailer brakes work well enough to lock up when empty? The front axle will but the others dont.

 

[dvieira]

Hi. .



noticed you have airlift bags, what air pressure do you use, i also had what you descriped happen to me last year on Hwy 80, coming home from Reno, drive over a little dip in the road and dang,, so i pulled over and released some air from the bags, started with 40#, lowered it to about 20#, solved my problem.



dave

 

[Bodybomber]

I put whatever pressure it takes to bring the truck as close to level as I can.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Originally posted by Bodybomber

Maybe hop is not the right description. The one time it was real bad I was actualy hitting the shoulder belt with some force. Felt like the truck was jumping up and down. I think the abs was starting to take over too. Correct me if Im wrong but shouldnt the trailer brakes work well enough to lock up when empty? The front axle will but the others dont.

You should be able to lock up all three axles empty. Might be a wiring problem, with tree axles you need at least #10 wire, also, electric brakes require frequent adjustment or at least the ones I had on my trailer did. You are probably right about the ABS being what you are feeling. bg

 

[Bodybomber]

I rewired the trailer. #10 from plug to junction block #10 from block to left brake,#12 from there crossing over to right brake. All connections soldered and sealed. One thing I did notice is that I have never had a full 12v at the trailer plug brake wire.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Been thinking (hard on me) about this problem???? It could be a defective controller, I had one where the little pendelum came loose, it would either slam on the brakes or not work at all. Next time you have the trailer empty, pull the pin on the breakaway switch and see if it locks up all six. That will be full voltage of the backup battery. (12 volts?) bg