brakes lock up going up driveway

[jokaj]

i have a two axle trailer with surge brakes (disc brakes) on the rear axle. i have a seven way plug to 5. when i back up it is fine except when I go up my drive way. It locks up. Shouldn't the reverse on the car disable the surge? What can I do to fix this problem without putting in the pin into the reverse lock out hole thingy...thanks

 

[PBJT]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

I would first check to see if you are getting a reverse light signal to the trailer coupler. I have seen a lot of round 7 way not wired for rev.

Pete

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

There are two types of anti-reverse systems;

• 1. The solenoid blocks the brake fluid from flowing when the reverse lights are powered.
• 2. The splenoid has a bleed off line that permits the fluid in the lines to bleed back to the master cylinder when the brake lights are powered

In the 1st example the surge coupler must be in a neutral/open position before the transmission is shifted into reverse. This permits the solenoid to close before the fluid pressurizes the lines, leaving the brakes released. Otherwise, the solenoid will close, maintaining the lines in a pressurized condition, or brakes on.

If this is your system then you must, after stopping, allow the vehicle to roll forward just a little to release the surge coupler, and therefore the pressure in the lines.

The 2nd system allows the fluid to flow back when the solenoid is activated, releasing the brakes, so no problem.

 

[jokaj]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

Is there an easy way to figure out which one I have? Thanks

There are two types of anti-reverse systems;

• 1. The solenoid blocks the brake fluid from flowing when the reverse lights are powered.
• 2. The splenoid has a bleed off line that permits the fluid in the lines to bleed back to the master cylinder when the brake lights are powered

In the 1st example the surge coupler must be in a neutral/open position before the transmission is shifted into reverse. This permits the solenoid to close before the fluid pressurizes the lines, leaving the brakes released. Otherwise, the solenoid will close, maintaining the lines in a pressurized condition, or brakes on.

If this is your system then you must, after stopping, allow the vehicle to roll forward just a little to release the surge coupler, and therefore the pressure in the lines.

The 2nd system allows the fluid to flow back when the solenoid is activated, releasing the brakes, so no problem.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

You should have a reverse lockout solenoid valve. Locate that valve and feel it while someone shifts the tow vehicle to reverse. You should feel it get energized. If you don't have one, you need to install one. It will be inline with the brake line leaving the master cylinder.

http://www.championtrailers.com/REVERSING_SOLENOID_VALVES.HTM

 

[Boatist]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

I would start just by having someone help you.
With the trailer hooked up and the engine off have someone turn on the key and put the car in reverse.
You go back to your brake actuator and listen for the solenoid while watching your
reverse light when put in and out of reverse.

Do your backup lights come on?
Do you hear the solenoid at the same time?
If not then get a meter or test light and see if 12 volts is getting to the solenoid.
If not then check your wiring all the way back to your connection where you have 12 volts.

Also is this a new problem or has it always been this way?

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

Is there an easy way to figure out which one I have? Thanks

System #2 has a small hose, about 1 1/2 to 2", with a bend, going from the solenoid to the master cylinder. This is the bypass line. It may be behind or between the solenoid and the master and maybe hard to see.

I believe that the Tiedown system uses a bleed off type solenoid. At Least the one I had did. Dico actuators may be using the other type, at least mine does.

I understand from previously recorded posts that the system w/o the bleed off hose can be modified to accept the hose.

It seems that the bleed off type would be superior as it does not require the forward roll to relieve the pressure.

For those of you who wish to argue about the validity of the information I have furnished, let me say that this was all acquired from personal observation and experience. The same problem as 1st mentioned by the OP is experienced when parking our trailers too close to an obstruction in the front of our tow vehicles. If the trailer didn't roll back, or the driver didn't think to allow the vehicle to roll forward the last couple inches, we play the devil trying to back out of the slot as the brakes didn't release, and we can't move forward enough to open the actuator.

The fun part is trying to overcome the brakes. A single axle is not too hard, can be hopped back, then roll forward to relieve the pressure. It gets more challenging as the number of axles increases. If the brakes are really working well, it could be a real problem.

 

[Robbabob]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

i have a two axle trailer with surge brakes (disc brakes) on the rear axle. i have a seven way plug to 5. when i back up it is fine except when I go up my drive way. It locks up. Shouldn't the reverse on the car disable the surge? What can I do to fix this problem without putting in the pin into the reverse lock out hole thingy...thanks

My old fashion surge brakes trailer doesn't have a solenoid to override the pressure system. Are you sure yours does? Has it ever worked properly? Did you purchase new?

Perhaps you have a trailer similar to mine.... or it is too early this morning and I missed something

Good Luck!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

either I don't have an override or it doesn't work, so I put a pin in th ehole in front of the actuator hoiusing to keep it from pushing forward and activating the brakes. I have to have the trailer pulled forward to do this.
But I have the round plug and a new system so I think it should override with an electric switch; thanks for the tips on how to check. I seldom use this trailer that I didn't think about it much.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway



Here's mine. it's a bypass type that Bob has described with a modified Dico D60 master that has the return tube in the top.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

There are two types of anti-reverse systems;

• 1. The solenoid blocks the brake fluid from flowing when the reverse lights are powered.
• 2. The splenoid has a bleed off line that permits the fluid in the lines to bleed back to the master cylinder when the brake lights are powered

In the 1st example the surge coupler must be in a neutral/open position before the transmission is shifted into reverse. This permits the solenoid to close before the fluid pressurizes the lines, leaving the brakes released. Otherwise, the solenoid will close, maintaining the lines in a pressurized condition, or brakes on.

If this is your system then you must, after stopping, allow the vehicle to roll forward just a little to release the surge coupler, and therefore the pressure in the lines.

The 2nd system allows the fluid to flow back when the solenoid is activated, releasing the brakes, so no problem.

Should the above in red be "when the transmission is put into reverse" ??

 

[bruceb58]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

Should the above in red be "when the transmission is put into reverse" ??

Yes it should.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

Yup.

 

[Robbabob]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

Here's a pic of ours, manual lever action:

 

[jokaj]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

thanks for your suggestions. i have to wait until later to check it out when I take my boat out of storage......

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

Should the above in red be "when the transmission is put into reverse" ??

Yes, sorry, my proof reader quit yesterday.

 

[Outsider]

Re: brakes lock up going up driveway

Your solenoid is working if you can back the trailer up without locking down. If you have to back up a hill, you have to begin with the coupler not compressed when you select reverse, and you cannot take the vehicle out of reverse once you start uphill ...