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Old 01-28-2021, 05:28 PM   #1
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Location: outside Boston, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2020 21NE
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new escape brake adjustment?

Howdy!

We just received our 21NE and we're excited to set off for an adventure. We're familiarizing ourselves with our new Escape in our driveway before setting off and we're reading the manuals and watching the tutorials. We're newbies and previously tent camped everywhere.

My husband has the following question about the 500 KM brake adjustment that's suggested in the manual:
1. How critical is is to have it done within this distance?
2. As the trailer didn't come with a jack do folks have any recommendations?
3. How challenging is the procedure as the directions aren't very clear?

Thanks!
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Old 01-28-2021, 06:43 PM   #2
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Not terribly critical. Use a tire change ramp to lift a wheel - then the adjust is easy and no jack needed. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-21-...EaAoW0EALw_wcB
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Old 01-28-2021, 07:16 PM   #3
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I checked the brake adjustment after about 1500 mile. Prior to that I always would check the wheel hub temp at each stop & listen for a dragging brake. They were pretty close when I finally checked.

I carry a 5 ton jack in the TV. Plan to use that if needed for trailer
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Old 01-28-2021, 07:39 PM   #4
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We try to find a sandy spot on pavement or some gravel to test the brakes. As I manually apply the trailer brakes with the controller, my wife outside checks to see if one locks up more than the others. If nothing else it proves the brakes are working before we head out.
We also check the drum temperature after we stop for a rest just to make sure one is not doing more work/heat than the others. With something like this...
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https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...ape-12918.html
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Old 01-28-2021, 07:43 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gasguy View Post
I checked the brake adjustment after about 1500 mile. Prior to that I always would check the wheel hub temp at each stop & listen for a dragging brake. They were pretty close when I finally checked.

I carry a 5 ton jack in the TV. Plan to use that if needed for trailer
With jackstand too? The regular Trailer-Aid is safer and also serves when needing a bit higher leveling ramp.
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Old 01-28-2021, 07:49 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eggscape View Post
We try to find a sandy spot on pavement or some gravel to test the brakes. As I manually apply the trailer brakes with the controller, my wife outside checks to see if one locks up more than the others. If nothing else it proves the brakes are working before we head out.
We also check the drum temperature after we stop for a rest just to make sure one is not doing more work/heat than the others. With something like this...
This is pretty much what we did as well. As we had to drive almost 4000 kms to get our trailer home from Chilliwack we found that the first 1000 kms or so the brakes were intermittently grabbing; this was especially true as we made our way through the Crows Nest pass crossing the Rockies. We simply kept track of the hub temperature by feeling it with our fingers every time we stopped. On a couple of stops the hubs were quite warm so I grabbed the handle of a hammer and lightly tapped all around the hub while taking an hour stop and they seemed to be fine afterwards. When we finally adjusted them there was not much adjustment necessary. Also remember to make sure that the brake controller is set just right as this prevents unnecessary wear and more importantly potential loss of control in an emergency braking maneuver.
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Old 01-28-2021, 08:31 PM   #7
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Hey TravelMama, Is this your trailer?
This was taken at our delivery location on Tuesday morning, Jan. 26.
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Old 01-28-2021, 09:49 PM   #8
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After I picked up my trailer in May of 2015, I headed directly to Osoyoos for the rally. After leaving the rally, we went through a construction zone where the pavement had been totally removed and I did the 20 mph thing to adjust the brake controller. Since the brakes were working as they should, and did so without any of them grabbing, we continued all the way back to Florida. I did not Jack up the wheels and check the brake adjustment until I cleaned and packed the wheel bearings for the first time (at @ 10,000 miles). At that time, the brakes were still within an acceptable adjustment range. After servicing the bearings, I did adjust the brakes. So in my case, I would say that the 500 Km suggestion wasn’t all that critical.
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Old 01-28-2021, 11:55 PM   #9
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Attached is a link to a good video on how to adjust trailer brakes.

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