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Old 10-01-2013, 09:05 PM   #1
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Brakes and backing up

We have noticed that when we start to back up our Escape the brakes seem to be locked (the wheels do not want to roll) and the tow has to push harder and then there is a kind of pop and the trailer wheels release and will roll backwards.

We never experienced this with the previous 2 Scamps we had and we are using the same brake controller.

Is this normal or is there something different about the Escape brakes that we do not know?

Thanks!
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Old 10-01-2013, 10:47 PM   #2
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There is nothing different with Escape brakes and your trailer should roll as easily backward as forward. If anything due to the wedging action of the shoes most brakes work better going forward than backward. A few things you could try simplest first:
1. Electrical issue. Unhook your trailer connector and see if it still happens. If it still happens there might be something wrong with your controller or the reverse light circuit on your tow vehicle is inadvertently supplying power to your brakes.
2. Mechanical issue. Something (e.g. brake lining chunk, broken brake part) is wedging between your shoe and your drum when you reverse. Usually though there is partial rotation before the drum sticks.

Either way you need to get it fixed. I've bought vehicles where the brake shoe has has literally bonded to the drum after being parked for several months but there should be minimal to no contact between the shoes and drums on your trailer (no parking brake). If the brake shoes get contaminated with lubricants they can grab but that usually happens in both forward and reverse and it doesn't feel like a "pop".

I'm making several assumptions here, that your trailer brakes work normally going forward and that it's not your tow vehicle that is acting up.

Let us know what you find,

Dave
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Old 10-02-2013, 12:23 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FMLNM View Post
We have noticed that when we start to back up our Escape the brakes seem to be locked (the wheels do not want to roll) and the tow has to push harder and then there is a kind of pop and the trailer wheels release and will roll backwards.

We never experienced this with the previous 2 Scamps we had and we are using the same brake controller.

Is this normal or is there something different about the Escape brakes that we do not know?

Thanks!
Hi: FMLNM... It could be something to do with the brake hold system (Hill Assist) on the truck. I always forget about the delay when I'm trying to back the trailer up our driveway. It seems to take more umph to get the 5.0 moving again after being held with the brakes on. Alf
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Old 10-02-2013, 09:02 AM   #4
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Thanks for the suggestions. It does not appear to be an issue with the truck brakes or 'hill assist'. This happens on level ground and I can clearly hear a pop from the trailer wheels. The brakes seem to work normally going forward and once the pop is heard, the wheels roll backwards without issue.
Sounds like we need to take it in and get it checked at our trailer shop.
First we will try backing up without the hookup to the truck and see if it is related to the electric connection for the brakes.
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Old 10-02-2013, 11:11 AM   #5
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I had the issue while backing up with a vehicle with standard transmission, disconnected the controller and the issue went away.
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Old 10-03-2013, 01:51 PM   #6
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You may wish to check your brake controller. I have to press a button and wait for the "r" to appear, otherwise I cannot back up because the brakes are locked. I have a Prodigy.
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Old 10-03-2013, 02:46 PM   #7
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You may wish to check your brake controller. I have to press a button and wait for the "r" to appear, otherwise I cannot back up because the brakes are locked. I have a Prodigy.
Thanks! We'll check that. Our brake controller is a Prodigy also. What button is it that you press to release the brakes?
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Old 10-03-2013, 03:01 PM   #8
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Thanks to Sandra, I checked the Prodigy instructions online and lo and behold, found the answer!

The Prodigy P2 will “HOLD” your trailer with
25% of power setting while you are at a standstill
with brake pedal applied for longer than 5 seconds.
Reverse
When backing a trailer you can cancel “BOOST” and
“HOLD” for a period of three minutes. This can be
accomplished by pressing the boost button continuously
for five seconds with the brake pedal depressed.
The display will indicate:
(If “boost” was active, the right hand decimal point
will also be on.) After three minutes the “BOOST” and
“HOLD” features will automatically return to your
previous settings.
NOTE:
Returning to your previous settings prior to three minutes
can be accomplished by pressing the boost button.
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Old 10-03-2013, 03:24 PM   #9
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Reading the instructions with my Prodigy P3, you are not to use Boost with trailers that weigh less than the tow vehicle. I have it off with my 17B.

It accidentally got turned on a couple trips ago and I noticed right away something was wrong.
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Old 10-03-2013, 03:48 PM   #10
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We'll double check that and the brake 'Hold' next time we pull our trailer out.
Thanks.
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Old 10-03-2013, 04:02 PM   #11
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There are additional instructions for reverse, but since it isn't needed.
Attached Thumbnails
boost.jpg  
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Old 10-03-2013, 04:38 PM   #12
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For reverse: "When backing a trailer you can cancel 'Boost" and "Hold" for a period of three minutes. This can be accomplished by pressing the boost button continuously for five seconds with the brake pedal depressed."

Also:
"With boost off during a braking event, the power to the brakes starts out at zero and increases with deceleration. With the boost on level 1 during a braking event, the power automatically starts out at approximately 13% of the power setting and increases with deceleration."
Level 2 and 3 power starts at approx. 25%
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Old 10-03-2013, 06:24 PM   #13
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Thanks again Glenn. I think mine is set to b1. Needless to say I will be double checking the setting.
Happy to attempt to help FMLMN.
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Old 10-03-2013, 09:53 PM   #14
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I find B1 - on our original Prodigy - desirable with our Boler 1700 (Escape 17 length, but a bit heavier) behind our Sienna... but only on the highway. In stop-and-go conditions I turn the boost off.

The backing issue is presumably the hold feature not releasing quickly enough, unrelated to the boost feature (except that they are temporarily disabled together). I wouldn't assume that the boost setting needs to be changed.
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Old 10-03-2013, 09:58 PM   #15
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I suspect you are right Brian. We'll check it out and probably just end up disconnecting the brake controller from the trailer when backing up. It's odd that this never happened with the Scamps (2) and we are using the same brake controller and tow vehicle. Oh well.
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Old 10-03-2013, 11:06 PM   #16
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Interesting... I have the P2, wasn't aware of this function, and have never encountered it. I guess I don't tend to sit still with my foot on the brake. But now I'll have to play with it next time I'm hooked up.
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