Breakaway test - Fail

JeffO4297 · 03-20-2021, 10:15 PM

Hi Forum,
After owning our Escape for a few years now I thought it might be a good idea to try the breakaway switch test. I know that I should have been doing that from the beginning.
Anyway, with the trailer on the ball but not plugged in, the battery at 100%, I pulled the breakaway plug and then put the truck in gear.
Tires rolled, no resistance. I thought that even without the trailer being plugged into the tow vehicle the breakaway switch should activate the brakes.
Any troubleshooting advice or thread I can check?
Thanks

**rbryan4** · 03-20-2021, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffO4297

Hi Forum,
After owning our Escape for a few years now I thought it might be a good idea to try the breakaway switch test. I know that I should have been doing that from the beginning.
Anyway, with the trailer on the ball but not plugged in, the battery at 100%, I pulled the breakaway plug and then put the truck in gear.
Tires rolled, no resistance. I thought that even without the trailer being plugged into the tow vehicle the breakaway switch should activate the brakes.
Any troubleshooting advice or thread I can check?
Thanks

Usually it's a lack of ground. Either that or an open somewhere in the wire between the breakaway switch and the brakes. If your trailer's external wiring is anything like mine, the wires weren't as secured as I would have liked.

Brian B-P · 03-21-2021, 12:07 AM

Yes, the breakaway switch should work without the tow vehicle, because it is intended to be powered by the trailer battery... and it should not be triggered with the trailer plugged into the tow vehicle.

Either there is a broken electrical connection somewhere, or the trailer's battery had no charge, or this trailer is wired with the breakaway switch not powered when the use/storage switch is in the storage position and the switch was off.

fudge_brownie · 03-21-2021, 07:10 AM

I thought the consensus on the forum was that the master battery switch for the trailer must be turned on for the electric brakes to work. Also there must be a battery present with a sufficient charge. Is the the case in your situation?

Jim Bennett · 03-21-2021, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

I thought the consensus on the forum was that the master battery switch for the trailer must be turned on for the electric brakes to work. Also there must be a battery present with a sufficient charge. Is the the case in your situation?

I would really doubt this would pass and safety guidelines. It is mandatory for the breakaway to work, thus needs power at all times regardless of the switch that disconnects interior DC stuff. Would love to know for certain, maybe I will check my trailer next time I am by it. There definitely needs to be a charged trailer battery.

JeffO4297 · 03-21-2021, 11:57 AM

Thanks for all the input.
The battery is 100%, thanks to solar, and the switch is in the on position.
After seeing all the input I think that I will first look for a bad ground wire and then check the continuity of the positive wire.
More to be revealed, as they say

Tin · 03-21-2021, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffO4297

Hi Forum,
After owning our Escape for a few years now I thought it might be a good idea to try the breakaway switch test. I know that I should have been doing that from the beginning.
Anyway, with the trailer on the ball but not plugged in, the battery at 100%, I pulled the breakaway plug and then put the truck in gear.
Tires rolled, no resistance. I thought that even without the trailer being plugged into the tow vehicle the breakaway switch should activate the brakes.
Any troubleshooting advice or thread I can check?
Thanks

When was the last time you adjusted your brakes ??

JeffO4297 · 03-21-2021, 05:20 PM

Uh, not ever.

Tin · 03-21-2021, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffO4297

Uh, not ever.

I adjust my brakes at the begging of every camping season, no brakes no stop.
Really important especially since we do quite a bit of mountain towing.

JeffO4297 · 03-21-2021, 05:43 PM

Interesting. I always test before each tow. But that only amounts to using the hand control to see how the brakes grab.
I haven't ever done another adjustment.

Jim Bennett · 03-21-2021, 05:50 PM

Doing proper brake adjustments is easy and provides proper breaking power from the trailer, which for the most part allows it to produce adequate braking for itself as needed. To many folks tend to ignore doing this, and rely too much on their tow vehicle brakes.

Not saying this is you, just a habit I have seen from many.

JeffO4297 · 03-21-2021, 05:54 PM

Hmmm, sounds like another YouTube lesson is in my future.
I'm not going anywhere until I get the emergency breakaway fixed though.

tdf-texas · 03-21-2021, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffO4297

Hmmm, sounds like another YouTube lesson is in my future.
I'm not going anywhere until I get the emergency breakaway fixed though.

A wiring diagram may help - here is a set that should match your trailer.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...ams-19980.html

I have a 2017 as well - I found that the wiring in the 7-pin junction box was less than optimum. You might want to take a look at that.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post250510

JeffO4297 · 03-21-2021, 10:41 PM

Excellent, thank you

Eggscape · 03-21-2021, 10:49 PM

Next question...if you are slowly rolling and apply the brakes by the brake controller manually do they work? That would be stopping the trailer and the tow vehicle without your foot on the pedal.

JeffO4297 · 03-21-2021, 10:54 PM

Yes, I do that before each tow.
They stop and lock easily.

Videocrafters · 03-22-2021, 06:01 AM

Any recommendations on learning how to adjust the trailer brakes?

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