Heritage Trailer Brakes locking up when backing up

[pk8183]

I just got my Heritag trailer out of storage today only to find a flat tire...after getting that fixed I tried to back it up and the brake lock up after a few feet. You can pull forward with no problem, but as soon as you start backing up and trying to turn, the pin behind the coupler goes backward and the brakes lock up...I am puzzled!

One thing I was thinking....I just got a new tow vehicle which is lower than my previous one. I still had the ball on a two inch drop which drops the trailer down at a back to front angle (back is higher). I was wondering if that might be some of the problem.

I am going to go turn the ball around and see if that fixes it, but I thought I would check and see if anyone has any ideas.

TIA

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Heritage Trailer Brakes locking up when backing up

perfectly normal operation, if you do not have, reverse block out, that works when the back up lights are own. do the tow vehicle, and trailer pulgs match, same # of wires. the new vehicle, may not have been wire for the reverse block out.

 

[pk8183]

Re: Heritage Trailer Brakes locking up when backing up

You are correct! Since it is a 5 pin connector, th back up solenoid is not releasing.

I grabbed my neighbors truck and the trailer backs up with no issues.

It looks like my back up lights are not working, so I took it into a local shop to get it looked at (I was out of town all week).

THey told me that there should be a connection between the transmission (manual) and the back up lights. There is no connector...just a dead plug

Since this is an really old truck (1994 F350) just used to move the boat trailer ( once or twice a year) or our camper, I am thinking about just wiring either the brake or the running lights to the brake wire on the trailer connector.

Anyone know if that might cause an issue in going forward?

TIA!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Heritage Trailer Brakes locking up when backing up

why not splice off a single wire from running lights, with a barrel connector, and same on brake wire, then when backing you can plug it in. that way if you decide to pull the trailer, with the barrel connecter unplugged, you still have trailer brakes.

 

[redfury]

Re: Heritage Trailer Brakes locking up when backing up

Sure, if you back up, all you have to do is turn on your headlights gonna confuse anyone else using the truck and trying to figure out why it won't back up though

 

[brookspratt84]

Re: Heritage Trailer Brakes locking up when backing up

Bringing this post back up from the dead. When I first purchased my boat/trailer, the guy I bought it from didn't tell me about backing the trailer. I got home and did a burnout getting my boat backed in the drive. My neighbors were looking out the windows. It was the funniest thing! I was so confused on what was happening. I finally figured it out but my trailer never had the backing solenoid on the trailer. For a short time, I had to use a metal plug and manually put it on the tongue so the surge pin would not move. Needless to say that was not fun. After a couple days of that mess I bought a whole new inner member slide for the tongue with the electric reversing solenoid. Best thing I have bought for my boat or trailer. Now why the factory wouldn't put that on origianlly is beyond me.