Trailer brakes on overload

[scottnjay]

I just installed trailer brakes on my boat trailer so I can tow double (behind 5th wheel) and it is causing the brake controller to overload. I am sure there is something wrong, but am not sure where to start. I have a dial on my controller that I can use to control the voltage being sent to the trailer. It used to take a reading of about 7 to get the brakes to activate to where I could feel them stopping the truck. Now the max I can send to the brakes is 2.5. Anything over that and the controller goes to OL ten starts back at 1. The controller increments the voltage us until it hits the level I set it at. this is towing single. (Oh, when I first used it towing double everything was fine except the boat trailer brakes were not adjusted close enough to the drums to have a lot of effect. Nothing changed since then)<br />Not sure but I am also thinking that my recent tread and sidewall blow out is related. It was a bias ply tire. Now the other one has a big bulge. I don't know if it is from having a bias and a radial on at the same time or if it is from the trailer brakes dragging.<br />Any ideas? I am sure I forgot something.

 

[JB]

Re: Trailer brakes on overload

Are you controlling brakes on the 5th wheel and the boat trailer with the same controller?<br /><br />That won't work. You have put two loads in parallel on the controller and doubled the current load.<br /><br />You need a controller designed for the double load.

 

[scottnjay]

Re: Trailer brakes on overload

JB, thanks for the reply. The controller worked fine with both vehicles. I think I just need to tighten the brakes on the boat trailer to match the 5th wheel. My main concern is that it used to work while towing single, but now it seems to be overloading the brake controller. There is only one set of brakes. Do you think it is a wiring problem similar to a short or something else. You can't feel the brakes coming on at the low setting I have to run to keep it from overloading.