Brake Test

Usually I just check the trailer brakes and their setting with the Prodigy lever at each start up. But lately I've also been checking the brake drum temperatures (by touch) after braking to a stop. A day or so into our current trip, I noticed that one brake drum wasn't getting hot. This was NOT evident when just pulling on the Prodigy brake lever.

That night, I jacked up that side of the trailer and pulled the brake-away pin. Sure enough, the wheel didn't lock up. After a little cautious probing and tugging, one of the wires from the brake drum fell off. Apparently it had been pinched at the plastic fitting leading into the drum.

After a stop for supplies, I pulled the hub and spliced in a replacement. So far it's working, but I'll probably do something more permanent once we return to home-base in Ontario. Not sure if I'll replace that pinch fitting.

Anyway, my suggestion is to temperature check regularly, as that's the only simple way to tell if both your brakes are working.