Having just trailed my 26X from Yarmouth IoW to Wokingham in Berkshire, the first time I have done any trailering for five years or so, a couple of things bothered me!
When pulling away or coming to a stop there was a kind of initial drag from the trailer to the car on pulling away and a nudge when stopping.
Now am I right in thinking this is probably the actuator on the trailer breaking system?
Also when I was backing the rig into its eventual parking place the new 4x4 tow car started getting a bit hot and smelly on the front wheels. I seem to remember something from before about trailer breaks locking up when reversing.
Could any of you super trailers out there give me some update on these "problems"
Cheers
Morris
Fri, 19/12/2008 - 2:50pm
#1
Trailering
sounds like dragging brakes to me , have you tried adjusting them to "back them off a bit" ie so that the clearence from the brake drums isnt so tight?
Morris,
The brake actuator may well be what you are feeling but a small tip when moving any trailer after it has been static for a while is to reverse for a foot or so before braking and driving off forwards; this will help free any potential sticking brakes.
Regards
Chris
Andy, Chris,
I've just had a new axle set on my trailer and checked the hubs after trailering and they were fine, no excess heat so hopefully the brakes are OK.
I will try Chris's suggestion as the although brake actuator was cleaned and greased it is the original actuator so may be a bit stiff.
Cheers
Morris
Morris,
If it is a West Mersea Trailer then there are normally one or two grease nipples on the uper side of the compression arm / overrun brake actuator of the drawbar. Try liberally greasing here. To be honest my trailer always snatches slightly and I had all new brakes fitted last year
Adrian