ChopperBill
Well-known member
I have never been happy with the brake performance on the trailer. Never would it do much with the manual lever when you used it. But, you could feel it working some what. Then they got to where they wouldn't even slow the truck down at all at low speed. I could slide the lever to full power and put the truck in drive and at an idle it would pull away. Not good! Took it to a specialized trailer dealer that deal in these things. They took it apart and no broken part but there was nut that didn't go any where that was just rattling around in the drum. They said it was a Dexter brake set up clone with all Chinese parts! The shoes had a different material and the drums where way out of round. Adjusting the brakes was a problem with the out of round drums. After they cleaned and adjusted every thing they were not fond of the performance. It still would not hold the truck from pulling ahead at an idle. They had me take it for a drive and said to "burn" the shoes in. I did until they got hotter than a two dollar pistol. They started to work fairly well, but not excellent, at that point. I left the Bighorn there so they could re-adjust the brakes when they cooled down. If it does not work after this they are going to put on all new shoes (they are not worn out) and turn the drums. My point is why do the put such inferior parts in such an important thing as brakes? I am sure it is not a Heartland thing but a Dexter deal but I am still not happy.