Brake Adjustments

[Bob Vaughn]

Prior to delivery are the brakes adjusted on Heartland 5th wheels? How much should it cost to have them adjusted? When I do my pull test there is barely any braking......

 

[jmgratz]

They should be checked and adjusted by the selling dealer and from the factory before leaving the factory. That does not mean that it has been done. If you are in doubt then I would have a professional check and adjust.

 

[Sniper]

Prior to delivery are the brakes adjusted on Heartland 5th wheels? How much should it cost to have them adjusted? When I do my pull test there is barely any braking......

In regards to the pull test, depending on what type of controller you have, the trailer will roll 3-5 feet before they engage. It won't be instant. I'm sure they are adjusted at the factory, and should have been by the dealer along with the dealer helping you set up your brake controller, but if you for any reason feel they are not doing what they are supposed to do like Jim said, get them professionally checked.

 

[danemayer]

Prior to delivery are the brakes adjusted on Heartland 5th wheels? How much should it cost to have them adjusted? When I do my pull test there is barely any braking......

Bob,

I'd expect that Dexter (or Lippert) adjusts the brakes before the axle assembly leaves their factory. Heartland bolts the axles on and I'd be really surprised if they second guess Dexter (or Lippert).

If you still have a 2011 and have never had the brakes worked on, depending on mileage, it might be time. Dexter complete assemblies for 7K axles are $83/wheel at etrailer.com. TruRyde assemblies are $45. I'd guess maybe 2 hours labor.

If you don't have too many miles, maybe you just need to adjust the brakes. I'd think well under an hour for someone to do that for you.

 

[MTPockets]

Prior to delivery are the brakes adjusted on Heartland 5th wheels? How much should it cost to have them adjusted? When I do my pull test there is barely any braking......

Are you talking about buying a used rig? Or a new rig? If new, and brakes aren't working well, I would check my controller setting or have the dealer check the brakes. There should be no problem. If a used rig, it could be needing brake work.

 

[hoefler]

New brakes need to be adjusted several times to get seated before you get full affect.

 

[JWalker]

I just put on 4 new brake assemblies a few months ago. Adjusted them when I installed. Then burnished them with a short trip. Adjusted again. Then did a 400 mile trip and adjusted again. What a big difference.

 

[jmgratz]

One other thing....sometimes the person (idiot) that greased the bearing blew out the rear seal causing the brake shoes/Drums to be coated with grease. The requires a disassembly and many times replacement of the brakes.

 

[Bob Vaughn]

The sad thing is I have never repeat never been able to adjust the controller by doing a quick stop from 20-25 mph like the owners manual states. It slows very little. Then when I got a new truck with an integrated brake controller it was worse. I have had my truck into the shops 3 times once to the truck dealer and 2 times to an rv dealer and all state nothing wrong with ITBC.....so I am left to wonder if the brakes are not bad. When I call CW for an estimate on what it would cost to replace every thing all I get is a run around.....Its as thou they want you to hand them a signed check and they will fill in the amount ......Right now I just do not have the 3000 bucks to get disc brakes installed but may have to go into debt to feel more comfortable when I tow....

 

[Hockster]

Morning Bob:

Seems to be a common problem with the Factory Installed TBC.
I had that problem from day one with my 2011 F-350.
I always had the TBC set at 10.
I've read the posts on various sites and most everyone complains about the same problem, you step on the brakes and pray that you stop in time.
I finally got tired of White Knuckling It and Praying.
I solved mine by going to Kodiak Disc Brakes.
I now have my TBC set at 5 instead of 10.
When I step on the brake pedal now I can feel the trailer brakes stopping the trailer.
I would highly recommend the move to Kodiak Disc Brakes to anyone with braking issues.
I changed to Disc Brakes knowing that we are headed to the Las Vegas Rally next year with some stops in Colorado to the Durango and Silverton Railraod.
Some of those mountain passes (Thinking Wolf Creek Pass Here) are pretty steep and I wanted to be sure I had good braking on the trailer before I went.
I now have a year to work out any problems that may crop up with the brakes.
On this forum, Cookie has a great Video on installing the Kodiak Disc Brakes as a Do It Yourself project.
I watched this video many times when I was doing mine.
I did a few things different, but the results are the same, You Stop When You Push The Pedal.
If you can do the work yourself, you will save about $1000,00.
I purchased my Kodiak Disc Brakes from eTrailer.com
Great company to do business with and there to help with your questions also free shipping at the time.

Good Luck My Friend

Hockster

 

[olcoon]

A few years ago we worked at a campground in Colorado. A guy came in with a brand new Big Country, and he was complaining about the brakes, long story short, he had a mobile tech come to the campground, and the tech stated that the brakes had never been adjusted at the factory. So I guess that sometimes it does happen.

Also to back up Jim's comment, the first time I had the bearings packed on our 2011 Elk Ridge, when I picked it up after being packed, I got chewed out because I pumped too much grease in the bearings. I politely listened to him, then told him that prior to them putting grease in the bearings, the only hands that have done anything to the bearings/wheels, were at the factory. Apparently someone had pumped too much grease in there & blew the seal. Fortunately it wasn't bad enough to require new brake shoes.

 

[jmgratz]

Here is something to ponder...How much will you pay in additional insurance premiums and insurance deductables if you are involved in an accident due to faulty brakes? It may be cheaper to pay for new disc brakes.