I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Converting Cargo Trailers into TTTs

I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby Modstock » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:47 pm

While coming back from our last trip I noticed no light on my brake controller. Immediately I checked the fuses/breakers, all was good.
No biggie at the time, just gave extra distance in traffic.
Once I got home, looked underneath and saw this on the driver's side.
Image

Anyone familiar with this wiring ?
Not sure of the type of connector. It looks like a scotch-lock.
Im pretty sure some gravel hit this and broke it.
The other side is zip tied to the leafspring.

Which brings up gravel protection. I've noticed some have a piece of rubber or brush material hanging below the front of the trailer.
Would this help keep the gravel from the bottom of the trailer ?
Im already gonna make some new bigger mudflaps .
Any recommendation on frame paint?
The stuff from the factory is lousy.



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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby working on it » Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:50 am

Modstock wrote:Image

Anyone familiar with this wiring ?
Not sure of the type of connector. It looks like a scotch-lock.
Im pretty sure some gravel hit this and broke it.
The other side is zip tied to the leafspring.

Which brings up gravel protection. I've noticed some have a piece of rubber or brush material hanging below the front of the trailer.
Would this help keep the gravel from the bottom of the trailer ?


* There should be two wires from each brake, two different colors (mine were), and two similar wires running back from your trailer's junction box. Join up the like colors and you're good to go. Any crimped or soldered connector will suffice (I've seen wire nuts used for this...the large silicone filled ones). I used Posi-Locks (wrapped in silicone tape) to connect mine.
brake wiring at axle.jpg
brake wiring at axle.jpg (128.37 KiB) Viewed 1616 times
Posi-Lock connectors used for wiring my electric brakes.png
Posi-Lock connectors used for wiring my electric brakes.png (183.53 KiB) Viewed 1616 times


* There are two ways to do that: attach a gravel guard to the hitch (on the truck/car), or on the tongue itself. For normal length trailer tongues, I think the tow vehicle-mounted guard would work best, but long-tongued trailers (like boat haulers) normally use those guards mounted on the tongue. I never had a problem with stone chips, but also keep my brake/light wiring tied up against the frame, so no problem there (yet).
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
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  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby tony.latham » Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:56 am

I hate Scotch-locks... They have a short life span.

I might suggest this type of connector:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087PPQTQR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My brake lines are sheathed with plastic loom and I have not had a problem with damage from gravel --and we do a lotta gravel...

Image

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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby Socal Tom » Fri Mar 05, 2021 1:27 pm

In my off roading days I carried a collection of the posi-locks for emergency on the trail repairs. I have all my tongue wires inside one of these
https://www.cabletiesandmore.com/black-wire-loom-tubing?pid=210&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyoeCBhCTARIsAOfpKxg0Ku-xIDX0IEdFAeX1Oc982F7J3tLarzVls4_OVRfwa5ii33OULV0aAtUrEALw_wcB
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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby rjgimp » Sat Mar 06, 2021 12:51 am

+1 on the wire loom. Totally the way to go! :thumbsup:
-Rob


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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby Bezoar » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:29 am

I'll second Tony's connector recommendation - just put them to use this week to put the "road lights" on the trailer frame and they work well. I appreciate that they shrink up clear, so you can see where your stripped wire ends are. I put everything inside one of those split plastic tubes too for a little extra protection.
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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby Modstock » Sat Mar 06, 2021 2:39 pm

OK I hosed off the underside.
Are these 4 wires all connected together ?
It appears like that, just making sure.
Image


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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby Modstock » Sat Mar 06, 2021 7:08 pm

So the blue and white wire comes from the front and the two black wires to the axle.
I've read that the magnets can be wired either way (no + - ).
Is this true ???



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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby tony.latham » Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:01 pm

Modstock wrote:So the blue and white wire comes from the front and the two black wires to the axle.
I've read that the magnets can be wired either way (no + - ).
Is this true ???


It's true.

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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby Modstock » Sat Mar 06, 2021 11:16 pm

OK.
It baffles me to why all 4 would be touching through the scotch-lock connector. Is there no separation between positive and negative???

Im no stranger to 12v wiring, but this doesn't make sense.

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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby tony.latham » Sun Mar 07, 2021 8:19 am

Modstock wrote:OK.
It baffles me to why all 4 would be touching through the scotch-lock connector. Is there no separation between positive and negative???

Im no stranger to 12v wiring, but this doesn't make sense.

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A brake needs a positive and negative (but we all knew that). It doesn’t matter which brake wire is positive.

I think somebody used that point to connect multiple ground wires. That’s my guess. It was doomed...

Tony


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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby hankaye » Sun Mar 07, 2021 10:36 am

Modstock, Howdy;

I don't mess with electric stuff, However, mechanical I enjoy.
Found this video that pretty much explains elect. trailer breaks.
Hope it helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6SegtYgXs4

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Re: I lost my brakes & gravel protection

Postby Modstock » Sun Mar 07, 2021 8:04 pm

All fixed.
Used 2 sizes of conduit for extra protection.
Image

Now working on the gravel protection.
My old mudflaps started curling up and not much help.
Hanging from S-hooks.
Image

New flaps from Napa. Right.

Image

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