Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › The trailer brakes saga continues
I went up to Brechs Marine yesterday and Scott very kindly installed a new solenoid in my Cougar trailer. We tested it before I left and it worked fine. (Ive mentioned this before, but even though I didnt get my Cat from Scott, he was really great about wanting to get my trailer fixed. Brechs is a class act.) I even tried it out when I stopped to get fuel and some coffee on the way home, backing it up an incline in a truck stop parking lot…it worked fine. When I got home, three hours later, the brakes locked up when I tried to back up my driveway to put the Cat in the garage. I called Scott and he gave me some ideas of some things to try. Knowing just enough to make me dangerous, when it comes to wiring, I tested my plug and I dont think Im getting voltage out of it now, if I tested it right. (I was before I went up to Scotts) So…Im going to get a new plug to put into the truck today. If that doesnt work…whats next for me to try? (Being a retired Science teacher…I always need a plan B. ) Scott did tell me if I cant get it fixed, to bring it back up to him…so thats what Ill do if I need to, just hope theres something I can do before I drive back up there.
I was in there yesterday checking the status on the boat I ordered, hate I missed you, hope it is an easy fix!
Sounds like you may be having a ground problem.
Our thoughts on this are that it is not a solenoid issue. Those are a simple install with a little force on the coupler it only takes a few minutes, though yours sounds a little more involved. Next time or now, try to back your trailer up by plugging the BLUE Wire pin on the trailer harness to the BROWN Wire pin on the Truck (vehicle) harness. Turn on your parking lights and try to back up. If it works, then you have a reverse wire issue on your vehicle going to the trailer harness. If it works, this is simple and now once it backs up, flip the harness back to the reverse light normal pins as it should be, now try to back up. If that works you may have a ground issue, though if it does not you have a reverse light signal issue on the vehicle. Oh! Use a parking lot and not the road. BCB
Thanks for the quick reply BassCat. Ill work on that this weekend and see what I come up with. I did try flipping the plug last week and it didnt work…but you know…now that I think about it…I dont remember if I turned the parking lights on. Oh well…my college degrees were in Biology and Chemistry…not useful stuff. SelmaCat…sorry I missed you…I think I left there a little after 10am.
I had my calipers removed and the lines sealed. I have a full size truck and it stops the boat just fine. No more worries of overheating, hub melt down, decreases mileage due to sticking. Never slept better. 2006 Cougar FTD.
Sounds like a problem I was having, I got a new adapter and I am good now.
buch1565 wrote: I had my calipers removed and the lines sealed. I have a full size truck and it stops the boat just fine. No more worries of overheating, hub melt down, decreases mileage due to sticking. Never slept better. 2006 Cougar FTD.I dont know how others feel and it is your boat, but I would think that you may have issues traveling in some states for not having a trailer brake system. Also, a full size truck doesnt guarantee stopping power on wet/slick surfaces. I own a full size truck also but I would not want to put myself in that position to rely solely on truck brakes when towing a 20 foot/2 ton package, not to mention replacing the braking system more often on the truck due to increased heat, warped rotors and brake pads having to do double duty. To each their own IMHO.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
jignpig wrote: buch1565 wrote: I had my calipers removed and the lines sealed. I have a full size truck and it stops the boat just fine. No more worries of overheating, hub melt down, decreases mileage due to sticking. Never slept better. 2006 Cougar FTD.I dont know how others feel and it is your boat, but I would think that you may have issues traveling in some states for not having a trailer brake system. Also, a full size truck doesnt guarantee stopping power on wet/slick surfaces. I own a full size truck also but I would not want to put myself in that position to rely solely on truck brakes when towing a 20 foot/2 ton package, not to mention replacing the braking system more often on the truck due to increased heat, warped rotors and brake pads having to do double duty. To each their own IMHO. I have to agree with jignpig on this one. I know its the law here in RI, Ct. & Ma to have breaks on a trailer weighing more the 3K lbs. I left my now defunct BCB dealer one day and didnt notice the mechanic had left a brake lock out decive installed on my 06 Puma trailer. I got on the highway was towing no problem all of a sudden traffic came to an emergency stop. I hit the brakes hard on my full sized Tundra and the trailer pushed the truck like I couldnt beleive. The truck started swaying and I had to pump the crap out of the brakes and pull into the breakdown lane to avoid the traffic ahead. After I regained my compsure and changed my shorts. I discover the lock out device. I removed it and had no further issues. I will never tow without brakes!
Id agree with the others…no way will I tow without brakes…thats why Im kind of obsessing about getting this dang thing fixed.
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