Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Locked Up on Forest River Trailer

Question:

The trailer brakes are locked. How can I unlock them? Forest river 2018 Evo

asked by: Kelvin H

Expert Reply:

It sounds like your electric trailer brakes are fully engaged. This could be because of your brake controller sending signal, your breakaway battery sending signal due to a pulled pin, or your trailer brakes needing adjustment.

If this is a brand new occurrence, I recommend starting by unplugging your trailer from your tow vehicle. If that solves the issue, then you know the brake controller output is sending 12V power. This could be a brake controller issue or the terminals on your 7-way may need to be cleaned up with some sand paper as corrosion can cause power jump between functions. You can test it with a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to test your 5 o'clock pin which is your brake controller output to your trailer brakes.

If your breakaway pin has been pulled it will engage your brakes for a certain number of hours before the battery dies. To allow your trailer to be free of that power, you simply need to replace the pin. These systems like # 20099 are designed for that function so if your trailer were to disconnect from your vehicle the trailer would come to a stop.

If there is a mechanical issue, I recommend pulling your hubs to visually inspect your brake assemblies for damage. If you need further help let me know and we can continue to troubleshoot.

expert reply by: Jason S