RPOD Brakes

Mine is a Kenosha, or something like that, it is wire less and has a thumb wheel where you can increase or decrease the braking activity, during normal braking, it also has a button to apply the brakes , is your remote between the seats where it is applying the brake, does your have a read out that shows braking force, should be around 3, 3.2 no more than 3.5 on new brakes, give us more info.

Originally posted by dsmiths Mine is a Kenosha, or something like that, it is wire less and has a thumb wheel where you can increase or decrease the braking activity, during normal braking, it also has a button to apply the brakes , is your remote between the seats where it is applying the brake, does your have a read out that shows braking force, should be around 3, 3.2 no more than 3.5 on new brakes, give us more info.

On my Ram the braking scale is 1-10 and it works well at a 5; it has a display showing how much braking is being applied to the trailer.  On the Dakota nothing is marked with the thumb wheel.  There is a light that is green when no braking is applied; yellow when some braking is applied; and red when braking is fully applied.  If the thumb wheel is turned in either direction it will stop at the max and minimum braking values.  There is a spot in the middle that I can feel when dialing the thumb wheel.  The Dakota & trailer like just a little bit more than 1/2 way on the thumb wheel. 

A little more information would be helpful.

As far as I know, all of the Tekonsha controllers are adjustable. I have an "IQ". It appears you must have a "Voyager".

 Without reading the instructions, but reading the product page, I would say you shouldn't see "red" LEDs except when braking HARD. If you are seeing them in normal stop and go driving, and the trailer is braking to hard, you need to adjust it down some.

 It does not appear, again without reading the instructions, to have a boost feature, as mine does, so I don't think you accidentally engaged boost mode.

Make sure it is in the mount correctly, I have mine mounted under dash, and have kicked it loose or into an angle before. Not sure just exactly how that would effect the brakes.. but they warn against it, so there must be an effect of some sort. (I note the product description for the voyager says it MUST be mounted level..)

If you have the instructions with you, go through the "set up" steps. unlike a car or your TV, the brakes on your trailer may not be/feel the same every trip. I check mine in the driveway every pull. (but I have 500 feet of gravel.. most don't) And I end up turning the wheel a bit one way or the other every time.

And, while I personally (and I am just some guy on the internet, would strongly advise against towing without the brake controller hooked up) I do believe your brake lights and running lights will still work, but you WILL be putting all the braking needs on the TV.. Not good IMHO, on any tow vehicle with Toyota in the name. If you were rolling a 1 ton pickup or SUV.. wouldn't worry as much.

ADDENDUM.. after thinking about it some.. There is a chance the wire to the (since you said the right brake was locking up) left brake has come undone, or a critter has dislodged it.. happened on our airstream once (but not as dramatic, with two axles). You might slide under there and give a quick look, or even check it with a multi-meter if you have one with you.. and some one to step on the brakes. Another quick way to check the brakes.. again if you have the equipment.. hold a compass near the wheel, and have somebody apply the brakes, the electromagnet should cause the needle to swing.. then you know that part of the brakes are working.

Others have covered almost everything.  I'll confirm that the Tekonsha line has an intertia sensor, as opposed to other product lines which just have a dumb timer.  With a Tekonsha adjusted properly you should have a very smooth braking experience.  Night-and-day between it and the timer variety.