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The Principal View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 Oct 2011
Location: Alabama
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Posts: 25 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Run away Pod
    Posted: 16 Apr 2012 at 6:05pm
Last Labor day that happened to the Fish pod. We had left Elkmont Campground in The Smokie Mountains National Park. We were on the very narrow winding Little River road. All the safety equipment worked for us or we would have been in Little River. I always check my hookup now by making sure the jack lifts
the back of thr truck after hitching the trailer.
The Principal
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LunaPod View Drop Down
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Posts: 37 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jun 2012 at 7:49pm
Memorial weekend coming back from Lathrop State Park LunaPod separated from the mothership as we crossed a set of RR tracks in Walsenburg, CO. Chains were crossed and hitch was locked down. Luckily at just 20mph we were able to pull to the side and rehitch. We drove the rest of the way home (70miles) very carefully.
I have since taken LunaPod to a local trailer sales (they sell all types of trailers horse trailer to triple axle equipment) they determined that the factory did not correctly adjust the hitch for a two inch ball. They readjusted to closer tolerances and I'm confident there will be no further problems.
According to the experts, if the hitch lever closes too easily it is probably too loose and needs adjusting.
After you have lowered down the hitch onto the ball the hitch lever should be a little difficult to close about halfway down and then should loosen up some the rest of the way. If this isn't happening you can tighten the lock nut on the underside of the hitch until you close the gap. Leave enough play for the hitch to move freely on the ball.
 
Mike & Barb, R Pod 173 - TV 2011Silverado
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Joined: 10 Jun 2009
Location: Owosso MI
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Posts: 704 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2012 at 8:24am
Originally posted by LunaPod

After you have lowered down the hitch onto the ball the hitch lever should be a little difficult to close about halfway down and then should loosen up some the rest of the way. If this isn't happening you can tighten the lock nut on the underside of the hitch until you close the gap. Leave enough play for the hitch to move freely on the ball.

Good info.

Glad no damage was done. I had that happen with a small boat trailer on I-75 many years ago. Not fun.
.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :.
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Bill-GA View Drop Down
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Posts: 214 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2012 at 12:51pm
Here's a question.  Should the emergency electric brake cable be adjusted such that the elec brakes engage ( via the cable pin ) if the hitch pops off the ball? Or is this a "last resort" if everything breaks loose? 
Bill & Bev
13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa'
2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out)
2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2012 at 3:14pm
Theoretically it should be short enough to engage once it pops off of the ball but before the chains can reach their maximum length.  I've seen other arguments that it should be longer than the chains so it only engages once its become completely detached.  I lean towards the later - once I know it is off the ball I would like the ability to regulate how much braking force I need on the trailer to bring it to a safe stop.  If it engages full-blast right away you've lost some control you could otherwise have.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 37 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2012 at 7:33pm
You would want the cable to pull the emergency pin if the unit comes off the ball. I previously was of the opinion that when the pin is pulled the brakes fully engge, but found out differently they do not lock the wheels instead it applies a slowing force. I'm not sure this is with all controllers, I did try pulling the pin and pulling forward while hitched up yesterday and there was resistance but not a full lockup. Interestingly when the pin was pulled the regular brake controller in the vehicle no longer worked. Apparently when the emergency pin is out it breaks the circuit??
Mike & Barb, R Pod 173 - TV 2011Silverado
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Bill-GA View Drop Down
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Posts: 214 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2012 at 8:01pm
Thanks for the comments. If my hitch popped off, would I have the "cool" to reach down and "feather" the brakes using my controller lever for a nice controlled stop .... Hmmmmmmm.  I think I would do a panic brake apply ... and without thinking my Brake controller would (hopefully) do the rest. If I was going down a 3 mile grade maybe I'd have enough time to think to use the lever but it would probably take me 2-3 secs to react. (Actually, I forgot I had a lever until you mentioned it Cry)

Using the controller auto or manual with lever would I think always be the best.

I think I'll just keep my 'break away' cable nice and long in case it really does break away - then its on it's own anyway!
Bill & Bev
13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa'
2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out)
2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2012 at 9:42pm
Warning - I've read many places that pulling the emergency break-away while connected to a brake controller will destroy the brake controller.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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