Brake Adjustment
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6730
Printed Date: 19 Jun 2025 at 8:07am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Brake Adjustment
Posted By: Duag
Subject: Brake Adjustment
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2015 at 5:17am
| I just bought a 179 and the brakes feel not very strong, for example, with the truck in idle, depressing the brake controller fully is not enough to stop the tow vehicle from moving forward . Are the trailer brakes auto adjusting or is there a manual adjustment I should make? Thanks in advance. |
Replies:
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2015 at 3:09pm
| My 179 is new also. First trip - minimal brakes. Took it in and they found my old controller wasn't up to snuff, so a new controller was installed. They checked the brakes and they were ok. Said I need to drive it more and the brakes will "wear" in. Brakes are better now but I still can't lock up the wheels. At least I can feel the trailer brakes when I apply the pedal. TV is Dodge 1500, factory trailer pkg. Will see. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2015 at 3:25pm
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Welcome. What brake controller do you have? Make sure you adjust it by driving about 25 mph and then turning up the adjustment knob while you have the lever on full just below where the wheels lock up. The brakes will wear in some, but you still should be able to lock them up now. Some brake controllers have other adjustments, like the Tekonsha line that has boost settings. I preferred boost 0 (b0) with my pod, but liked b1 for my popup and my current camper. The Tekonsha line is considered by most here to be the best. Many have one of the Prodigy models. They operate by sensing how much braking force you are applying and then applying the same amount to the trailer. Much better than the old-style timer models. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Duag
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2015 at 9:48pm
| I have a brand new Hopkins proportional controller. The dealer said it is auto adjuster brakes on the 179. It does feel like it is getti ng marginally better but still not enough to stop the trailer on its own. I was hoping there was an override to manually adjust them. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2015 at 10:19pm
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The brake controller should have an adjustment, and the brakes themselves can be adjusted. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Duag
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2015 at 10:46pm
| Yes, I am running the brake controller at 100% signal and highest sensitivity . |