Help No Brakes!
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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=7911
Printed Date: 22 Jun 2025 at 8:54pm
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Topic: Help No Brakes!
Posted By: rebe180
Subject: Help No Brakes!
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 9:45pm
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We purchased our new r-pod 2 weeks ago and are yet to take it home.
After doing the walk through, and signing the papers we hooked up and attempted to drive it off the lot. To make a long story short we had no brakes, only a click as if the brakes were trying to engage. We tried the highest setting, the break-away, another vehicle, all to no avail. I made my 3rd trip to pick it up today (100 mile drive) and they still have not fixed it. They went as far as to manually over adjust the brakes. against my better judgement I tried to drive it down the road so that, as the dealer stated, my brakes would "self adjust". Self ignite would have been more accurate statement as they were smoking like a forest fire after a mile. Sure wish TN had a lemon law. Any Ideas guys?
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Replies:
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 9:50pm
Did they use a simple voltmeter? They really are not that complicated. I'm curious.
Fred
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2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Posted By: rebe180
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 9:56pm
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Yes they did. Not sure the tech knew how to use it though. I thought it could be a bad ground which I suggested yesterday. Got a call this morning and was told that was the problem and it had been fixed. It wasn't
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Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 9:59pm
Did dealer install controller? It's not a lemon pod. It's a lemon dealer.
Fred
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2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Posted By: rebe180
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 10:05pm
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LOL. No I installed it. Its a P3. Pretty much plug and play. We verified it wasn't the controller by hooking up to one of their tow vehicles. Same results. By the way we pulled the break-away pin with the same mild click response.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 10:13pm
The dealer needs to contact Forest River and have them assist with troubleshooting. This sounds like the wiring from the connector to the brakes is not wired correctly. If it is connected enough to make a click, then it might be that there is only one or two strands of the wire that actually are made in one of the connectors, letting just enough juice through to make the click, but not enough to activate the brakes.
Also, the dealer ought to be getting you a different one and that one needs to go back to Forest River to be fixed unless Forest River can supply the parts and technical expertise to properly diagnose and fix it there. You should not be having to make multiple trips for the same issue. Forest River should offer to compensate you for the inconvenience and expense this defect has caused you.
You could file a complaint with the http://www.tn.gov/commerce/section/consumer-affairs - Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs if this is not resolved.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 10:13pm
They called you 3 times to come pick it up even though they knew there was a brake problem after trying with their own tv? That's crazy. I would ask for my money back and shop somewhere else.
Fred
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2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Posted By: rebe180
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 10:23pm
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StephenH, They supposedly called forest river and Dexter. I believe its a wiring issue as well. your idea makes sense.
Fred, I came close but I could see it was going to be an
issue. He promised to compensate me so I Gave them one more shot. I only hope I did not do damage to my bearings.
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Posted By: rebe180
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 10:32pm
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 10:34pm
Send them this:
https://www.etrailer.com/faq-testing-trailer-brake-magnets-for-proper-function.aspx
Also note your P3 has built in test functions.
Also, if you do drive off the lot with it, I would suggest locating a different authorized service center for any future problems.
Fred
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2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Posted By: rebe180
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 10:43pm
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Dang if it doesn't! Thanks Fred. Going to check that when I go back.
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Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 10 May 2016 at 10:50pm
You're welcome. You know, it might be helpful if you tell us who the dealer is so others may avoid the same experience.
Thanks,
Fred
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2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 May 2016 at 6:44am
This should also be reported to the http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/ - National Highway Transportation Safety Administration . If it appears in more than your trailer, it might be a defect in the trailer that would require a recall in similarly equipped trailers to check for this defect and fix it. Dexter might have gotten a bad supply of magnets (if that is the problem) or whoever does the wiring harnesses might have had a bad day and not wired things correctly.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Pnew40
Date Posted: 11 May 2016 at 8:31am
We are traveling to Ohio on Monday to pick up our new 180...was your purchase from a well known dealership in Ohio?
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Pat & Bill
Upstate New York
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Posted By: rebe180
Date Posted: 11 May 2016 at 8:30pm
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No it wasn't in OH. It was down in TN. Your Safe.
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Posted By: rebe180
Date Posted: 11 May 2016 at 8:33pm
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Update:
Got a call today that my brakes were fixed again. No one could tell me what they did to fix it, only that they "adjusted" things. Picking it up tomorrow. Will update then.
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 11 May 2016 at 9:14pm
Good luck!
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Posted By: Pnew40
Date Posted: 11 May 2016 at 10:24pm
I hope this time they really have the brakes fixed for you. Good luck!
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Pat & Bill
Upstate New York
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 12:26am
I think I would want to call and speak to the service manager and have him/her explain the problem, the fix, and that it was actually tested by them with a TV before I set out.
I would still report this to the NHTSA. While it might be a unique case, it might be a bad batch of parts that are failing between factory and delivery that need to be addressed before a fatality occurs.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: rebe180
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 10:36pm
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Well picked it up today. The brakes work! Not as well as I think they should but I am hoping they will improve over time. I am putting a few of more volts through the controller than I would like, 9-10.
Thanks for the help guys.
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Posted By: johnmaci
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 7:14am
Originally posted by rebe180
Well picked it up today. The brakes work! Not as well as I think they should but I am hoping they will improve over time. I am putting a few of more volts through the controller than I would like, 9-10.
Thanks for the help guys.
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One of the procedures in the Prodigy setup is to accelerate to approx. 25MPH then lock the brakes with the controller, then to back down on the setting until just before locking. This way you will know your brakes will function correctly.
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