The trailer I got has been to the get to do list since I got it. I didn’t want to tear into it just in case I needed to use it. Problems I’m having is losing connection with my truck and poor braking from trailer. I decided to dig into the connection issue first.
Previous owner replaced 7 pin so after trying to check for lose connections the plug basically broke apart in pieces so I ordered a new plug, cord, junction box deal.
I really like this idea because to separates truck connections and trailer connections. I got it in a 8 foot lead. It’s better to have it long in my experience vs to short. One benefit is I don’t have to be close to plug it in.
This trailer has just poor workmanship and a lot of poor connections. After I rewired the tail lights and swapped bulbs out for leds it was like to work on the brakes. This trailer has brakes on one axle not both and I suspect they weren’t self adjusting. So I pull left side and found they weren’t.
You know there are just some tools your glad you bought. This has to been one of my favorite tools for jobs like this.
I never been good at adjusting drum brakes until they drag. I know it’s easy for some but something ive always struggled with. Adjuster wasn’t stuck I adjusted a little. The right side had a different issue.
This trailer has a lippertt axle so they call it super lube axles. Basically a grease zerk on spindle and you can lube bearings. Problem is people don’t lift axle and spin wheel while pumping grease in. If don’t grease can bypass seal and get inside drum. In this case gets where magnet rides and it won’t grip the drum working the brakes. So axles are greased, brakes checked, new cotter pins in axle nuts, new caps and dust covers. Im taking a brake from doing some welding on trailer baking in the sun thinking to myself didn’t I just build a huge barn with covered spaces to do this work somewhere?
Another thing was all my HD cords are in Ga. Metal had rust so couldn’t don’t TIG. Haven’t run stick on TIG yet and don’t have rods to even do stick. My Lincoln 140 doesn’t have power with MIG so switched to .30 flux then switched to .35 flux and finally got some decent welds. Man, I like having a 110 machine for convenience but it would have been nice to have a 220 machine running MIG or dual shield today. Just did some areas that needed some attention but I’ll leave rest of areas until I get some sticks and can run my TIG welder on 220 in driveway. At end of the day I got front tongue wiring all tidied up. I relocated to battery for break away in safe location.

Apparently, while moving the trailer with my pallet forks it jumped in my way. The battery is questionable and doesn’t hold a charge. They sell entire new kit at rural king for like $50 so mount is done.
One other thing is I had the thing I made up for running C clamps in and out quickly and turns out it work great on tongue jack. I can still pull handle back on quickly but sure beats turning buy hand.
After test drive I still need to adjust brakes again. It’s just not stopping like my campers did. Maybe I’m asking a lot for a single axle braking system to stop my truck. I remember same drum size my 3500lb camper stopping my Sport Trac just with trailer brakes. It’s good thing I got great brakes on the Ram.