Trailer Brakes Help!

[TheBAT]

Hey everyone!
Well today I went to pick up a 16 foot enclosed cargo trailer. Hooked up the connection for the lights and the passenger side wheels of the trailer would lock up. The guy I picked it up from said he has had no issues with it and that it must be my trailer brakes. I tried adjusting the trailer brakes but had no luck. So I unplugged the lights connection and the trailer pulled fine. So I cut the connection to the trailer brake controller assuming that would solve my problem but when I plugged the connector back in the trailer still locked up. So, I had pull the trailer without lights working. Any suggestions as to what it could be? I have no idea where it could be getting power at if I completly cut the power to the trailer brake controller...

Thanks,
Kev

[WEWILLE]

you can check the truck with a test light and make sure that nothing is shorted or hooked up wrong. Your plug on the truck should specify which pin is supposed to do what. On the trailer end you will prolly need the diagrams or just follow the wires to make sure they are ok.

[Dave]

Im willing to bet that you some how have a constant power going to your electric brake wire on your 7 pin plug on your truck. This might help you if you have a test light

Trailer Wiring

it shows what is where about the middle of the page

[TheBAT]

Thanks guys, shouldn't have cutting the wires from the brake controller killed the trailer brakes? Where would it be hard wired from if it is?

[Dave]

Assuming that the plug on your truck is wired correctly yes i am willing to bet that you have a constant hooked into the pin that activates your trailer brakes on your 7 way it is the bottom left one on the plug that is the only way that it would lock the brakes up like that

[TheBAT]

Now I'm just asking because I've never had trailer brakes before, but if there was a constant, would the guy before me have been able to use the trailer brakes without locking up the tires? Or do you think the trailer brake shorted out?

[Dave]

probably rewired the trailer to work with the truck. I hate it when people do that i just rewired mine back to normal after a buddy borrowed it. I told him next time bring your truck and boat over i will do those right for you. Man i was pissed

[Dave]

Did you get it fixed up

[johnroach100]

Some people use the center pin for brakes and others use the correct one. I had an adapter that was wired from the factory for center pin brakes also. There is not a real standard for trailer plug wiring, just real close. A few manufacturers still use their own pinouts.

[MrJohnWayne]

Sounds like the wires are backwards. if the brake pin is getting power via running lights etc.. they will lock up.