skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Twice in four years.
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed 20,000 towing miles (MANY REPAIRS)
OR 2004 F-150 HD 85,000 towing miles (No repairs)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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robbie69
wauconda, il usa
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Joined: 02/22/2004
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wonder if you could test it by pulling it and holding a magnetic type compass close to the tires. wouldn't think that it would take all that long to test 4 brakes.
2004 silverado 2500HD crew cab 4x4 long bed 8.1L gas hog
2006 skyline nomad 3260 platium edition, prodigy, reese dual cam
1 very part time camping son and 3 full time camping, 4 legged fur balls
1 SU (spousal unit) who loves rv'in as much or more than me
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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On the Air Force One brake system, if you disconnect the air line and electrical plug and then pull the break away plug, the system locks the brakes from the emergency tank. By then placing the bypass plug in, air is released from the system through the forward air connection and can be verified by feel and sound.
This checks the system every time you disconnect. Good system.
John
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40' QSP
2006 Chevrolet Colorado Toad
BlueOx Aventa LX Tow Bar
SMI Air Force One toad brake
Copilot Live Laptop 10 GPS
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robbie69
wauconda, il usa
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Joined: 02/22/2004
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JUrban wrote:On the Air Force One brake system, if you disconnect the air line and electrical plug and then pull the break away plug, the system locks the brakes from the emergency tank. By then placing the bypass plug in, air is released from the system through the forward air connection and can be verified by feel and sound.
This checks the system every time you disconnect. Good system.
John
huh 
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SLIMSHADIE
ILLINOIS
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Joined: 08/24/2009
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I agree with you Robbie??, we dont have air lines. But the easy way is like Mosseater said hookup and pull the emergency connection and put the truck in drive to see if the tires locks up while NOT plugging the TT plug into the truck for a quick check. A quick check, not to fry magnets. Thats what I do every year from now on!!
PS only did that every other year, now I know better.
2010 Keystone Laredo 291TG
2006 Dodge Megacab 3500 SRW 5.9L
2005 Polaris Predator TLD 500
2005 Polaris Predator 90
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Old Hammer Boy
Utah
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Joined: 08/02/2008
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I can hear mine hum, then switch the batteries off and hook 'er back up. That's all it takes.
From the road, staying at the shore of California's Salton Sea.
I hope you will enjoy reading my journal about my bicycle ride, camping all the way across America at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/dean. We also RV in our '07 Starcraft Travel Star 23QB, pulled with a good old stout Isuzu Trooper. It works
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afraid of bears
I'm just the driver. The wife is the
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Joined: 10/16/2006
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I test mine at the beginning of the season and before each trip. It only takes a few seconds. I put the DW or the DS in the truck, pull the pin and tell them to give a quick tug on the trailer. If the trailer resists moving, I'm assuming it all works. If the trailer moves, I'll assume something's not right. If the trailer stays still and the truck drives off, someone forgot to hitch the two together!!!!
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nevadanick
Elko, Nevada
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Joined: 11/25/2007
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It can and will fry your brake controller. I had CHP test mine on a gooseneck without unplugging and it took out the controller.
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Jim_in_OKC
Oklahoma City
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Joined: 04/06/2008
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FWIW..... I check mine each spring at the same time I check the wheel bearings and lube. When I jack up each wheel, I pull the breakaway switch and check that the wheel locks up. Seems to me that trying to pull the trailer with the emergency brake engaged might miss a single wheel that wasn't being activated correctly.
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canoe on top
Denver, CO, US
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Joined: 07/21/2003
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You won't fry the magnets leaving the brakes on. One of my first trips when the TT was new, unhooked in the dark and forgot the safety chains. Pulled a head slowly and felt a jerk. Went back and unhooked the chains and didn't realize I'd pulled the brake plug. Couldn't figure out why the batteries were dead the next morning. Ran the generator and charged the batteries but they ran down again pretty quickly. Sat up in bed the second night, did a heel of the hand on the forehead! Went out and plugged in the brakeaway switch. The brakes were on for more than 24 hours and still work fine. So do the batteries.
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