Problem backing up

[carl gagnon]

Hey guys,

Had this problem once last year. I own a 2001 Procraft 210 Super Pro on tandem axle trailer. Lat year, when I took it out of storage, I could not back it up into my driveway. Once I fiddled with it, not sure what happened but I never had that problem for the rest of the season. Today, same scenario. Can't back it up. I cannot find a diagram to figure out how the system works and at the same time, figure out what is going wrong. Checked the oil, still plenty (I think) in it. Can anyone give me a hand?

Regards,

Carl Gagnon

[CatFan]

I assume you have a 5 wire trailer connector? It works by routing the backup light power to a solenoid in the tongue. There is usually a place to put a lockout key on the side of the tongue to mechanically lock out the brakes.

[carl gagnon]

Hey Cat,

Yes it is a 5 wire connector. Problem is, I can't find the lockout anywhere...I have seen many of the newer trailers out there with them and being put in an obvious place. Could it be the solenoid?

I think I'll have to bring it in somewhere to get it looked at. Thanks for your input.

Carl

[DABS]

Before you take it in, be sure you have 12V to the solenoid wire. To determine whether it is the backup circuit or the solenoid, simple flip the plug upside down and turn your lights on and try backing up. This will enable pin #5 to now get it's power from pin # 2 on your flat plug, which is your tail lights. Also there are 2 threaded holes on the bottom of the solenoid to add a ground. If you do not have a hard brake line connecting the solenoid to the trailer, it is a good idea to add a ground to the bottom of the solenoid and attach to the white ground wire on the trailer loom. Trailers equipped with swing tongues have a soft brake line which cannot be used as a ground. The circuit then tries to get to ground through the pin on the master cylinder and possibly from the ball. Most of the time this is a poor ground and will work intermittently.

[carl gagnon]

Thx Dabs!