REEFER trailer tires keep locking up

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Parminder99, Aug 14, 2023.

  1. Parminder99

    Parminder99 Light Load Member

    52
    36
    Jul 27, 2019
    0
    Hi everybody hope all you guys are doing well.

    most of you guys on this forum have much more experience than me in this industry so I thought I’d ask on this section.

    so I own a 2014 utility reefer trailer which I bought used two years ago. This trailer has been giving me issues since day one I spent so much money on this trailer. From slack adjusters, keep breaking after replacing after replacing after replacing brake drums and shoes being replaced twice within less than 50,000 miles and it popping tires like no other ( always checked air pressure and always had it 105 psi) wheel seals blowing caused a spindle to go out list goes on and on. Now I have got bushings done on the trailer. New wheel seals new drums, new shoes new slack adjusters - now when this trailer is empty and with the lightest break applied the left driver trailer tires lock up and skid and I just put on brand new Firestone trailer tires on this trailer some shops are telling me it could be the ABS and some people are telling me just to change out the whole suspension on the trailer to which I don’t think it’s worth it because I’ve spent so much money on components on the suspension already would you guys have any idea what it could be? And what would you guys look at? Should I bring this trailer in to get the abs checked out? Adjusted breaks and still does the same thing.

    Also on another trailer that I own which is also a 2014 Great Dane trailer ex Schuster trailer- needs bushings done as well from what the shop told me “ your bushings are bad - if you don’t get them done right away and your trailers air bag goes out on the road you won’t be able to get a air bag installed on the road if it’s loaded” is that true?
    And is it true to take it to a dealer ship to get the bushings done instead of a mom pop shop since they might not have the right tools? I was thinking of getting it done from betts or Great Dane them selfs

    any advise would be greatly appreciated

    thanks in advance guys
     
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  3. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
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    I had a trailer like you have, it had the wrong cans and slack adjusters on it, but I had everything replaced just as a precaution.

    I got it in a swap for a truck that I decided to scrape out. It was in excellent shape and the reefer unit had low hours on it but the thing went through brakes for the guy and he had to get rid of it, he said the brakes lasted less than 40k and he had already replaced a new drum.

    So I told my mechanic to call Great Dane, give them the serial number, and ask them for a brake parts list and a cost for all the parts from cans to cams. He brought me the cost, I told him to order all of it, I had a hunch they were the wrong parts. When they came in, the cans and slack adjusters were wrong on the trailer, so he put everything new on it and had no issues ever since.
     
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