Yesterday while backing my boat into the storage space, my trailer brakes locked up and I needed to use the tounge key to prevent them from engaging.
I have the 5 prong harness so it should be disengaging the trailer brakes. Back up lights work (truck), all prongs were cleaned and good contact appears to be made.
What other things do I need to try so this doesn’t keep happening?
2007 Shorelander single axel bunk trailer (18-Mr Pike)
You basically have an electrical trouble shooting problem. Here’s what I would do:
1. Use a 12 volt test light or volt meter to make sure that when the truck is placed in reverse gear, that the fifth wire is energized. I think the order of the harness wires from the truck should be ground (male stud), head lights, turn signal, turn signal, reverse lights.
Don’t let the truck back over you when you test this. Even though the reverse lights work on the truck, there could be a connection problem from that circuit on the truck and your trailer harness.
2. If you don’t have a test light or meter, another trick is to turn on the truck head lights and make sure the trailer lights go on. If they do, you know you have current to that circuit. Then disconnect and trailer harness from the truck harness and take the fifth wire from the trailer (i.e. the right most male stud) and plug it into the left most female hole in the trucks harness (i.e. the hole closest to the ground stud). If things are working properly, you should hear a single click when you plug them together. This click is the reverse solenoid engaging which prevents the brake fluid in the surge brakes from reaching the brake pistons.
3. If you have energy to the fifth wire of the truck harness but the solenoid is not engaging (i.e. clicking) then the problem is downstream from there. It could be the trailer harness, trailer wire to the solenoid, problems with the connection to the solenoid, or a bad solenoid. OR… and I’ve seen this a few times with my set up which is the same as yours…. if I brake hard immediately prior to trying to go in reverse, it seems like there’s too much pressure on the solenoid and it will not engage to lock out the brakes. Try taking it for a little ride but don’t brake hard when you stop and see if it works.
Good Luck,
Boone
I had this problem with my boat and trouble shot it for awhile and found out it was a bad fuse in my truck. That would be the first place i would check if it happened to me again. 
I had this problem with my 2008 shoreland’r as well. Did all the trouble shooting with no luck. Called Shoreland’r and they sent me a kit for the solenoid that splice into the main ground. I have not had a problem since. They are now doing this to all new trailers.
Thanks, I tested the #5 wire last night and it is powered at the truck. To me that eliminates fuse/connections.
Friday(24) I’ll get to my trailer and troubleshoot that end (Solenoid and trailer harness).
If I can’t get it solved then I guess I’ll be towing it back home for the week.
Quote:
Thanks, I tested the #5 wire last night and it is powered at the truck. To me that eliminates fuse/connections.
Yes, that would be correct. You now know that nothing is wrong with that circuit of the trucks wiring.
After troublshooting this over the weekend, I’ve determined that the solenoid is bad. (does not click when powered).
Next job will be to replace the solenoid. Where is the best place to pick one up so I can get this done?
There is a threaded hole in the bottom of the solenoid get a piece of wire and crimp on a eye fitting. Screw into the hole on the solenoid and splice into the electrical ground. This should take care of your problem. Shoreland’r grounded the solenoid to the frame and actually has a kit doing this very thing to fix.
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