So does anyone have any good suggestions on trailer brakes?

I just bought a new trailer with tandem 7k axles (16" wheels) and brakes on both, and its first 1000 mile trip at 14 k total weight seems to have killed them. Apparently they are pulling badly to the left. Prodigy controller dialed pretty high. Some city driving, not much mountain driving, just plenty of weight, manually activated a few times for road conditons. Can't recall brake temps getting over about 175 F, tow rig's brakes were seeing 275 F -300 F.

I talked to some friends who run hot shot and they claim they leave theirs dialed down since on ice/gravel the electric brakes will lock up early and they just like them for sway control or panic stops. They say not to treat them as service brakes but more as only when required. Of course they run engine brakes and such up North on much more questionable road services then here. (more ice/gravel etc).

We managed to smoke a set on a different trailer running the backway from Carson City up to Truckee a few years back with 8k on a 10 k trailer, same tow rig and controller.

Are we applying too much trailer brake? DO trailer brakes just suck (I know I wouldn't run electric controlled drums on any regular vehicle, especially one that weighs 14 000 lb)? Should we take the advice of hotshot drivers and just upgrade the tow rig brakes? Is electric over hydraulic a big advantage and is it doable (on the trailer)? What kind of coin? Obviously trailer brakes are cheap and easy to work on but still by the time you replace shoe and turn drums, they aren't that cheap.

I misunderstood the problem, turns out the brakes work just as good as they did new, they just won't lock up at full voltage. SHould they? Are they out of adjustment? They didn't when new, and I have never owned drum brakes on anythign that would lock up on pavement, but maybe trailer brakes are different.......

With The trailer fully loaded (max GVW), that would be questonable as to it they would lock up. You are probally due to adjust your trailer brakes (most, it not all are manuel adjustment).

Ditto on the manual adjustment, and it needs to be done regularily. Base it on the useage (mileage) and loads. I tweak mine every 2000 miles of use, but thats because the majority is open road.

Mine will not lock up when loaded, no matter how tight I have the sync, or the voltage adjusted. Drag it down a gravel road if you need to verify they work. Besides, brakes don't stop when locked up!

If you don't have enough brake for your load, add them (brakes) to additional axles. Most controllers will handle at least 2 axles, and the better ones, more axles than we would have!

Already have brakes on both axles. Controller handles up to 4 IIRC

Check your wire connectors on the trailer.
Mine showed good voltage, but the connectors were "clip on" connectors and caused low amperage when braking.
I changed the connectors and they work fine.