Trailer Brakes required!!

[DJ]

Re: Trailer Brakes required!!

Good discussion.<br /><br />I ditto JB's comment. The trailer is not overloaded until SOMEONE overloads it. <br /><br />If you look closely, you'll see that many trailer manufacturers do not rate their trailers in round numbers. As an example: what everyone would think is a 3000 # capacity trailer actually states the GVW at: 2995 #, thus making the trailer "legal" (in some states/provinces) without brakes.<br /><br />I think brakes are essential for anything over 2K#<br />and less than that if you are towing with a smaller vehicle.<br /><br />I also think that brakes on one axle of a dual or tri axle trailer are asking for trouble. <br />Why, braking forces tend to "lift" the unbraked axle. Now you've set yourself up for an overload on the axle that's still on the ground. Tire failure and all other sorts of maladies are now more likely.

 

[SCO]

Re: Trailer Brakes required!!

One more thing, look in your tow vehicle operators manual. Mine has max tow weights for braked and unbraked trailers and max/min tounge weight range.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailer Brakes required!!

We-they-us- were thinking that the surge brakes could and would be applied as we rambled through the back woods. We go down some rather steep grades, over small logs, through washes and pot holes, beaver induced flood zones, and over some areas that remind you that you have a skid plate under your truck. I guess it wouldn't really matter if they were applied, as they would only be on when the trailer would be pushing on the truck. Just trying to keep it simple as we don't need anything breaking out there.<br /><br />Sounds like a lot of work for a few fish, not even trophies. But it's wilderness. Our base camp is 50 miles off the highway, the only "resort" or house within 40 miles, but it has electricity.

 

[DJ]

Re: Trailer Brakes required!!

roscoe,<br /><br />You can disable the surge couple for situations like you describe. It can be done by "pinning" the coupler. That's also helpful for backing up inclines with disc brakes.