Renze
Elite Member
Thats entirely cultural. Ive been around on this site for quite some time now, which gave me interesting insights in the cultural differences between Europe and America. Thats why i love this place
"why don't Europeans use electric brakes or weight distributing hitches?" The European would say: Electric brakes are prone to failure due to poor electrical contacts. It needs a brake controller in the tow vehicle, so it makes the trailer only available to the controller equipped vehicle (which is rare in Europe). Electric brakes need weight adjustment, it is not load independent like surge brakes, where only 10% of the total braking force is transmitted to the tow vehicle, which makes brake force inertia related, not black/white unless you manually adjust the brake controller.
Why dont Americans use surge brakes ?? They would say, maintenance is an issue, the brake cables stretch which gives a clunk every time you start braking. It wont brake in reverse on a boat ramp. There is a sliding coupler between tow vehicle and trailer, so the drawbar weight is limited to 250kg for a 3.5 ton setup.
Now when we look at the law, in Europe ABS is mandatory if the axle load of a trailer exceeds 3.5 ton, which means that for 5th wheel trailers, a 12V air brake ABS/EBS kit destined for the US market (European trucks is all 24V) is used in 5th wheel trailers for light vehicles.
The latest thing is an electric over hydraulic brake system. One manufacturer of these trailers makes his own axles based on Iveco light truck parts, and uses a reprogrammed ABS/ESP computer (with a built in G sensor) from Bosch as a braking system. The Dutch importer of Dexter axles, could never really take it up with the big European axle manufacturers, but now he has developed a similar system based on hydraulic braked Dexter axles.
The system just needs a brake light wired up, and when the brake light lights up, the G sensor will sense retardation and build up pressure to help this retardation. AFAIK the ABS functionality is no longer in this ESP controller, because of lack of computing power to do both, but for 5 ton 5th wheels (1.5 ton 5th wheel load, 3.5 ton axle load, so no ABS required) it works quite good. I feel no difference compared to my own surge braked trailer with a new surge head (new slide bushes, new shock absorber, rebuilt wheel brakes) but it does engage smoother than a typical air brake setup.
Weight distributing hitches, it wont work with a surge brake because the coupler sliding pin has to make a stroke to generate brake force. And because of the weight distribution of surge brake trailers (that cant take more than 350kg or 10% tow bar load) there just isnt enough weight on the coupler to make distributing worthwhile.
A system that is popular at caravans, is a ball coupler with built in brake pads to stabilise sway, with high and long caravans that catch a lot of crosswind. The trailer ESP isnt quite so popular yet, only scared people (that cant stay cool and reflex to sway by steering) use it
here a German language video focusing on the friction stabilised coupler: It is used just about on caravans or large enclosed trailers only.
AL-KO AKS - YouTube
Al-ko Stabiliser + Al-ko Trailer Control - YouTube
Comparison Test BPW Stability System iDC vs. ATC - YouTube
As you can see here, the maintenance requirement of surge brakes and electric brakes doesnt differ all that much, yet unknown makes unloved, on either side of the Atlantic.
Caravan Servicing - brakes and tyres v2 - YouTube
Adjusting the BPW brake system - YouTube
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