Brakes required?

[FlaDon]

i guess non comercial loaded trailers weight less than comercial loaded trailers so them pesky extra brakes aren't needed..

some laws DO make ya wonder..

soundguy

:laughing: Sure do. Why can a Driver with a Class E license drive a Big Brick MH without a Medical Card while a 10K+1 truck crossing statelines in commerce must?

 

[Soundguy]

gotta be payola from the rv manufacturers..

soundguy

 

[Bird]

gotta be payola from the rv manufacturers..

soundguy

It's not quite that simple, but the RV industry certainly lobbies for fewer or more liberal laws for RVs and the insurance companies don't fight it because RVs have a lower cost to them; i.e., fewer accidents and lower payouts when they do have an accident.

 

[Duffster]

It's not quite that simple, but the RV industry certainly lobbies for fewer or more liberal laws for RVs and the insurance companies don't fight it because RVs have a lower cost to them; i.e., fewer accidents and lower payouts when they do have an accident.

I would like to see real numbers on the amount of accidents per miles driven.

 

[Bird]

I would like to see real numbers on the amount of accidents per miles driven.

I haven't seen such numbers myself, and if you count simply the number of accidents (without regard to amount of damage or deaths) per miles driven, I wouldn't be surprised if RVs are higher. But the fact that RVers drive fewer miles might be more to their advantage than disadvantage. By that I mean they don't usually have to drive long hours, get extra tired driving, get road hypnosis, and such. I know there are exceptions, but generally, the RVer is out there because he wants to be, not because he has to be, he can stop and rest whenever he wants to, and he's much less likely to be exceeding the speed limit. And yes, I know those who drive too slow are sometimes a nuisance on the road.

I've seen very few RV accidents on the roads, but plenty of "accidents" resulting only in property damage off the roads in campgrounds and RV parks. So yep, I know there are plenty of poor drivers in RVs when it comes to close maneuvering, backing, and such.:laughing:

 

[sandman2234]

Probably not the. Dollar cost per traveled mile, but instead the amount paid out compared to the amount the collect in premiums. Insurance companies are in it for the money David in jax

 

[Renze]

I prefer brakes as soon as the trailer weighs more than half of the tow vehicles weight. It reduces the risk of jackknifing, and lowers the wear on brakes of the tow vehicle. in the end it just reduces your brake distance to, not so much more than an empty tow vehicle.

The general population in the USA isnt so brake minded because of cost and maintenance, but in crowded Europe, you just NEED it buy yourself some stopping seconds, to drive comfortably in crowded areas.... Its not fun seeing your tires smoke, feeling your rear axle being pushed around, when making an emergency stop because the idiot in front of you just stops in the middle of the road to take a left turn, but the opposing lane traffic doesnt allow him to cross the lane.

I had two near incidents with my previous trailer i used to haul scrap with, loaded to around 1000kg total, no brakes, behind my S70. When i delivered my last load, i didnt unload the trailer but just parked it near the scrap heap and left it there.
I have a big steel scrapbin now, which i load onto my tandem trailer with the frontloader: A load weighs about 1200 to 1500kg, but the other day i had to make an emergency stop because i didnt see the long row in front of the traffic lights, due to a low hanging sun: When i slammed the brakes, it was smoking rubber behind me, not just because of my trailer, but also because the car behind me was trying hard to not rear-end me...

I'm sure when i was in the exact same situation with my old trailer (with no brakes but less weight) i would have generated some more scrap to sell off that day...

 

[Soundguy]

I be the data is out there somewhere.. and public as well.. IE.. crash statistics.

soundguy

 

[brokenknee]

Here is a surge brake trailer weight ratio chart. It is used to determine the maximum trailer a truck can pull with surge brakes.

View attachment Surge Brake Chart.pdf