My Trailering Adventure

[ultrarunner]

Glad that you're still in one piece!

Anybody know if they still sell trailers with parking brakes?

I saw a Backhoe on a trailer that had a hand activated lever with ratchet pawl on the tongue. I asked the owner operator why he needed a parking brake and he said he wouldn't be able to load without it on some of the hillside jobs he works and he can unhitch the trailer when he's using his truck in dump mode.

Second Question... will "Breakaway" trailer brakes hold when the trailer is not moving or does the trailer need to be moving to take advantage of the inertial to really set the brakes?

 

[Bedlam]

Ultra good question. Id say it would, As it gets full voltage when actuated. Years ago, I had electric brakes, and had a 'solid' line of 12 volts on a switch to them to do just that.Of cource a good chock block helps to.
Alan

 

[Dmace]

I have a rather steep paved road and had this happen the first time I loaded the tractor on the trailer. It was a friends 05 Chevy 2500HD and a 16' 8,000lb car hauler.

As soon as I got the tractor completly on the trailer, the truck's tires lost traction and started sliding down the hill. In a split second I hit the HST pedal in reverse and backed down the ramps. As soon as I started moving backwards, the sliding stopped. I put some 4x4's in front of the tires and loaded it fine. I was worried about his transmission, but it was only a couple of feet. In your case, I would at least get the transmission fluid changed and look for any metal.

Quickly moving the tractor forward on the trailer when it starts sliding WILL NOT stop it from sliding, the forward momentum will just speed up the sliding (we tried this). Your best move is too back up quickly, you don't even have to go off the trailer completly just to the ramps.

If it wasn't for HST and the fact that I could quickly go in reverse, we would have gone for a long ride down the road!

Glad your OK!

 

[Mighty Dodge]

When loading tractors always block up the end of the trailer. I've seen guys go for unexpected rides more than once at antique tractor shows.

 

[bones1]

Ultra good question. Id say it would, As it gets full voltage when actuated. Years ago, I had electric brakes, and had a 'solid' line of 12 volts on a switch to them to do just that.Of cource a good chock block helps to.
Alan

The more I think about this the more I can picture it happening very easily.

Bedlam, that's a great idea.Some sort of electric line lock should work.

 

[firemanpat2910]

had a friend have this happen to him except the whole rig with him on it rolled backwards and didnt slow down even when his open drivers side truck door hit the pine tree and bent backwards. He came out unscathed but his dads pickup was wrinkled pretty bad. I always lock truck in 4wd, set the brake and if unlevel chock the tires.

 

[RobertN]

Glad you're ok and alive.

I put my truck in 4x4 to load. Most weight is on the front of the truck; in 4x4 the front wheel will help with braking.

I am also thinking of adding jacks to the back of my trailer. That way the back of the trailer cant sag, placing lift on the tongue. I have removable "slide in" ramps that stow in the trailer, so I can't add a support to them.

A set of chocks is nice to have around. When I move the trailer, I always throw mine in the truck(I just use 4x6" lumber cut to 16" long).

 

[john_bud]

Quickly moving the tractor forward on the trailer when it starts sliding WILL NOT stop it from sliding, the forward momentum will just speed up the sliding (we tried this). Your best move is too back up quickly, you don't even have to go off the trailer completly just to the ramps.

Glad your OK!

I disagree with you on this one point. Moving the tractor forward on the trailer will stop the motion dead (assuming the truck was in park...). The truck moved due to the extreme rear bias of the tractor's weight ALL being behind the trailers axles. That bias gave negative weight to the trailer tongue, enough up force to lift the back tires of the truck off the ground. Moving forward even as little as 2-3 feet will dramatically change the weight bias, restoring the trucks rear wheels to the ground. As soon as they hit the ground they start dragging along, braking action occurs and you begin stopping.

It's physics.

 

[tommu56]

ultrarunner

Any electrical trailer brake I'v work on the magnet sticks to side of drum and and that rotation is what expands the shoes. If the trailer is stopped and you apply power magnet will stick to side but won't expand shoes to make contact with drum untill movement of the drum.

when in reverse it didnt look like it would expand shoes at all.

[edit}
picture is worth a thousand words
http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/1080235/f/6_8k_service_manual_4_06/Electric_Brakes_2-07_72_res.pdf

tom

 

[ultrarunner]

Thank You for taking the time to explain... I know that I read some where the brake is "Energized" by forward rotation...

I've looked around a little more and it seems that just about the only trailers with a "Parking" Brake are certain AG trailers...