One brake axle OK??

[BobRip]

When I bought my trailer they told me brakes on one axle was fine. For $140 more I got them on both axles. Seems like a bargain. My reasoning is that the truck has brakes on all four wheels, so should the trailer.
I had a trailer with no brakes and almost lost control going down a hill. The lost control time was short, but a car was coming from the other direction and that was too close for comfort. I gave away the old trailer (to the guy who gave it to me) and bought a new one just to have brakes.
Bob Rip

 

[turbo36]

Brakes on one axle? NO.

 

[SnowRidge]

<font color="blue"> Adjust them so they come on just ever so SLIGHTLY before the tow vehicles and you should be fine. A little practice and you'll get the feeling. </font>

Better yet, use a Tekonsha Prodigy controller and set the boost level to 1 or higher. The trailer brakes will then come on lightly as soon as the brake pedal is depressed enough to trigger the brake lights. Works like a charm. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Joe1]

Does the Tekonsha Prodigy work on time or inertia?
What would that cost to purchase?
Any feeling on which system is better, time or inertia?

 

[SnowRidge]

Inertia. The Prodigy is much better than anything else I know of. You should be able to pick one up for under $100 if you search the net.

 

[Joe1]

Thanks.

 

[crk133]

I have a Prodigy and it is a great & easy to use controller. Its not the cheapest out there but who cares its only $100 and we are talking about brakes here.....not a place to be cheap

 

[wushaw]

I like the Jordan, it is porportional braking, you will have trailer brakes even if the tow vehicle doesn't.
It also shows amperage draw from the magnets to show if all your brakes are really working.
Here is a link to see. Jordan Brake controller

 

[jimainiac]

Glad you went for the brakes all around. A rule of thumb that works for me is, if it needs four wheels it ought to have four brakes, period.

 

[HRS]

Now this has certainly become a non-issue. I have now found a trailer with 5k axles and brakes all around for the same price as the original 3.5k axles with brakes on only one. Now what is that old saying, "Look before you leap." I knew that. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif