Tractor for Trailer

Nasty135 · Mar 31, 2004

Moon on my trailer brake set-up the unit that is bolted under the dash has a sliding fine tune adjustment for the amount of weight your towing and also a manual sliding over-ride control knob that controls the trailers brakes independantly of the truck so you test your trailers brakes before you haul that potentially deadly combo of trailer + cargo ,These of course are electric brakes,not surge brakes ...
Anybody like surge brakes?? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Chuck_Lind · Mar 31, 2004

BigAl....I second the motion on correct stopping procedures/setup.

I have a 2000 Ford F350 diesel dually whose GVWR is 11,200 (labelled on the door jam) and a CrossCountry trailer that is 11,925 lbs.; combined, making it 23,125. I sure can go forward, but stopping all that weight can be heart-stopping experience if you don't have electric brakes on the trailer...let alone having the brake controller calibrated correctly.

On my Ford, the hitch tongue weight is listed at 1000 lbs, maximum trailer tow capacity is 10,000 lbs., which is a category IV hitch.

From my experience, having extra trailer weight capacity is good insurance, even though I haul less than gross.

As for CDL, I've researched this topic to no end...you only need a CDL if you're gross vehicle combination (GVC) EXCEEDS 26,000 lbs.

Hope this helps...CL

Charlie_in_TX · Mar 31, 2004

BigAl, not slap'n you around just a couple of comments.

Have you asked your insurance company if you are covered when your truck is over it's GCWR? I have heard but never experienced, that insurance companies can deny coverage in such instances.

The new trucks no longer fit neatly into the 1/2 ton (150, 1500), 3/4 ton (250, 2500), and 1 ton (350, 3500) catigories. Most '1/2 tons' have a payload in the 1500 lb range. GMs 1500HD has a payload of 3000lbs. I currently have a 2500HD it's payload is over 3500 pounds or 1 3/4 tons.

However to say ( A 3/4 ton or 1 ton single rear wheel truck is not that much heavier than most 1/2 ton extended cabs . ) is way underestimating the larger trucks abilities. You pointed out the biggest difference to me, the other person on the road with you. ( STOPPING ability is the most important part of towing anything . ) The brakes on the larger trucks are much larger and can cool themselves much better. The rest of the heavier parts of the truck (frame, motor, tranny, axels, radiators, ect) just improve the life expectency of your truck. They do little to improve my (road sharers) safety.

So one last comment. If you are in a overlaoded truck and some dumba$$ cuts you off and causes you to rearend them, be ready to loose everything you own. It won't mater the wreck wasn't caused by your driving. A jury will more than likely blame you for overlaoding.

Charlie_in_TX · Mar 31, 2004

( Anybody like surge brakes?? )

Yea, me. I have heard too many horrer stories like the one on this tread of improperly adjusted electric brakes. Surge brake solve that major problem. Change the load on the trailer, the brakes adjust automaticly. Not only are improperly adjusted electric brakes dangerous when a load is added, they flat-spot the tires when the load is removed.

I have used many trailers with surge brakes. The next time I am in the market for a utility trailer if I am given a choise between surge and electric, I will pick surge everytime.

BigAl · Mar 31, 2004

On My buddy's trailer brake module and also mine ,there is a sliding bar that can be manually engaged to put more power to the trailer brakes in a emergency .
The first time I ever saw this setup used was a guy on Interstate 80 pulling a horse trailer and the right tires blew out . The rear doors sprung open and a horse slid out the back onto the ramp on his side ! The horse was tried at the halter or would have been a goner. There was trailer and horse dung flying everyway ! Somehow that guy got his truck back in front of that old horse trailer ,hit the manual overide on his trailer brakes and shot that horse right back up in the trailer . Darnest thing I ever saw !
I was right behind him and helpped to stop traffic ,while he got his old horse back up and the truck to the side of the freeway .He explained what he had done, with the brakes , to save from having a even worst day than he had already had . I was very impressed with how well it had work and never forgot it .
Oh, and the horse had a few cuts but was ok too !
Big Al

BigAl · Mar 31, 2004

Yes, I do have a class 1 lic . and my truck is set up with a aftermarket hitch that is much heavier than the GM factory one it came with .My trailer also has 6000 axles so it is made to carry the tractor .
BigAl

BigAl · Mar 31, 2004

Hi Charlie ,
One question I do have . A semi tractor weighs in at 20,000 more or less . A tractor /trailer combo grosses legal at 80,000 pounds on most interstates . That's a 4 to 1 ratio .
A standard pickup wieghs in at say 6500 to 7000 pounds . Let's say it is set up to tow 10,000 pounds .That would make the gross about 17,000 pounds . That's less than a 3 to 1 ratio .
Which one is more dangerous rolling down the highway ? I've never been able to figure that one out ???
I think it also depends on the driver and his abilities .
Sure the semi's run air brakes and they are the best to have for stopping ,but to me ,a properly adjusted elect . braked trailer with a working "Break Away Device " are also good .
By the way , When was the last time all you old TBN"S out there changed the battery in your "Brake Away Device" ???
With the semi's running the new 53 ' box trailers so they can carry more stuff ,where do you think they are cutting the weight down to stay under the 80,000 pound gross ? On the new semi's with all their plastic parts !
I agree completely that a semi tractor is made for one thing . "TO PULL" heavy loads and are built according .
I agree that it would be hard to win in court if I was cut off and driving a truck/ trailer rated above the legal limit for the trucks towing ability ,
If I rear ended someone who had just cut me off , I think I would still end up in court weather I was hauling a trailer or not . It's just one of those "what If " senarios and people are " Sue Happy" .
Most people don't want to take responibility for there own idiotic actions when they drive , they just want to point the blame to someone else .
I am certainly not condoning my driving /towing abilities to anyone and would never reconmend it to someone else who is less than qualified or uncomfortable towing heavy loads .
Big Al

Nasty135 · Mar 31, 2004

Charlie , I wasn't condeming surge brakes ,Maybe I should have phrased my comment a little different, What I meant to say was ,I know about surge brakes but have no personal experience with them , /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif OK it's all good!!

Happy trails!(trailering) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

lamarbur · Mar 31, 2004

to show you I wans't kidding about CT or Mass, this is right off their web page and I believe it can be found on the Federal DOT also

DMV Search:
Department of
Motor Vehicles
Within Hartford Area
860-263-5700
Examples of Class 1 and Class 2 Vehicles

1 - Any motor vehicle except a commercial motor vehicle.

Examples: Hook & ladder fire truck, tractor-trailer with a farm registration.

2 - Any motor vehicle except a commercial motor vehicle, an articulated vehicle or combination of motor vehicle and trailer where the gross weight of the trailer is more than 10,000 pounds.

Examples: Passenger cars, pick-up trucks, trucks under 26,000 lbs., any recreation vehicle regardless of weight.

Bird · Mar 31, 2004

( On My buddy's trailer brake module and also mine ,there is a sliding bar that can be manually engaged to put more power to the trailer brakes in a emergency . )

Being an old RVer, I've used that feature before. I know brake controllers have had such for over 30 years. Of course, properly loaded, a trailer should not get to swaying (fishtailing), but sometimes strong gusty crosswinds can cause that to happen and I've known of many, many accidents that occurred when a trailer got to fishtailing and the driver panicked and hit his brake pedal, when all his actually needed to do was hit that manual brake on the trailer, and stay off the truck brakes. In fact, just pressing down a tiny bit on the accelerator while applying the trailer brakes will pull everything back straight again.