Trailer Brakes

[seal oil]

Are 16ft tandom car haulers with brakes on the rear axel safe to move a small tractor ? I would think that one with brakes on both axels got to be better .

 

[Gary Fowler]

It all depends on the weight of the tractor and the axle rating on the trailer and the load range of the tires on it (not to mention the condition of the tires themselves). The one set of brakes should be sufficient for cautious trailering if your tow weight doesn't exceed the tow vehicle capacity and the trailer capacity is not exceeded. Remember that you have to add the weight of the trailer to your overall weight. The trailer could be anywhere from 1800# to 2200# depending on the make and rating. Rims sizes are usually a good indicator of axle rating: 5 hole rims=3500# axles, 6 hole= 5200 and 8 hole= 6000 or more. Also have to look at the tires and see what load rating they are good for and not exceed the total combined weight rating for all 4 tires.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I believe the Federal DOT standard for trailers is that all wheels have to have working brakes. Most states follow that standard. WA does. Probably would never get a citation unless stopped for something else and the Cop is a HA or you give him a ration so he looks for everything. Insurance is another matter, not having legal equipment usually gets a claim denied or judged greater against you. Awhile back I was looking at tandem trailers and never saw one with 2 wheel brakes. Dealer said it was illegal to sell them.

Ron

 

[lutt]

Depends on what your pulling with also , size of truck. I would rather have both axles with brakes. I happen to own one of thousands of tandem axle utility trailers that don't have brakes, LUTT

 

[Diamondpilot]

Mine is a 7000# trailer with brakes on one axle. I have pulled a Suburban on it behind a F150 and never felt unsafe.

Chris

 

[grnspot110]

I'll stick to brakes on both axles! ~~ grnspot

 

[dodge man]

It seems pretty common in my area where they sell them with brakes on only one axle and that is what mine is. Mine is a 7000lb trailer and I don't feel unsafe. Its fairly easy to add brakes if you want.

 

[downsizingnow48]

In California the rule is, trailers over 3k GVWR must have brakes on at least 2 wheels, and the combination vehicle (pickup and trailer) has to be able to stop in 40ft from 20mph "under any condition of loading". So if you have good brakes on the pickup, and a properly adjusted trailer brake controller, you might not need brakes on both trailer axles. Here is a DOT link that seems to say the same thing:

Brake performance. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

My personal take on this is that trailer brakes are really inexpensive compared to the cost of your pickup, trailer and load. So, why not have them on both axles for maximum braking force. You might need that some day. But maybe there is a downside to braking both axles that I havent figgered out.

 

[JPRambo]

I have an two axle utility/car trailer that is rated 6000 lb. gross that only 1 axle has brakes. And a 2 axle camper max 5000 lb. that has both axle with brakes. The electronic brake controller seems to act a little slow to me. Is there a way to decrease the time the controller acts to the setting I program (depending on the trailer I am using and the weight of the trailer?

 

[Spindifferent]

Are 16ft tandom car haulers with brakes on the rear axel safe to move a small tractor ? I would think that one with brakes on both axels got to be better .

Here's my small truck pulling a relatively small tractor on an 18' car hauler with brakes on one axle. I'm well within the max. tow capacity of the truck and have a good brake controller, a weight distributing hitch, and everything works well for my setup.

You'll need to run the numbers for your setup to answer your question.

 

[aczlan]

I have an two axle utility/car trailer that is rated 6000 lb. gross that only 1 axle has brakes. And a 2 axle camper max 5000 lb. that has both axle with brakes. The electronic brake controller seems to act a little slow to me. Is there a way to decrease the time the controller acts to the setting I program (depending on the trailer I am using and the weight of the trailer?

What make/model controller do you have? If its a timed one, there should be a slider to do that. If its a pendulum one that is mounted properly, there isn't (usually) any way to make it act faster.

Aaron Z

 

[JPRambo]

I have it in my 2003 Silverado 1500 and I don't remember what year I had it put in (2005 or 2006). It is a Hidden Hitch PILOT model it works well but I think I would like it to act faster.

 

[aczlan]

I have it in my 2003 Silverado 1500 and I don't remember what year I had it put in (2005 or 2006). It is a Hidden Hitch PILOT model it works well but I think I would like it to act faster.

So its this one: Trailer Hitches - Hidden Hitch ?
If so, it doesn't appear to have a way to adjust the time delay, just the gain (braking power).

Aaron Z

 

[JPRambo]

I was afraid of that, but hoping there was a access panel or something to plug into it to make adjustments.
I still believe it is a great controller, just wish it acted faster. I adjust it for all the loads I carry.
I had a bus pull in front of me from the side of I75 and it was all I could do to slow down and miss the bus without losing control before the trailer brakes worked.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I used a Prodigy controller with a 2004 F350 and a 24ft enclosed trailer. It had a gain control and also a "boost" control. The boost control made the trailer brakes come on sooner, harder, or later, softer, depending on what you needed for the load and conditions. That worked pretty well.

 

[Qapla]

A friend of mine used to manufacture and sell trailers (they were a brand name selling worldwide - but no longer own that company) and we were recently talking about trailer breaks.

He told me that under current regulations dual axle trailers are now supposed to be manufactured with brakes on both axles. However, if you own an older trailer with only one set of brakes, it is still legal to use it that way.

He did recommend that when replacing brakes on a dual axle trailer, put them on both axles even if it only came with them on one axle.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

While brakes on both axles will shorten braking distance in high traction conditions, it allows for jackknifing and worse in low traction situations (rain) when you have them adjusted properly so that the trailer brakes engage before the truck brakes. I will not run brakes on both axles on a standard tandem axle utility trailer because there is no way to set the brakes up to engage any other way than simultaneously. If one axle skids, they both skid.

 

[hawkeye08]

I have an two axle utility/car trailer that is rated 6000 lb. gross that only 1 axle has brakes. And a 2 axle camper max 5000 lb. that has both axle with brakes. The electronic brake controller seems to act a little slow to me. Is there a way to decrease the time the controller acts to the setting I program (depending on the trailer I am using and the weight of the trailer?

upgrade the brake controller to inertia one... I had a tekonsa (?) P3 that worked very well..

 

[jejeosborne]

While brakes on both axles will shorten braking distance in high traction conditions, it allows for jackknifing and worse in low traction situations (rain) when you have them adjusted properly so that the trailer brakes engage before the truck brakes. I will not run brakes on both axles on a standard tandem axle utility trailer because there is no way to set the brakes up to engage any other way than simultaneously. If one axle skids, they both skid.

Brakes on both axles would also shorten the stopping distance in low traction situations too wouldn't it? I understand your thoughts on reduced jackknifing but one should readjust the gain when road conditions change to prevent wheel lockup. This said I have a car hauler with just one axle having brakes and it feels fine. I do wish it had them on both when close to max loads.

 

[aczlan]

While brakes on both axles will shorten braking distance in high traction conditions, it allows for jackknifing and worse in low traction situations (rain) when you have them adjusted properly so that the trailer brakes engage before the truck brakes. I will not run brakes on both axles on a standard tandem axle utility trailer because there is no way to set the brakes up to engage any other way than simultaneously. If one axle skids, they both skid.

Brakes on both axles would also shorten the stopping distance in low traction situations too wouldn't it? I understand your thoughts on reduced jackknifing but one should readjust the gain when road conditions change to prevent wheel lockup. This said I have a car hauler with just one axle having brakes and it feels fine. I do wish it had them on both when close to max loads.

Yep. Just turn the brake controller down enough that it doesn't skid.

Aaron Z