Trailer Brakes

[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