Trailer Options

JDGREEN4ME · Apr 25, 2003

Need to get a trailer for my 4110 so we can make trips up to NY to work on our property. I have a Ford Ranger 4.0L 4x4 that I plan to tow with. It has a 5000# total weight limit. My tractor the way it is equipped weighs in around 3100#'s. Just looked at a 16' tandem trailer with pull out ramps and surge brakes for around $2000 dollars. Any opinions on surge or electric brakes? or the need for a weight distributing hitch? Any input would be helpfull...thanks...

StanInCalif · Apr 25, 2003

Electric brakes are better, but you'll need to install a controller in your tow vehicle. Surge brakes are needed for rental trailers for those who don't have controllers. An equalizer is mostly for cars, which have close to 50-50 weight distribution- when towing with a pickup, you want some tongue weight. Your setup should be OK, unless you have a lot of hills to deal with- that can get you into real trouble when towing.

GONO2 · Apr 25, 2003

I prefer elec brakes. How much does trailer weigh? My 16' tandem is 2000 lbs which put's you over the weight of truck. Weight distributing would help depending on tongue weight. I never use one with my tandem, but my camper weighs 8000 and I always use one with it. Your tandem will prob. be over 5000 with tractor. I drive a F250 diesel too. You will definately know it's back there on a ranger. Good Luck.

beenthere · Apr 25, 2003

When I want to transport my JD 4300, I rent a trailer with electric brakes. It comes with a controller that sets on the tongue of the trailer, and plugs in series in the trailer light connector. The controller activates the electric brakes when the brake lights are activated. There is a remote switch (remote entry key size) that is used to adjust the sensitivity of electric brake response. Works very well, and I don't have to have the vehicle wired with an internal controller. Just don't turn on the hazard lights, as the electric brakes then pulsate on and off with the blinking lights.

I have heard that some states (Illinois I believe) where only trailers with electric brakes are legal. Not sure if this is an up and comming thing or not.

JimMc · Apr 26, 2003

Surge brakes are certainly legal in Illinois, but many trailers (over a certain weight) with brakes are required to have a breakway system. This means electric brake trailers must have an onboard battery. Major pain as they are always going dead or causing other havoc. Properly set up, surge brakes allow you to decellerate without riding the brakes in a turn and not get the push on the hitch causing oversteer. Most folk's objection is to the cost. If I were to go electric, I would prefer the controller on the trailer, though.

JDGREEN4ME · Apr 26, 2003

UPDATE: I just checked the trailer specifications and it weighs 1420#'s which would give me a max payload of 3580#'s. I still have concerns in regards to to the brake issue. The surge brakes are about $400 bucks more than the electric but I am not sure I like the idea of maintaining a battery for the break away feature of the electric... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

GONO2 · Apr 26, 2003

I don't understand the controller on the trailer issue. I use my controller inside the truck to slow trailer down without using the truck breaks all the time. That's the purpose in the manual slide on all break controllers I have ever seen. With the controller on the trailer, you have to use truck breaks every time. In Virginia surge breaks are legal only up to a certain weight. I'm not sure what it is. I have them on my boat and it weighs about 3000 but is on a single axle trailer.

PS - The battery for the breakaway charges while the trailer is hooked to the truck. It doesn't take much current to activate the breakaway emergency system should it be needed. With surge breaks you have to have everything adjusted so that the cable connected to the pin that gets pulled should trailer come off is shorter than the safety chain - thus the pin gets pulled and braking occurs then safety chain catches trailer. I have seen many cases though where just turning the trailer causes the pin to pull out and cause breaking when least expected. It's a real pain to get it back in as well. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

An elec controller in your truck will run 75 to 150 depending on what you get.

StanInCalif · Apr 26, 2003

I wouldn't worry about the breakaway feature, unless your state law requires it. Just make sure you have two safety chains, one attached to each side of the tongue, and that they cross, thus providing a "cradle", in the event that hitch comes loose.

Egon · Apr 27, 2003

Go for the electric brakes and weight distributing hitch. Air bags may also be something to look at. Surge brakes may be legislated out of existence on trailers over a certain weight limit.

Egon

Splinterguy · Apr 27, 2003

If you go for the electric brakes look for a trailer set up with a solar charger on top of the battery box. Mine is set up this way and I have not experienced any problems with it. The electric controller will allow you to adjust braking power on the trailer as well. Not sure you will find that with surge brakes.