Trailer Questions

MossRoad · Aug 7, 2002

Its rated at 7000#. It weighs 1500, so I could put 5500 on it if my tow vehicle could handle it.

It can't /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Right now, all I have to tow it is my 93 chevy 3/4 ton van with short wheel base and V6. It hardly noticed it coming home about 25 miles the other day, but that was an empty trailer.

My Power Trac weighs less than 1500 and the implements don't total 1000, so I'll probably only be hauling 4000 total including the trailer. And I will only use it to go to my property about 9 miles away two or three times a year and over to the little league several times a year, which is only about a mile. If I was going to do any distance or frequent towing I'd get a proper tow vehicle. but this is a fine setup for now. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

pajoube · Aug 7, 2002

MossRoad,
Appreciate the pictures and updates on this new project. That is one very fine trailer. I have stopped by trailer lots to see what is on the market for a number of months. Still undecided as to length but want something that can haul dirt and mulch along with the tractor and FEL. The comments regarding the hitch are very interesting.

PJ

RobS · Aug 7, 2002

Any idea what you're doing for the brake controller? I have a Reese electronic model and I don't like it. It only responds to "brake lights on" so you get the same braking whether you are lightly braking in a parking lot or hard braking on an exit ramp. I'm forever adjusting the gain on the thing. I didn't want a pendulum unit since I do my share of bouncing around off road. There is one model (name escapes me) with a string pot connected to the brake pedal. That would seem to provide the closest relationship to brake pressure without tapping into your trucks brake lines. Someday, I'll upgrade /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

cj7 · Aug 7, 2002

NIce trailer!

MossRoad · Aug 7, 2002

I was looking at some of the proportional braking units with manual over ride. They were a little over a hundred bucks, but seemed like the way to go. I have some links at home to go over. I'll post a few choices in a couple of days and we all can come up with the best way to spend my money /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird · Aug 7, 2002

Rob, I'm like you with the brake controller you have. I'd have to replace it. But you say you don't want a pendulum unit because you bounce around off road? With the trailer? Without the trailer, it won't make any difference anyway, and I didn't pull my trailers "off road" that much, but the Tekonsha I had worked great all over the USA and Canada, including two trips to Alaska and rough roads were never a problem.

MossRoad · Aug 7, 2002

Tekonsha

That's the maker of one of the units that I have bookmarked at home.

MossRoad · Aug 7, 2002

Bird,

you say you don't want a pendulum unit because you bounce around off road? With the trailer? 

You have to realize something... Rob and I live near Mishawaka/South Bend, Indiana... All of our finest public roads have been converted to torture tracks for the Hummer and H2 that are built here. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

They are a mess!

RobS · Aug 7, 2002

Yeah Bird, all of the current brake controllers are some sort of compromise. I'm now thinking that the pendulum units are a better compromise than the electronic ones. The ideal unit would tap right into the brake line for a pressure signal and proportion the braking current from that. I suppose liability prevents those units from being produced. The string pot on the pedal seems the next best thing but they are quite pricey (and why can't I remember the name of that rig?). For now, I'll suffer along with what I have. It does work, just not the best /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RobS · Aug 7, 2002

All of our finest public roads have been converted to torture tracks for the Hummer and H2 

Either that or shut down altogether! I rode my bike to work this morning only to find a new road closure. A couple of miles detour isn't too bad in a car, but on my bike, running a bit late anyway... well you get the picture /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif