Will my truck work?

[fractal]

I suppose you are all right. Trailer brakes must have improved a LOT since I heard the rule "make sure your tow vehicle weighs twice what you tow" rule. Semi's rely on trailer brakes, why should't we. I suppose the adjustment of trailer brakes has improved since the last time I saw someone spend the afternoon in the parking lot getting them "just right" tweaking the settings on the control box under the dash in the cab before heading up state with his trailer. This too was over 20 yrs ago when trailer brakes would pull the hitch off your vehicle if set too aggressive and push you into a ditch if not set aggressive enough and had to be manually adjusted as you changed the load in the trailer. I am not easy to scare but the though of being pushed over one of the many cliff we have around here by what I am towing not wanting to stop is not an easy though to get rid of.

There is something to be said about modern laws requiring electric brakes on trailers these days. They have to be better than the ones I remember seeing.

Modern vehicles have MORE than enough power to pull, and the ratings on vehicles is how much they can PULL. Myself, I am more concerned with how much they can STOP than how much they can PULL, and the sticker in the door only tells you how much they can PULL.

We have foothills around these parts of coastal california, not the mountains some of you folk have. From what I hear you guys say, I would be better off spending my money on putting brakes on both axles of a tractor pulling trailer rather than getting a bigger tow vehicle. I will take that into consideration as well as modify my suggestion to the original author of this thread appropriately.

 

[Egon]

Fractual:

It is my impression that braking ability of the tow vehicle is taken into account for rating the vehicles towing capacity.

Egon

 

[RanchMan]

fractal -

<font color=blue>had to be manually adjusted as you changed the load in the trailer</font color=blue>

The control box I use does require manual adjustment depending on load - but adjustment is something I generally get "fixed" on my way out and I'm generally done with just a pedal push or two before I hit the end of the block. Generally I never have to spend more than about 30 seconds on adjustment now, although I probably spent about 20 minutes "figurin' stuff out" the first time I set everything up (e.g. learning curve).

During a long trip, I do have to "tweak" the adjustments every so often based on different road conditions (i.e. rain, ice, gravel, etc.) but not that big an issue for me. I only spent about $40 for my box - so there may be a lot more advanced versions out there that eliminate this "setup."

<font color=blue>I am not easy to scare but the though of being pushed over one of the many cliff we have around here by what I am towing not wanting to stop is not an easy thought to get rid of.</font color=blue>

I hear ya! That is an unfun thing to think about. Of course, if someone drives like an idiot, they're bound to have an "issue" but it sounds like you don't fall in to that category.

<font color=blue>I would be better off spending my money on putting brakes on both axles of a tractor pulling trailer rather than getting a bigger tow vehicle</font color=blue>

If you're in to DIY, for about $200 you can upgrade your existing axle to a "brake" axle. Here's a link to some parts, of course, you may be able to find them somewhere else cheaper, but at least this gives you an idea of what's out there.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/NTE_LLSEARCH.d2w/report?PHOTOS=on&prlngth=12497.0000>http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/NTE_LLSEARCH.d2w/report?PHOTOS=on&prlngth=12497.0000</A>

 

[hosejockey2002]

I have one of those Tekonsha brake controllers with the green light and a gain adjustment control. With the trailer empty, I adjust it to have almost no braking to avoid locking wheels on the trailer. With my tractor on I apply the brake pedal and turn up the gain until the light just starts to turn red. That usually ends up being just about right- I can stop quickly and smoothly.