Trailer Brakes

I learned alot from the thread on balancing a trailer. Now would like to hear some opinions on which type of brake system is better on a 16' or 18' tandem #7000 trailer. Electric or surge ? Thanks, Zig

ELECTRIC ALL THE WAY!

Let me ask you a question,please. If you had a heavey load on your trailer, started up a hill,slick,gravel,snow ect. you stop on that hill,start rolling backward, what type brakes would want? Jim!

If you have surge brakes and you get in an icy situation, you have NO TRAILER BRAKES!!! I bought my trailer with electric. I like the way you can easily adjust them to your load too!!!

Electric all the way!!!.....I have electric brakes on 4 of my trailers and surge brakes on my Wood Mizer portable sawmill. The surge brakes work well,but you get a whiplash every time they come on....feels like it's going to rip the ball off each time you apply the brakes. It's also hard to adjust them to your vehicle and get comfortable braking too...as someone already said....you have no trailer brakes while trying to back down a hill.....And just try to back that baby through the mud!!!...The brakes are applied whenever there is a force between the tow vehicle and the trailer, pushing them together. There's only one reason that I can think of why someone would prefer surge...and that's so that anyone can pull your trailer...and they don't need an electric trailer braking system on their vehicle. It's ELECTRIC ALL THE WAY!!!!

Just my 1.5 cents...Mark Congden

Were it only possible, I'd like a combination of both. There is nothing equivilent to the ability to spike a set of electric or air brakes on a trailer to straighten out a righ that is going into a skid. That said, hydraulics are far more convenient, and a hell of a lot less repairs. Then again, I'm in NY, the state that corrodes wiring inside plastic insulation. Hydraulic couplers also have a neat little problem with accumulating water because the plastic bag over the hitch blew off, and rain or snow got into the master resorvoir. When you need to back a trailer up a hill, you better hope that damn locking pin for the coupler is still in the glove box, and if it ain't, nobody borrowed your spare from your toolbox. Electric brakes have NO holding/stopping power going backwards, but that isn't often a problem. The majority of my trailers are electric, but I have 2 with hydraulic setups for towing behind the S-10 Blazer. The biggest thing about trailers is setting them up for the vehicle that will be pulling them, and knowing what you are towing. The frightening rigs on the zip strip are the 20+ foot travel trailers towed by some guy in a 1/2 ton pickup. I usally let them pass me and watch the entertainment when all the equalizer hitch stuff and sway bar doesn't keep things straight.

You might be surprised to find out that surge brakes are ilegal in many states for 7000 lb trailer. We just ordered a 7000 lb trailer for our club and wanted surge brakes so anyone could pull it without a electric brake controler. This was a Illinois dealer. He told us surge brakes are ilegal in Il., Indiana and many other states. Just going thru a state can get you a ticket even though your state allows it. Check it out.We got electric brakes on that trailer and we will get extra controllers. Also surge brakes would have cost more if we could have had them.

I have had both. my favorite is a 7000 lb dual axle with electric brakes on both axles. The new electronic controls are wonderful. The faster you stop the more current delivered. They have a pendulum in them to achieve this. The brakes can be set for the load before you get out of the driveway. Read the operation instructions and you will be impressed with them. Al

Electric all the way. Surge brakes a also illegal in Minnesota, and they will pull trailers over the 3000 lb limit into scales and check for electric bakes on all axels. Also in Mn. you must have a working break-away switch hooked up and working. The newest controllers now are all electronic with LED readout. and they are fantastic. Set them in your drive way or under way. Incidently got pulled into a scale last season, they activated the brakes with the controller manually, then pulled the breakaway and checked that. everything worked and the cop said nice engines, and have a nice day. Cheers Paul

Go to www.brakecontoller.com. They list several controllers for electric brakes. From the discussion on the stationary engine list, the most expensive one does it all. Ron Matson had excellent brake comments too.

Electric disc brakes work in reverse. Some major order houses have them. I have brake away switches my self,not trying to sell them,they are required in most states for 2000 lbs loaded or not. I should have them at some of the shows, if ya need them. Controllers needed when the trailer is not loaded,without them lockup,lots of lookers ect. The point that I make is if you get pulled over and you have to put any of the above on, guess what rate you will pay at a roadside stop,with a service call by a mech. before you can go on your way.

Jim!

I have an excellent dual axle with a surge brake on the fwd axle. Purchased new in 1968 from U-Haul. Always parked in the shed and the system has been overhauled twice and works fine. The breakaway system will firmly lock the brakes up. Does my interputation of the above messages mean that I am not allowed in certian states? The majority of engine meet trailers that I see are slick tired, no brakes, sad shape and overloaded. Easy on me now. George in NC.

Surge brakes are not legal in some state, there is talk of outlawing in others. There is nothing wrong with them,in my opinion.Just the hill situation. Tires on a trailer,a whole new ballgame. Do not use auto tire,radials on a trailer if at all poss.Bias trailer tires,with a high ply are a life saver. When a low ply radial car tire go flat, balls up,on wheel,catches fender,bends axle. ect. But,the one thing that trows me more than any other is the guy who puts a 14.5 moble home tire on,can not find a 14.5 so he puts on a 14. Goes down the road a squrming and a turning, lost as last years easter egg. im

Thanks, everyone for all your comments. Sounds like electric is the way to go. Thanks again, Zig