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Trailer Brakes

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:19 pm
by me3@neuralfibre.com
If anyone here has a large trailer with electric brakes on all four wheels, I need some advice.

Mine is wired to the brake lights - and doens't blow fuses amazingly. The controller is simply a knob on the trailer that says how hard they come on. No variable rate, you just set it.

I have 2 issues

1. As the brakes warm up they work better. Average when cold means locked up tyres when hot. Anyone know of more linear linings?

2. It's not progressive. Set it to reasonable means it's not grabbing for grim death when you really need it.

BUT - I dont want it to be for just one car with an in car controller. Does anyonw have a system that works really well.

The trailer is currently plated at 2000KB but I want to get that upgraded to 3500KG, it's built strong enough. 4 Wheel brakes and 1000KG empty.

Thanx
Paul

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:50 pm
by STIKA
I know this dosent answer you question. From my experience i would have thought am not sure about the trailer mounted one .

I have to continualy adjust my in car controler, this is dependant on the load ie trailer loaded or empty and as the brakes wear.

The other thing i have found with the the in-car controller, is it allows you to control is the bias of the braking which is handy comming down steep long hills ie.cunninghams Gap and the Toowoomba range


Why dont you want to build it for just one car?

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:18 pm
by me3@neuralfibre.com
Own ot 50/50 with a mate. Tow it behind 2 different cars each, plus it gets borrowed by family fairly regularly - another 3 or 4 cars.

That's a lot of controllers and re-wiring.

Paul

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:41 pm
by its aford not a nissan
only thing i can think of is to change it to hydrolic brakes

this would be much better than electric esp. if you have to pull up quick

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:34 pm
by STIKA
i regularly tow 3.5t with electrix and the brake will/can hold the tow vehicle as well going down hill as mentioned before.

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:21 pm
by WRXZook
As said above, the in-car controller is good when taking out a little sway, adjusting for wet roads, long downhills etc. Not much work in wiring up each vehicle to plug the controller in and you have fingertip control in the vehicle.

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:07 pm
by -Scott-
What's the weight limit where "break-away" systems become mandatory? I thought they'd dropped it to 2000kg for new trailers? :?

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:22 am
by me3@neuralfibre.com
Has to be 4 wheel electric if over 2000KG. Override hydraulic is only up to 2000KG. Electric over Hydraulic is fine, but very expensive. break away required if over 2000KG. Generally just a small gel cell and a switch. Doesn't have to charge from car or anything.

Trailer isn't exactly new - putting a new deck in it at the moment, but trying to get it higher specced. I know it's had 3.5+ ton on it (plus it's own 1ton weight) and didn't even sag the springs. (I shouldn't mention the navara with 1500kg bar that towed that 4.8ton for 300km, no I wasn't driving)

Paul

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:02 am
by STIKA
i would go and talk to the people you are going to get a road worth from


for mine they were realy picky on lights and draw bar and draw bar welding

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:03 pm
by Willy Hilux
I got mine Roadworthy at a Place that makes Trailers at Brendale on Kremzow Rd. They just had a quick look over it. No Probs. :armsup: