mdricken

Do you guys use trailer brakes to haul your rides? I have a F250 (3/4 ton) and an open trailer. I got the F250 with the thought in mind that it should already have beefier brakes so I won't need any on the trailer. What do you all think??

likeenz24

iTrader: (2)

I dont own one myself, but all of the car trailor here at work have them. I think its a good idea, especially when hauling some as heavy as a car.

1bad406

iTrader: (1)

I have an F-150 and I didnt use trailer brakes with my open trailer and it stopped fine aslong as I gave plenty of room to slow down. But I definatly have to have brakes on my 22ft enclosed trailer.

likeenz24

iTrader: (2)

Im sure his F250 would stop fine also without them, but for safety reasons its a good idea to have them. If someone pulled out in front of you you would be screwed, or they would be..LOL....We all have pulled stuff without trailor brakes, but if given the choice I would perfer to have them.

Blackroc86

I use a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller and really like it. Takes a lot of stress off the truck brakes and brakes much quicker and safer imho.

mdricken

Yeah I should probably hook them up. I actually have them on the trailer but don't want to go through the hassle of hooking them up, running wires, etc.

I hauled a friend's Lincoln town car a few weeks ago and honestly it was a little scary. The brakes began to fade after a lot of 45mph stops thru the city. But then agian a Lincoln weights probably 1000lbs more than a 3rd gen.

How do you hook up the brake controller? Run a main line from the battery and then it triggers on the brake light signal? Is there a makeshift way of doing it w/o a controller?

Blackroc86

This page Tekonsha has some installation instructions as well as faq's on brake controllers. Your truck may have provisions to attach a brake controller easily if it is new enough. The trailer should have the brake wiring already plumbed into your 6 or 7 pole plug.

Deimos140

How old is the truck. I thought trailer brakes came standard on the new ford trucks, I could be wrong. Its alot better let me tell you.

itsjustabird

iTrader: (1)

I have a 04 f-350 it was a easy install. The 05 is when the brake controller was integrated into the dash from the factory. In my opinion if you have them use them much safer and alot less stress on your brakes.

mdricken

It is a 1978 truck so I will have to run wires.

1bad406

iTrader: (1)

If you have an F-250, im pretty sure it has the tow package. Most do. Look under your dash on the driver side and you'll see a little black plug over towards the middle. You plug your brake controller into it and mount it somewhere close so you won't kick it or knock it around. You'll then have to wire up the plug on the trailer for your plug on the rear of the truck. The brake controller will have a diagram in it explained what each color wire does for your model truck. It's probably the same as my F-150, so its not hard to wire up.

ah just saw where you said its a 78. I would try to find a kit to do it with. The brake controller just picks up off your tail light circuit, then sends the signals to your trailer. You can't just tie it in. You'll need the relays and stuff for it.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq/brakecontrol.asp has a generic diagram

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

In '04 a co-worker offered his 30' motorhome for the trip to Pomona (as long as he could go along). He had been using it to haul a horse trailer and didn't have trailer brakes hooked up. The open trailer & '57 weighed a little more than his horsetrailer loaded, and the trailer we were borrowing had brakes, so I suggested we get them hooked up on his motorhome.

His first comment as we drove off with everything set was, "Wow, this is great! I'm definately going to use the brakes on the horse trailer after this."

Regardless of how good your truck brakes are, or how well they work, you are much better off with working trailer brakes.

flrtin1

In Illinois you have to have brakes on at least one axle of a tandom axle trailer.....its also a good idea so when you slam on your vehicle brakes your 5000 lb trailer doesn't decide to switch places with you. I would make sure Iowa doesn't have the same law to begin with.

KWIK84

iTrader: (5)

I did not know about Illinois brake law. I will be putting a controller in my half ton chevy any way though. Bought a 20ft open trailer last week, and with the car loaded it can be a little touchy to bring to a stop. It can be done though, but there will be a lot less wear and tear on your trucks brakes if you have them.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

definately worthwhile to have working trailer brakes. i have a controller in my 88 3/4 ton truck with the TH400 trans and in our 2005 8.1L suburban with the 4L80E, sure beats driving my old 91 1/2 ton suburban with no trailer brakes any day of the week. stopping is less of a white knuckle on the steering wheel of an experience.

flrtin1

[QUOTE=KWIK84]I did not know about Illinois brake law.[QUOTE]

Here is the link and the quote.... KWIK I know of a state cop (real jackass) that sits out on 74 where 474 and route 6 start and if he sees you have a show/race car on a trailer he will pull you over for sure and check your brakes on the trailer.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs...ehicle+Code%2E



4. Except as provided in paragraph 4.1, every
trailer or semitrailer of a gross weight of over 3,000 pounds, when operated upon a highway must be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of, to stop and to hold such vehicle, and designed so as to be operable by the driver of the towing vehicle from its cab. Such brakes must be so designed and connected that in case of an accidental breakaway of a towed vehicle over 5,000 pounds, the brakes are automatically applied.

4.1. Every boat trailer of a gross weight of over
3,000 pounds, when operated upon a highway, must be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of, to stop, and to hold that boat trailer. The brakes must be designed to ensure that, in case of an accidental breakaway of a towed boat trailer over 5,000 pounds, the brakes are automatically applied.

5. Every motor vehicle, trailer, pole trailer or
semitrailer, sold in this State or operated upon the highways shall be equipped with service brakes upon all wheels of every such vehicle, except any motor‑driven cycle, and except that any trailer, pole trailer or semitrailer 3,000 pounds gross weight or less need not be equipped with brakes, and except that any trailer or semitrailer with gross weight over 3,000 pounds but under 5,001 pounds need be equipped with brakes on only one wheel on each side of the vehicle. Any motor vehicle and truck tractor having 3 or more axles and manufactured prior to July 25, 1980 need not have brakes on the front wheels, except when such vehicles are equipped with at least 2 steerable axles, the wheels of one such axle need not be equipped with brakes. However, a vehicle that is more than 30 years of age and which is driven on the highways only in going to and returning from an antique auto show or for servicing or for a demonstration need be equipped with 2 wheel brakes only.

AlkyIROC

My 454SS 1/2 ton has the heavy duty brake package. My 16' open trailer has electric brakes on both axles. The new electronic brake controllers are far superior to the old hydraulic systems. Once you get the controller set up properly, you won't even notice the trailer behind you when you're slowing down.

2 settings on the controller that control the electric brakes. How quick they come on and how hard they come on. It doesn't take long to find the proper settings.

The law varies depending where you are on if you need trailer brakes or not but you're crazy not to have or use them. Like mentioned above, it normally depends on total weight. Load a car onto a tandom axle trailer and you're over the minimum weight requirement.

urbanhunter44

iTrader: (3)

There's a huge difference! Even if you've got good brakes on your truck, good brakes on the trailer make a huge difference.

IHI

iTrader: (1)

IL. SUCKS to tow through....got zapped bringing my dump truck back from IN. for going over 55mph Least super trooper was nice enough to give us a warning and advise: "I'm not telling you to speed, but if you get in with a trucker they always know where we're sitting"

Trailers Brakes: if your not using them your putting EVERYBODY on the road at risk. The newer trucks and bigger brakes they have work great without a controller, but it's still in your best intrest to have them...

You dont need realys, just a fuse/circuit breaker for your Hot/Batt wire into the controller. Tap the brake switch wire for the brake feed, your ground and then run the other wire back to your 6/7 plug. You'll have maybe an hour wrapped up in it and it could save your life or those on the road around you.

rjmcgee

That right there should be enough that you don't even need to ask.

mdricken

Ok next question...

I was going to hook up my brakes but found out they are completely rusted out. There is no way to salvage them. So now I am going to have to get a nex axle with electric brakes on it. What do you guys suggest for braking power? Is 3500lbs of braking power enough? Or more?

I think the combined weight of the trailer and car should be about 3500-4000 lbs. It is a dual axle (tandem) trailer. Thanks guys

IHI

iTrader: (1)

Even having 1 set of electric brakes is a HUGE improvement, most common on 3500lb axels are 10"x2" brakes.

No need to replace entire axle just for brakes (so long as the axle/spindles are still in good shape) go to Mututal Wheel, Midwest Wheel, or any trailer store and order the complete backing plate only. Then it's just a matter of removign 4 nuts clipping 2 wires and removing the whole shebang and reversing order. The price of shoes alone are typically over half of what a completely new backing plate set up run and now you know everything is in working order sicne the magnets like to crap out more than anything.

ross

I have towed my open trailer both ways with a 3/4 ton diesel. Hands down use the brakes. Try Southwest Wheel Company
Thay have good deals on the controllers and complete brakes for your tailer.

mdricken

Ok got all new brakes installed and wired up...

What kind of brake controllers do you guys recommend? I've heard there are 3 kinds - timed, inertial, and the kind that tie into your vehicle's hydraulic system.

Timed ones seem the cheapest, but are they a PITA? How do the intertial ones work?

Thanks

Blackroc86

I mentioned earlier in the thread I have a Tekonsha Prodigy control and I really like it.

AlkyIROC

The old hydraulic ones are obsolete. I don't even know if you can still buy them. Mine is a timed system and after installing and rewiring a few of the new inertia ones, I'd love to put one of those in my truck. They're so much simpler and have a few more features.

The last one I installed even had a reverse feature. You could turn on a reverse feature so that the trailer brakes are deactivated for 2 minutes allowing you enough time to back into somewhere without having the trailer brakes come on as you're riding the brakes to keep your speed down.

The enertia ones, at least the ones I've worked on, have 3 power settings based on the weight you're towing plus a power control. It senses the enertia of stopping and provides just enough power to help slow you down. Once stopped, there's only minimal power going to the brakes to hold you.

ross

I have the prodigy model also works great.

84406

I just installed a Tekonsha Prodigy in my tow truck. It is super. I replaced an older inertial unit and the difference is like night and day.

fb305svs

prodigy controller here, brakes on both axels... for more that a 2000lb load, i wouldn't trust my trucks brakes with my life - andmy truck has GREAT brakes...

if your gonna tow your car, you need trailor brakes, period... it's wayyyy too much of a safty hazard for yourself... especially when you rear end a car and they find no trailor brakes! (it is a law in most states to have trailorbrakes if the trailor is rated to carry over a certain amount)

mdricken

I got the trailer brakes all hooked up last night, controller and all. Man it makes driving it so much easier. Totally worth it. I ended up buying the Tekonsha Voyager. It has just one LED on it to indicate the brake force. It is an inertiall type controller; not bad for $80.

Now off to Cedar Falls for some test n tuning...



PS I did check out the Iowa laws... you don't neeed trailer brakes until you hit the 3000lbs. mark. And at 5000lbs you need a functional brake away system.

fb305svs

ct is a bit more strict than that - any dual axel trailor requieres them...

also, all trailors are now supposed to have a brake-away setup on them... mine doesn't - and i'm not about to put one on... i use chains and lock the ball hitch when it's hooked up... it's not poppin off!

glad you got it wired up though - trailor brakes help a lot