Trailer Brakes - Good or bad?

[Venturous]

For many years, I have pulled a Bushtec cargo trailer. It has never had the option for trailer brakes nor have I ever thought I needed them.

 

However, I recently acquired a tent trailer by Time-Out. It is a heavier trailer and trailer brakes are an option I can add.

 

I have read some folks feel having trailer brakes actually makes towing more dangerous with a motorcycle. The reasoning is that if the braking force applied to the two trailer wheels differ.... it will cause the trailer to want to twist to one direction putting sideways force on the tongue.

 

What are your options and experiences with trailer brakes?

 

Second question is how much work would there be to integrate them into a Venture.

[IronMike]

I read somewhere there was a recall on trailer brakes on motorcycle trailers. I think it was something electrical making people crash, I did read in a GW forum that they determined its not a good idea. I would think Both the bike and trailer would have to have a ABS system that worked together.

[CaptainJoe]

Jeff, was looking at installing 7" electric brakes on his trailer.

 

I also want to put them on mine.

 

There should be a controller that limits how much they brake.

 

Of course I'm pulling 450 lbs. in my bunkhouse...

 

Don't know that it would be necessary in a Bushtec as you would be unlikely to haul half that much?

[Venturous]

I will be selling the Bushtec. I now have a Time-Out tent trailer that loaded weighs about what you are pulling.

[djh3]

I almost think the "surge brakes" would be good on a trailer for a bike. As the weight comes forward, the coupler slides and applies the brakes.

[Flyinfool]

Well here is my worth.

 

I am still looking at it. It is a matter of getting time, ambition, and money to all become available at the same time.

 

My trailer for behind the MC is the first trailer I have ever owned that did not have electric brakes. I have never had an issue with the electric brakes in over 30 years of using them. On my RV the brakes were not working when I bought it so I towed it home with no trailer brakes. That was not fun. I do maintain my equipment. Improperly maintained brakes on anything are a hazard.

 

The controller that I was looking at has a wireless remote control so that I can put the controller on the trailer in a waterproof box, and still be able to control its functions while riding. Not completely sure yet, But I think I can even keep my current flat 4 electrical to the trailer. So there will be no changes at all to the bike. The trailer brakes will then work on any vehicle that the trailer is connected to.

 

My main reason to be looking into the trailer brakes is that being in Milwaukee, anytime I head east or south it involves Chicago unless I am will to go 50+ miles out of my way. People can tell me all they want about how you just have to allow for the increased stopping distance. There is no one that will disagree that your stopping distance will be increased with a trailer. But all the caution in the world will not help when you need to make that emergency stop and the trailer just keeps pushing you into the wreck. I am not happy with the amount of space that it takes to stop my 300 lb trailer when I need to stop fast.

 

I have read everything I can find on many different sites and have found a common theme. Most of those that have trailer brakes love them, most of those that say they are bad and would never consider using them have never tried them but did hear somewhere that some one had heard from someone somewhere who had read on the internet that they are bad so it must be true.

 

I am undecided until I try them out. If I do not like the brakes, I will always have the original axle I can put back on or also simply disconnect the brakes.

 

It will probably cost me around $300-$400 by the time I have the brakes, controller and everything else needed to make it work correctly. I will be getting my setup from R&P Carriage in Illinois. Since I have the HF trailer and it is all metric I will be building a complete new axle to get the standard 1.000 bearings and seals that are available everywhere. This new axle will then let me put on standard off the shelf 7 inch electric drum brakes, again repair and maintenance parts are readily available. R&P carries everything I need to do this and has decent prices and some expertise. I will bring the trailer down there so they can help design the new axle.

 

OK so maybe this was more than worth.

[VentureYZ]

I have mechanical cable operated surge brakes on mine and really like the setup. The problem I see with electric brakes is what happens when the solinoid falls and holds the brakes on at 65 mph. I could see a disaster here. Just my two cents.

[Flyinfool]

I have mechanical cable operated surge brakes on mine and really like the setup. The problem I see with electric brakes is what happens when the solinoid falls and holds the brakes on at 65 mph. I could see a disaster here. Just my two cents.

 

I have never seen a cable operated surge brake setup.

Now what if one of your brake cables breaks while on a downhill off ramp with cross traffic at the bottom? you will now have braking on just one side. Or one of those brake cables sticks in the sleeve and does not release when the other side does?

 

I can make a "what if" that would be bad for ANY trailer break system out there, including no trailer brakes. Each person has to asses their comfort with the risks of whichever system they choose. There is NO risk free way to ride a motorcycle, and even fewer risk free ways to pull a trailer with one. But it is fun so we take the risk and do it anyhow.

 

It would take multiple failures for the locked electric brake scenario to happen. There is not a solenoid or a relay that is sending power to the brakes, it is solid state. While it is possible for a semiconductor to fail shorted, it is incredibly rare. First semiconductors to not fail real often in the first place, and when they do, they almost always fail open, meaning that you would simply lose the trailer brakes. It has to make an electrical connection to activate the brakes.

If the brakes locked up at 65 MPH you will have no problem pulling to the side of the road with the trailer wheels doing the braking. It happens to semis all the time when the airline to the trailer brakes fails. You see the skid marks of where they pulled off the road. In our case you would just disconnect the lead to the brakes and be on your way with no trailer brakes. Yes it will add some pucker factor to your day. But it should not cause a crash.

[M61A1MECH]

Ventorous ,

You can go here http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTrailertowing and poke around, I am pretty sure I saw a thread on trailer brakes on there a time or two.

[dacheedah]

I actually purchased some trailer breaks from a wing guy years ago and never got around to installing them. He took them off a trailer that he installed surge breaks on. When I talked to him he said that he didn't have a controller and wasn't putting one on his bike.

 

That said I think breaks are a good idea but they must be properly adjusted. A locked wheel provides less resistance than one that is at thresh hold breaking ( just short of a locked wheel) . The wheel that goes to full lock = a loss of control (a locked wheel won't steer). It is another thing to maintain but it will definitely shorten the stopping distance. Not all controllers are of the same quality, breaks are a place I would not do on the cheap.

[CaptainJoe]

Well here is my worth.

 

I am still looking at it. It is a matter of getting time, ambition, and money to all become available at the same time.

 

My trailer for behind the MC is the first trailer I have ever owned that did not have electric brakes. I have never had an issue with the electric brakes in over 30 years of using them. On my RV the brakes were not working when I bought it so I towed it home with no trailer brakes. That was not fun. I do maintain my equipment. Improperly maintained brakes on anything are a hazard.

 

The controller that I was looking at has a wireless remote control so that I can put the controller on the trailer in a waterproof box, and still be able to control its functions while riding. Not completely sure yet, But I think I can even keep my current flat 4 electrical to the trailer. So there will be no changes at all to the bike. The trailer brakes will then work on any vehicle that the trailer is connected to.

 

My main reason to be looking into the trailer brakes is that being in Milwaukee, anytime I head east or south it involves Chicago unless I am will to go 50+ miles out of my way. People can tell me all they want about how you just have to allow for the increased stopping distance. There is no one that will disagree that your stopping distance will be increased with a trailer. But all the caution in the world will not help when you need to make that emergency stop and the trailer just keeps pushing you into the wreck. I am not happy with the amount of space that it takes to stop my 300 lb trailer when I need to stop fast.

I have read everything I can find on many different sites and have found a common theme. Most of those that have trailer brakes love them, most of those that say they are bad and would never consider using them have never tried them but did hear somewhere that some one had heard from someone somewhere who had read on the internet that they are bad so it must be true.

 

I am undecided until I try them out. If I do not like the brakes, I will always have the original axle I can put back on or also simply disconnect the brakes.

 

It will probably cost me around $300-$400 by the time I have the brakes, controller and everything else needed to make it work correctly. I will be getting my setup from R&P Carriage in Illinois. Since I have the HF trailer and it is all metric I will be building a complete new axle to get the standard 1.000 bearings and seals that are available everywhere. This new axle will then let me put on standard off the shelf 7 inch electric drum brakes, again repair and maintenance parts are readily available. R&P carries everything I need to do this and has decent prices and some expertise. I will bring the trailer down there so they can help design the new axle.

 

OK so maybe this was more than worth.

 

Jeff,

That's exactly why I want them on the bunkhouse.

 

Have found if you are in a congested area and leave a gap, the cars will pull into it.

 

There's no way to leave a space in front of you, short of mounting fifty caliber machine guns on the front of your bike...and that reminds me of Rat Patrol....LOL

[Flyinfool]

Jeff,

That's exactly why I want them on the bunkhouse.

 

Have found if you are in a congested area and leave a gap, the cars will pull into it.

 

There's no way to leave a space in front of you, short of mounting fifty caliber machine guns on the front of your bike...and that reminds me of Rat Patrol....LOL

 

Now there is a thought........