Electric Trailer Brakes

Submitted: Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 19:30
ThreadID: 14100 Views:1880 Replies:11 FollowUps:9
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Hi Everyone,

Can someone give me some advice on electric trailer brakes please. I am going to buy an off road camper trailer shortly and would like to know at what weight should electric brakes be fitted. We will probably end up with something that weighs in around 550 to 600 kg plus we will have our own gear to add to that. If there is a certain weight you should have them for is it a regulation or a more common sense type decision. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I get the feeling that at this weight range I should fit them.

Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Roachie- Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 19:54

Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 19:54
Brian
AFAIK the "cut-off" is 750kg; but like most things, it probably varies from state to state.
IMHO you should probably opt for the leccy brakes anyway, just to be safe.

Good luck
AnswerID: 64927

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:12

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:12
Roachie,

Thanks for the info. I will go the brakes I think.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 326083

Reply By: andyg - Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 20:18

Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 20:18
Just took our 8x4 trailer to the tip today afew lumps of concrete and some timber not much wasnt even higher than the sides still plenty of movement left in the springs accelerated ok went round corners like it was on rails but hit the brakes a diffrent story !
Bugger the expense if you are going to do alot of touring think off your own safety and fit the brakes.
AnswerID: 64936

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:13

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:13
Hi,

Yes it's amazing when you go to slow up how the trailer just wants to keep pushing you forward. I will be going for the brakes.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 326085

Reply By: Andrew - Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 21:16

Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 21:16
Your vehicle manual should tell you what is the maximum weight of trailer you can pull without trailer brakes fitted.
Most larger 4WD are limited to 750kg but some smaller 4WD may be limited to 500kg or less.
Have a look in one of the 4WD magazines at the back in Vehicle Price Section .
AnswerID: 64953

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:14

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:14
Andrew,

Thanks for the info. I will follow it up.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 326086

Reply By: Willem - Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 21:18

Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 21:18
Up to 750kg GVM you do not need to fit brakes on a trailer throughout Australia

My old 6x4 has carried 1500kgs regularly carting sand, rocks etc. Illegal yes but I live in the country and as long as your trailer is registered there is a certain amount of flexibility...or I have been lucky.......no traffic police out here anyway.
AnswerID: 64954

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:15

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:15
Hey Willem,

I think I will go for the brakes and be done with it.

Have a good one.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 326087

Reply By: Rosco - Bris. - Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 21:20

Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 21:20
Brian

I'm fairly confident you'll find the regs across the board state trailers exceeding 750 kg ... all up loaded, require brakes.

That aside, do yourself a favour and go that way regardless. If you really have to stop in an emergency, every braked wheel helps.

Our CT has a tare mass of 440 kg and I wouldn't be without them.

Cheers
AnswerID: 64955

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:16

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:16
Hi Rosco,

Yes brakes seem to be the way to go.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 326088

Reply By: ray91 - Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 22:21

Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 22:21
Also makes a difference is what car is pulling the trailer , A small light car , suzuki or a bigger heavy one , patrol .I tow a camper trailer and have had the brakes fitted , made a BIG difference to stopping
AnswerID: 64971

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:17

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:17
Hi,

I tow with a 2000 Frontera with a 3.2 litre petrol V6 but taking all the advice on board I will go for the brakes.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 326090

Reply By: MartyB - Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 22:23

Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 22:23
Brain,
Another alternative would be override brakes. Definately cheaper than electric.
Basically the heavier the trailer is, the harder it pushes the brakes on.
I have an 8x5 trailer with these brakes. I can carry approx 1300kg in this trailer & if I jump on the barkes it pulls up no problem, you can feel the trailer pulling up the vehicle. Only problem is when backing when the trailer is loaded, tends to push the barkes on. There is a lever to disable the brakes when backing.

from Marty.
AnswerID: 64972

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:18

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:18
Hi,

Thanks for the second option. All things being equal I think I will install the electric brakes.

Regards
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FollowupID: 326091

Reply By: Shaker - Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 22:55

Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 at 22:55
I see you are from Queensland, not sure of the regs there, but if you tow the trailer in Victoria you must have brakes fitted it the ATM (aggregate trailer mass) exceeds 750 kg. ATM is the sum of the tare weight plus the max permitted payload.
IMHO don't fit over-ride brakes to an offroad trailer, with electric brakes you retain control over when & how the brakes react.
AnswerID: 64978

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:22

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:22
Hey Shaker,

Yes the electric brakes seem the way to go.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 326093

Reply By: The Banjo - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 09:47

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 09:47
Yep.....fit brakes as an investment in safety .... over-ride are ok - I had them on a camper, while electric are supposed to be great (sophisticated adjustment and proportional response too for varying circumstances) ...I've just fitted electric brake control to the Jack - all I need now is the new camper to go with it !
AnswerID: 65012

Follow Up By: Member - Brian B (QLD) - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:23

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 20:23
Hi,

I will go for the electrics and be done with it I think.

Cheers
0
FollowupID: 326094

Reply By: Member - PatC - Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 23:02

Friday, Jun 25, 2004 at 23:02
In QLD brakes are required on trailers over 750kg. My camper weighs in at 650kg full loaded but I fitted them anyway. Got all the bits I needed from Vehicle Components in Brisbane. They have a website.
Vehicle Components
Found them to be very, very helpful. Can't remember exactly how much but it was around $400.00 for the hubs, backing plates, brake assemblies and controller.
AnswerID: 65160

Reply By: -OzyGuy- - Saturday, Jun 26, 2004 at 20:55

Saturday, Jun 26, 2004 at 20:55
Brian,
have a good look at the Electronic braking system made by 'Hayes Wheels' in USA,
available here in selected stores.
They have a 5 year warranty and with them you can still brake while reversing.
They have the usual brake pedal controll and also can also be controlled by hand so you can use the trailer brakes to keep you steady on windy dirt tracks while going down hill, also fitted with load weight controll settings as close as your dash.

They work a treat, I have had them fitted to my camper for 7 years and no hassles and have been down some dirt tracks that were scarey.
AnswerID: 65257

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