by MickinOz » Mon Jan 24, 2022 1:02 pm
I've had "surge brakes", we call them over-run brakes on my boat trailer for years.
Currently, if I decided to put brakes on 'Ol #1, I'd be able to get a full kit of disc brakes delivered to my house for A$350.
That'd be US$249 for the whole kit and kaboodle.
That'd be override coupling (actuator) with handbrake, mounting plate, cable, weld on caliper brackets, cable operate calipers, 10 inch discs, new wheel bearings, bolts and other hardware. All galvanised for marine work. Or, I can buy a hydraulic 9" drum brake kit for even less money. A$307
If you prefer not to break out the welder, a cable operated drum brake kit, complete with axle with all brackets already welded on, springs, u-bolts, everything needed to take out your old axle and bolt in the braked one is A$515.
Hydraulic kits can be had for less than $150 extra.
And they work well, as Rob says the harder you brake the car, the harder the trailer brakes work. And they work no matter what tow vehicle you hook up to.
My boat trailer will stop the car if I try to reverse up hill without the little latch flicked over. It's no biggie - the only place I need it is reversing into my driveway.
So, over here, I would not even think about electric brakes. Why bother? You either faff around putting the controller in the trailer and sorting out an independent supply for the electricity. or you have to wire up a controller in every vehicle you want to tow with.
The electric trailer brake kits aren't any more expensive, but the controllers (separate purchase) add considerable cost to that. In more modern vehicles its advisable to get them fitted by an auto electrician.
So I don't really understand a couple of things about the US.
1) If the OP's explorations are anything to go by, over-ride braking stuff isn't all that widely available
2) Seldom do over-ride brakes get a mention, despite their relative simplicity and economy.
Why is that? Here in Oz, they are kind of the way to go for DIY trailers up to, I think, 2.5 tons.