What do you prefer, hydraulic or cable brakes?

[angib]

Kody, the answers you get will depend on the country of the person answering. Where trailer brakes are concerned, there is a strong tendency for "whatever I've grown up with is the best system, even though I haven't ever tried the others".......

The cable brakes seem like "dark ages" voodoo after working with hydraulic and electric brakes...

Yes, until you find that because they are totally automatic and require no tow vehicle modification, countries with cable trailer brakes use them all the time whereas countries with electric brakes have these discussions about "do I need to bother with trailer brakes?" A trailer with cable brakes fitted stops way, way better than a trailer with electric brakes that the owner hasn't bothered getting or fitting a controller for.

Anyone who tries using the cable emergency brake on their tow vehicle will find that it works just fine - but hydraulic provides better feel and less maintenance for service brakes.

I think the biggest single 'advantage' of electric brakes is how cheap they are for trailer builders to use. Cable brakes costs quite a bit more nowadays but then they don't have the cost of buying and fitting a controller - but trailer builders don't have to worry about that cost as they don't pay it.

[mezmo]

Hi Kody,

I'd say the use of the "tongue jack" is pretty universal over here.
I'm sure there are trailers used without them, but they'd have
to be extremely light and only hitched up or unhitched totally
empty for practical use. I consider the tongue jack a mandatory
part of the trailer chassis, for me. I'd say jockey wheels are, and aren't
used alot [what a revelation !], mainly depending on the size and
weight of the trailer [C'van], the lighter and smaller it is, the
more apt they are to be used. Heavier/larger trailers usually just
lower the tongue jack tube onto a wooden block or the stand it came with.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo