You could save a newbie's life!!! Let's talk brakes.

[Evan Gaffney]

Hi all,
Evan here from sunny New Jersey. I'm in the "creative design" aka troll the forum for months then join and ask a million questions phase of my project, and I have a lot of things nailed down. One thing that I keep coming back to is brakes.

The issue is that I have two very different (and less than ideal) tow vehicles.


My 2012 Focus hatch with 160 horsepower and no tow rating. It does have the optional rear disk brakes and a manual transmission.


My '67 Ford Galaxie XL with 507 horsepower and obsolete brakes.

My teardrop is an 8x10... modern-roy? and I'm shooting for a loaded weight between 1100-1300lbs. The smart voice in the back of my head says I need trailer brakes, but the cheap "keep it simple" part of my brain says I can legally drive without them, so it must be safe. Here are my questions:

-Brakes or no brakes?
-I've never dealt with trailer brakes of any kind. What's involved?
-Is there a cheap or easy way to set up a trailer brake system that will transfer easily to either TV?
-Does someone make a torsion axle with brakes included?
-I was planning to build my trailer from scrath (trying to build as light as possible), but if I need brakes, does it make more sense to buy a worn down craigslist pop-up and cannibalize it's frame/brakes?

I love camping, and I think teardrops are awesome, but I'd rather not end up wearing mine as a hat in a ditch somewhere... Help me out please?

Thanks,
Evan

[Treeview]

Mmmm...I learned to drive in a '67 Galaxie...4dr...289 auto, not the hot rod you have though

I've found that I should listen harder to those nagging voices in my head...the one that's suggesting you use brakes.

If there is no trailer rating for the Focus the engineers probably didn't add in any extra braking power. In order for us to have light cars they've been stripped down to bare essentials.

Add the brakes...

There are flex axles with brakes on them...ask google.

Tom

[jss06]

As has been said many times on this forum. It's better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

Given the Focus has no tow capacity, I would want trailer brakes for the extra peace of mind.

You will need a brake controller in each vehicle. The prodigy that I have can be removed. So you could wire each vehicle and only use the controller in which ever vehicle you are towing with.

Wiring for a brake controller and trailer brakes does require a bit of work but it is not difficult. There are several web sites that describe what needs to be done. The hardest part is identifying the correct wire in the vehicle harness that you need to tap into for the brake switch input on the controller.

R&P Carriages has some good information in their help section.

http://www.randpcarriages.com/

[aggie79]

Hi Evan,

Good questions. I'm sure you will get many opinions and recommendations that will give you the information you need to make a decision.

-Brakes or no brakes?

I didn't use brakes on my teardrop. I orginally was going to tow it with a Honda CR-V, but I totaled it in a crash, and now have a Ford F-150. If you decide not to have brakes intially, I would have an upgrade path in mind for the future. The way to do this is to order an axle with the brake flanges (mounting brackets). You can get this option an either a standard axle or torsion axle.

-I've never dealt with trailer brakes of any kind. What's involved?

It's been awhile since I've dealt with them too. There are two main types of systems - hydraulic surge systems and electric systems. On a surge system, there is an actuator on the tongue that provides hydraulic pressure to the brakes when your vehicle slows down. (You have to lock out this feature when backing up with the trailer.) Surge systems are seen on rental trailers but other than that you don't see too many of them (except in Europe.) The electric brake system uses a controller in the vehicle to supply current to actuate the brakes. Drum brakes work with both electric and hydraulic. I believe disc brakes only work with surge systems.

-Is there a cheap or easy way to set up a trailer brake system that will transfer easily to either TV?

Probably the easiest way is to use surge brakes unless you want to buy controllers for both vehicles.

-Does someone make a torsion axle with brakes included?

Yes, or you can purchase the axle with just the brake flanges.

-I was planning to build my trailer from scrath (trying to build as light as possible), but if I need brakes, does it make more sense to buy a worn down craigslist pop-up and cannibalize it's frame/brakes?

It is more expensive, but I would recommend a custom built trailer to fit your design. I have a HF trailer, and use it quite regularly, so I think this is a valid option too if your design fits the HF.

Take care,
Tom

[Evan Gaffney]

The focus worries me more than anything, and I think for the longevity of the vehicle and for my own peace of mind I will need brakes. The Galaxie is much heavier and more powerful with bigger tires and a looooooong wheel base. I think I'll install the controller in the focus and go without brakes on the rare occasion that i tow with the Galaxie. If I buy a removable controller, I can always wire the Galaxie later.

It pains me because I know these extra expenses will add time to my project (working on a teacher's salary, so parts will be purchased as money becomes available).

With all that sorted out, here's another question. The frame will be 5' wide at the outside and I want to do a 2000lb (overkill?) torsion axle with about a zero (or mabe even 5 degrees up) starting angle. I'm going to 15" rims, so the shallow angle is for ride height and asthetics.

Does anyone know a reasonably priced source for a full torsion axle that either has brakes already installed or has the flanges to mount them? Where did you guys get yours?

[Forrest747]

http://www.easternmarine.com/

Not sure if they have one in NJ but they do have one in Delaware. I have found that i get more options when i look at boat parts as well. FYI

[Shadow Catcher]

From some one who has a trailer with a Dexter axle get a Flexride
http://www.ucfamerica.com/flexiride.html adjustable ride height/angle
from some one who has a Subaru with a 3000# tow capacity with brakes take my word for it you do not want to be with out period.

[Dale M.]

If you have not started build yet, order axle WITH BRAKES.... All the rest it just wiring them up..... Brakes come in 7, 10, and 12 inch varieties.... 7 inch may be a little under size 10 seems to be pretty common and and 12 probably over kill....

I have 10 inch brakes on car carrier and with a load it can still lockup the brakes....

Here is a little DIY if you have proper axle (with flanges) and no brakes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOKsU9fhbZ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtzPmNNM34M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg2DTlNLzmQ

More about controller wiring...

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-installatio ... ratch.aspx

Dale

[eamarquardt]

We've beat this to death several times but once more.

Your Focus was designed to carry maybe 4 passengers and maybe a hundred pounds in the trunk. So, maybe 900 pounds. Your car weighs about 3000#.

So total it's designed to stop 3,900#. Before you and whoever else goes camping with you and you load any stuff in the car your combined weight (1,300# trailer) will be 4,200#. More than your car was designed to stop. Then you add 4-500# of passengers and stuff and you're at 4,600#.

Lots of folks on the forum feel this is ok and have never had a problem. It only takes one problem before you wish you had brakes. I experienced a "problem" once (got out alive with no damage) and LEARNED from that experience that brakes are a must on any trailer I build.

Brakes cost less than two hundred bucks including the controller. CHEAP insurance.

As far as moving the setup from one car to another, I think moving the actual wiring would be a PITA. I built a "console" that fits between the seats of my van with the controller mounted on it and a couple of drink holders. I also added an ampmeter so I can see how much current the brakes are drawing and verify that things are working. I wired a 4 pole trailer socket on the vehicle side of the wiring and plug on the controller wires. When I'm not towing I remove the console (keep my trash bucket in its place). You could do something similar to move the controller from one vehicle to the next.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

[Treeview]

Good advice, Gus!

[Evan Gaffney]

We've beat this to death several times but once more.

Thanks Gus. I have been on the FE forum (www.fordfe.com) talking about engine issues relating to my Galaxie for about 8 years now, and it pains me to be the new guy on the forum who asks the question that everyone is sick of answering (on our forum, it's "how do I seal my intake manifold?"). I tried seeking out some pre-existing info, but I haven't found the search feature on this forum to be exactly "intuitive" (this is not a comment on the format or the admins, it's probably just me being a dummy). I appreciate you all taking the time to re-beat the horse for me.

I figured the consensus would be that I needed brakes. I was just wondering about the logistics of running them on both TV's and where to get components. Sounds like flexride may be the way to go (adjustable angle sounds nice). I'll keep my eyes peeled for a cheap controller with an easy disconnect and a source for flexrides with brakes included.

Thanks,
Evan

[eamarquardt]

Brakes:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-10-Electric ... 500wt_1287

Controller:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Venturer-Brake- ... 389wt_1139

Reviews of controller:

http://www.autoanything.com/towing/20A50739A1.aspx

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

[Evan Gaffney]

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

Grazie

[aggie79]

Sounds like flexride may be the way to go (adjustable angle sounds nice). I'll keep my eyes peeled for a cheap controller with an easy disconnect and a source for flexrides with brakes included.

Thanks,
Evan

While I have a Dexter torsion axle (no brakes) and like it very much, the Flexiride torsion axle gives you adjustablilty that the Dexter does not.

You can get the Flexiride axle, brakes, controllers, coupler, etc. here:

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/

Take care,
Tom

[aggie79]

Sounds like flexride may be the way to go (adjustable angle sounds nice). I'll keep my eyes peeled for a cheap controller with an easy disconnect and a source for flexrides with brakes included.

Thanks,
Evan

While I have a Dexter torsion axle (no brakes) and like it very much, the Flexiride torsion axle gives you adjustablilty that the Dexter does not.

You can get the Flexiride axle, brakes, controllers, coupler, etc. here:

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/

Take care,
Tom