Brakes

[Shadow Catcher]

This from an IRV2 discussion on whether some one needs to have brakes on their trailer and includes a couple of ideas I had not thought of and the last one, liability. I contributed my usual "it is better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them".

"There are two or three sets of laws.

Criminal/Traffic law varies from place to place, and at 2100 pounds, Some say yes, some say no, I can't say less you live in Michigan what yours says.
Physics says: If all wheels are braking, then your skid distance in a panic stop is the same as mine, or the next guy's, or the person in front of you ON ANY GIVEN SET OF ROAD CONDITIONS
(That is I might skid farther or less, but on the very same stretch of road within 5 seconds of each other, Same distance.. Vehicle size really does not matter SO LONG AS ALL BRAKES LOCK.
However, if you have a trailer with no brakes,,, It can add to the total stopping distance big time . US-Gear for motor homes towing a car says "Up to 30%" in your case I'm thinking double.
The formula with all wheels braking Speed^2*K (Where K is determined by the road at the time) With only some wheels braking, It is very long and complex.

The third set of laws is civil liability: Think "Reckless Endangerment" and how rich can you make the guy you rear ended... OUCH big time, even if there is no injury."

[bobhenry]

Tom there is something that you missed ( well you did mention road conditions ) but we see snow and ice. An unbraked trailer can shove you into a sideways skid that may not happen if the extra weight were also braking helping to keeping all in line.
I think this is partly why the snow belt states have reduced the unbraked weight limits.

Just a dumb unfounded quess

[Dale M.]

In Calif its easy.... Anything over 1500 lbs requires brakes....

Dale

[eamarquardt]

We've been down this path before. Some folks listen, so folks obstinately argue that they're "careful" and have never needed. Them. Nuff said.

My son just moved to Colorado to attend Mines and get more smarter. We rented a small UHaul cargo trailer. When loaded there is no doubt that it weighed more than $1,500#. I'm not sure how UHaul gets away with renting trailers than will not comply with the laws here in California and other states. Just sayin.

Just for "grins" I called UHaul and they're gonna have someone call me back and lemme know their thoughts.

Cheers,

Gus

[eamarquardt]

........... we like a little common sense out here...............

I'd like a bit of "common sense" in Wyoming also. Common sense dictates that you have brakes on a trailer when it weights a significant amount compared to the weight of your tow vehicle.

........but I would myself recomend the brakes. when I get the time and its a board winter day that horse trailer is getting the brakes rehooked up on it too.

Good common sense. But why wait. Yer trailer isn't gonna be any heavier in the winter. It needs brakes now.

I get to much out of trailer brakes to not have them.

Then get em hooked up, now.

brakes are kinda that luxury item that like a porta pot to a women is a must have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Must have items are not luxuries. They are essentials.

slow

Cheers,

Gus

[Angiewy]

BUT I will say, the HPs see your trailer lights aren't working, they WILL pull you over.

Dad has the worst luck w/getting trailer lights to work. He pulls over and is pullin a trailer, we all know something shook and went haywire. Had one trailer that he'd plug it in and the fuses would go. Every. Time.

Bout a year ago, Dad was taking a mattress to my house. He saw the HP near the school, knew already what was going to happen. A strangely familiar voice said hello, and he looked up. The patrolman who pulled him over? The son of an HP who'd done it before for the same issue for several years, but who now works in Cheyenne.

[KE5PPH]

Get a better physics text, Size matters a great deal. If I pulled up in my MACK loaded to 80k and we stomp the brakes at the same time, it'll take me about 5 times the distance to stop.

[GerryS]

Size doesn't matter at all. Mass (weight) makes the difference

I used to pull without brakes....I had a 6x12 concession trailer I ran a business out of. The guy who sold me the cargo trailer said they weren't really necessary for a trailer that small. He couldn't have been more wrong. First, my truck (F150) chewed up a set of brake pads (and rotors!) in very short order. Second, my stopping distance was amazingly long.

The weight to towing capacity ratio was smaller than the ratio with my tear to my current tow vehicles. So, while I can pull without brakes, I never would. Even if I drive much more conservatively. The brakes on my 1000lb teardrop make all the difference!

Last summer my brakes failed on the way home from Mackinaw Michigan, the stress levels where higher and my stopping distances greater.

You don't have to get brakes on yours....I'll just as that you don't follow me on the road....

[KE5PPH]

My BAD Size = Mass That's not in the books. trailer = mass, more mass = need for more braking power...... in my simple mind.

[GerryS]

Haha....

I think we agree though, trailers need brakes....

73's de n9 somethin'

[eamarquardt]

Get a better physics text, Size matters a great deal. If I pulled up in my MACK loaded to 80k and we stomp the brakes at the same time, it'll take me about 5 times the distance to stop.

My BAD Size = Mass That's not in the books. trailer = mass, more mass = need for more braking power...... in my simple mind.

Haha....I think we agree though, trailers need brakes....73's de n9 somethin'

I love when you talk technical and in secret codes. D=1/2 A T(squared), E= 1/2 M V(squared), PV=NRT, and I'll end with AB6KS SK.

Gus/AB6KS

[GerryS]

Rotflmfao!

[eamarquardt]

Rotflmfao!

Huh?

Gus

[KE5PPH]

Rolling on the floor, laughing my azz off...... I'm thinking of going PSK31 on you people.

[eamarquardt]

Rolling on the floor, laughing my azz off...... I'm thinking of going PSK31 on you people.

OK, what's an azz?

CUL,

Gus