What do you prefer, hydraulic or cable brakes?

[Kody]

I have reached the point where I am about to fit the jockey wheel to the "A" frame of the trailer. If I fit the jockey wheel to the outside of the frame, I can install cable operated over-run brakes as the cables will be fitted inside the frame. I would prefer to fit the jockey wheel on the inside of the "A" frame as this aligns the wheel closer to the center line of the frame itself. Mounting on the inside results in the brake cables being fouled in the jockey wheel mechanism. To mount on the inside, I would need to fit hydraulic brakes.
What would be the better style of brakes, hydraulic or cable? What do you fellas find to be the better style in operation? Your comments please.

Kody

[Shadow Catcher]

Unless you live in a country that requires them, wheel chocks do just fine in keeping the trailer from rolling away. Assuming that it is required I would go with cable/mechanical unless the system is surge brakes.

[Shadow Catcher]

Mike, one thing to remember, not every one lives or camps in the flat lands. Where we live was planed off flat by the last ice age and we substitute over passes for hills. It is really really flat. I also use the sand plate to keep it from moving, and the chocks.

[Dale M.]

if you had electric brakes on main wheels (with break away or internal 12 volt battery), all you would need is a switch to enable/activate them when hand maneuvering the trailer...

Once trailer is "set" wheel chock are a must.....

Dale

[GuitarPhotog]

I don't know that cable operated brakes are available or legal in this country. I haven't seen them since I was a kid (50's).

Trailer brakes here come in 2 or 3 flavors, electric, hydraulic, and surge-operated hydraulic.

How do the vehicle brakes actuate a cable? And how is the cable compensated for length changes when turning?

<Chas>

[jstrubberg]

Hrm, I've never used a brake on a trailer once parked. I've owned trailers from a 10' Scotty to a 38' fifth wheel. Always used wheel chocks and one of those spreader tire locks on the big fifth wheel.

[CarlLaFong]

I don't know that cable operated brakes are available or legal in this country. I haven't seen them since I was a kid (50's).

Trailer brakes here come in 2 or 3 flavors, electric, hydraulic, and surge-operated hydraulic.

How do the vehicle brakes actuate a cable? And how is the cable compensated for length changes when turning?

<Chas>

I think you're the only one, out of all the replies, who gets it. I don't think he's referring to a jockey wheel brake, as if there were such a thing, or some sort of parking brake. We're talking about regular, service brakes. Electric is industry standard, especially on lightweight rigs

[Dale M.]

I think about 50-60 years ago I remember seeing a couple of trailers with cable operated "parking brakes" but they sort of went away about the same time as the real wood paneled station wagon.... Where one might see them is if one was restoring one of those dinosaur haulers ....

Dale

[86bigred]

I have seen where old car axles were used with a surge brake set up and used the emergency brake as a parking brake.just used a parking brake hand lever on the tounge of the trailer.

[Kody]

Hi guys,
The cable brakes I am referring to, operate as surge brakes and are attached to the main wheels of the T/D. They work by a cable pulling on a lever/cam to expand the brake shoes. The cable is pulled by a lever at the front, same way as hydraulic brakes work by a lever or as some are, directly inside the surge mechanism. Cable brakes are are strictly "mechanical" as opposed to hydraulic where there are no levers or cams etc. to push/pull the shoes onto the drums.
I am unable to fit electric brakes as they are beyond my budget but "mechanical" or hydraulic brakes are the type I can fit and are used here in Aust. for trailers and small boats up to 1 ton, maybe even more.
The pros and cons of both types are listed below being what info I could find.

Hydraulic brakes, Surge type. (Surge brakes are called "over-ride" brakes here in Aust.)
Pros :-
Easy to fit.
Are very positive in operation
Relatively easy to maintain.
Very few parts
Nothing to stretch over a period of time.
Cons :-
Prone to water infiltration at the slave cylinder and the master cylinder reservoir
Brakes will fail if water enters the line.
Can be damaged easily if not installed correctly
Needs a "flick-over lever" to reverse the rig

Cable operated brakes. Surge type.
Pros :-
Work in all conditions
Can be adjusted for cable stretch
The mechanism is unaffected by water
Relatively easy to maintain.
Cons :-
Cable can get in the way of trailer attachments, eg, Jockey wheels.
Cable can stretch.
Cable will rust over time.
Cam/lever in backing plate can seize if not maintained regularly.
Prone to damage on rough roads
Needs a "flick-over lever" to reverse the rig.

I want to fit a "jockey wheel" at the front so I can raise the trailer off the tow ball/hitch when I am stopped and need the car to to go somewhere without the T/D. A jockey wheel makes it very easy to maneuver the T/D when attaching it to the car or if the front needs to lifted for leveling.
So my question is, what system of brakes do you guys use as surge brakes? "mechanical" or hydraulic? (Mechanical means links, levers etc)
Also, how do you lift the T/D off the hitch on the car without breaking your back?
What do you stand/rest the front of the T/D on?
Do you simply let the front sit on the ground, (not a good thing by any means) ?

Kody

[86bigred]

I have never seen mechanical surge brakes here in Canada. Ours are hydraulic , and we use a tongue jack to lift it off the tow vehicle.

[Vedette]

Kody
If you choose hydraulic brakes be sure to use DOT 5 (Silicone Brake Fluid) then you wo't have a water pro lem and your brake parts will last forever!
It does not absorb moisture like regular Dot 3.
Good Roads
Brian

[Kody]

Kody
If you choose hydraulic brakes be sure to use DOT 5 (Silicone Brake Fluid) then you wo't have a water pro lem and your brake parts will last forever!
It does not absorb moisture like regular Dot 3.
Good Roads
Brian

Hi Brian, Many thanks for that super info. I never knew that DOT 5 had that particular property. I have seen the containers in the auto shops but knew nothing about it. I have decided to install hydraulic brakes on the TD. I believe these will be the best choice for the conditions that we encounter here in Aust. Can't wait to get everything up and going.
Cheers,

Kody

[Irmo Atomics]

Here's a picture of an over run brake set-up.

over-run1.jpg (14.56 KiB) Viewed 376 times

cable brake (500x380).jpg (158.73 KiB) Viewed 387 times

Here are some details: http://caravanchronicles.com/guides/und ... e-systems/
That looks like a modified tubeloc scaffold clamp that they used to attach the (removable) jockey wheel.

[Dale M.]

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

Dale