by KCStudly » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:37 pm
Surge brakes are traditionally limited to boat trailer applications (at least in my region) where the components constantly get dunked in water, potentially salt water.
Copper wires don't fair as well as galvanized or stainless steel hydraulic lines.
The problem with hydraulic brakes, which use an articulated (hinged) hitch assembly to pump the brake master cylinder located in the coupler, is that they can be finicky backing up, falsely applying the trailer brakes due to the resistance of the trailer backing up. (When the TV applies its brakes in the forward direction the weight of the trailer pushes forward, pushing against the master cylinder. When towing forward the trailer drags behind and does not push on the master. When backing the trailer can push against the master and apply the brakes.) Having to get out to pin and defeat the articulated mechanism when backing up is a PITA for a system that does not get dunked, so forget about hydraulics for a road going camper.
The more I read about mounting the electronic brake controller on the trailer, the more I like it for a small light weight camper. I could pull mine with either TV and not have to install a controller in both TVs. There are modular brake controller systems where you can wire multiple TV's and swap the expensive part, the controller module, between vehicles, but that is still more complex and expensive than just installing a single controller on the trailer and triggering it off of the brake light application.
For a heavier trailer (like a car hauler flat bed, large double axle tow behind, or big huge 10k lb pumpkin catapult... nudge nudge, wink wink) this doesn't matter so much because the TV will usually be equipped with a brake controller anyway (thinking of modern HD PU trucks with factory installed controllers). Still I am a believer of including brakes on light weight trailers, especially if being towed by moderate to light weight TV's.
On TPCE I expect my full up over the road trailer weight to be less than 1500 lbs, but due to the expected off road nature and steep grades, I have included a heavier axle with over sized drum brakes (large bearing 3000 lb axle with derated springs). My TV's are an '03 Jeep Wrangler rated at 3000 lbs towing, and an '08 Ford Escape rated at 3500 lbs. Neither currently have brake controllers installed.
KC
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