Thread: Towing braked trailers

Originally Posted by Snap 4T

This discussion got me thinking,

Why do caravans (often weighing less than 3 tons) need an electric brake while other 3.5T plant trailers don't have one?
My 3.5T Brian James trailer doesn't have any electric brakes and no safety chain (I can understand this part).
The trailer comes with 7-pin plug, a carabiner clip for the mechanical over-ride brake and that's it.

Am I missing something here or does a 3.5T plant trailer need an electric brake too?

Nup, your BJ trailer has brakes that I was referring to in an earlier post and its a whole different set up to electric. Its rated to 3.5T on mechanical 4 wheel braked drums, ECU approved.
Electric drum brakes are electromagnetic, which use varying voltage (0-12v) to apply the brake force via a magnet that tries to attach itself to a rotating drum face and cam on the brake shoes.

Originally Posted by Mathias

Nup, your BJ trailer has brakes that I was referring to in an earlier post and its a whole different set up to electric. Its rated to 3.5T on mechanical 4 wheel braked drums, ECU approved.
Electric drum brakes are electromagnetic, which use varying voltage (0-12v) to apply the brake force via a magnet that tries to attach itself to a rotating drum face and cam on the brake shoes.

Having done a lot of heavy towing with Brian James trailers I can say this is the standard all trailers should aspire to in the brake department.
Same with ifor horsefloats.

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Originally Posted by BRADS

Having done a lot of heavy towing with Brian James trailers I can say this is the standard all trailers should aspire to in the brake department.
Same with ifor horsefloats.

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Yeah, they use the German Alko mechanical drum. I implemented the sale of these as braking kits into the NZ market with my previous job. I tested all forms of braking on a 3.5T platform trailer that was our testbed and these performed extremely well. Agree with your comment.

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Originally Posted by Mathias

Nup, your BJ trailer has brakes that I was referring to in an earlier post and its a whole different set up to electric. Its rated to 3.5T on mechanical 4 wheel braked drums, ECU approved.
Electric drum brakes are electromagnetic, which use varying voltage (0-12v) to apply the brake force via a magnet that tries to attach itself to a rotating drum face and cam on the brake shoes.

Wouldn't use the electromagnetic drums again personally - pain in the arse to clean out and get working again if you have to go anywhere near iron-rich sand with them. Just awful to be fair... Apparently they are meant to be sealed. Or something.

Originally Posted by No.3

Wouldn't use the electromagnetic drums again personally - pain in the arse to clean out and get working again if you have to go anywhere near iron-rich sand with them. Just awful to be fair... Apparently they are meant to be sealed. Or something.

They are a love / hate brake system. Suffer imbalance issues etc, but if you get a good set working, they feel like a dream system....until you leave the hand brake on!

Originally Posted by Mathias

They are a love / hate brake system. Suffer imbalance issues etc, but if you get a good set working, they feel like a dream system....until you leave the hand brake on!

We've had our brain James 3.5 tone for nearly 10 years, farm use through creeks, Mud etc haven't had any issues and have done nothing to it, certainly no complaints.
People that borrow the trailer always comment on how well the brakes work.

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Originally Posted by BRADS

We've had our brain James 3.5 tone for nearly 10 years, farm use through creeks, Mud etc haven't had any issues and have done nothing to it, certainly no complaints.
People that borrow the trailer always comment on how well the brakes work.
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I have a similar trailer (4 years young) and my trailer has no brake under normal driving/towing situation,
Unless I pull the mechanical break manually or carabiner over ride the mechanical brake,

So yeah, under normal driving/towing situation,
the whole braking system is depends on the car braking system itself.

Unless, there is more to it that I don't know.

Originally Posted by Snap 4T

I have a similar trailer (4 years young) and my trailer has no brake under normal driving/towing situation,
Unless I pull the mechanical break manually or carabiner over ride the mechanical brake,

So yeah, under normal driving/towing situation,
the whole braking system is depends on the car braking system itself.

Unless, there is more to it that I don't know.

Doesn't sound like it's set up right or working right. The mechanical brakes like the hydraulic override setups and the mechanicals like what is fitted to yours should operate better than and give a better ride and towing feel than the electric brakes, as if you are coasting with the brakes off the trailer can surge bump the tow vehicle with electric brakes same as an unbraked trailer. The override mechanical setup will gently apply the brakes if the trailer surges, bringing the surge under control so you don't even feel it. Also, on a downhill an override setup will lean on the tow vehicle assisting any available engine braking and require less driving input travelling down hill.

Originally Posted by Snap 4T

I have a similar trailer (4 years young) and my trailer has no brake under normal driving/towing situation,
Unless I pull the mechanical break manually or carabiner over ride the mechanical brake,

So yeah, under normal driving/towing situation,
the whole braking system is depends on the car braking system itself.

Unless, there is more to it that I don't know.

Definitely sounds like an adjustment issue. Look online how to adjust them. There will be plenty of info as all the pommy imported caravans have the same system.
I could explain but I'll still be one finger typing till tea time

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Originally Posted by Mathias

They are a love / hate brake system. Suffer imbalance issues etc, but if you get a good set working, they feel like a dream system....until you leave the hand brake on!

I'd agree with that. Until it stopped working the first time it was great - it was only when we took it apart that we realised what the issue was. Filled itself up with magnetic crap. Apart from that issue, they do work well but a pain in the arse to strip, clean and get working again only to have to do it again not long after. Effectively that trailer stopped going to those sites and problem solved, but a pain in the arse to have to run multiple trailers etc etc.