Jackknife with Hensley

x96mnn wrote:
Where is it that people are seeing trailer brakes are designed to stop the weight of a trailer? I have never seen this, I have read they are designed for the assistance of stopping but they are not designed to bring a trailer to a stop per industry safty standards on their own.

Each axle has a GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating). and the brakes on each axle are designed to stop the weight that is on that axle. So, yes per industry standards the trailer brakes are designed to stop the weight of the trailer. A truck couldn`t handle stopping the weight of both vehicles (or even part of the trailer) because there are just too many variables for the manuf. to try and build the truck to match any given trailer. that is why the owners manual of a vehicle states you must have a trailer brake controller for a trailer if it weighs more than X amount of pounds!

And then there is the break-away switch that activates the brakes in case of a complete disconnect. you don`t want the trailer only having the ability of stopping 30% of it`s weight!