Does any not pull their emergency trailer brake cable?
I am now on my second trailer, and never have pulled it. I have always had a fear that the brakes would lock up. Any one else feel the same ! Guy
Forum Discussion
oldtrojan66 wrote:
This might be the place to post a question I have had for a good while. Ok, you're bopping down the by-way at, let's just say 60 MPH. For some strange reason, your hitch pin lock comes undone, and the trailer starts into another lane or the side ditch. The other lane contains half million dollar, Mercedes, RollsRoyces, etc and the side ditch contains a school yard at recess. Instead of a rolling wrecking ball which could go on its way until the laws of nature, a Mercedes, or 75 grade school kids stop it, now, because of this wonderful (tested yearly!) emergency brake, you now have a locked-up, wheel-skidding, tire screeching like mad, wrecking ball. This second wrecking ball, will also go until the laws of nature, a Mercdes, or 75 grade school kids bring it to a stop. The ONLY difference I can imagine, is the noise of the screeching tires will enable the Mercedes driver, or the 75 grade school kids to look up just in time to see the instrument of their demise.
Bottom line, why have a lock-the-wheels trailer brake at all? What am I missing?
(I mean no disrespect to Mercedes or Rolls Royce drivers, and certainly none to the poor grade school kids!)
The idea is very simple.
While locking up the wheels is a bit less than ideal, it IS better than not having any brakes AND 3,000 lbs- 12,000 lbs rolling easily away and GAINING SPEED (down hill anyone?).
The DOT requirements are that the Break away system MUST STOP AND HOLD a trailer for at least 10 minutes.
Failure to for a driver to CHECK AND ENSURE they have a WORKING breakaway system in most states will result in additional fines and or other penalties..
Non working breakaway can be written up as having an improperly or non secured load.. In my state that can mean upwards of $3,500 fine to start with, along with your ENTIRE RIG (vehicle and trailer) not allowed to proceed until the system is fixed or even impounded..
You see, quite a few years ago there was nearly an entire family KILLED near Pittsburgh when an improperly secured 4K lbs chipper broke free and CAREENED head on with a passenger van..
I would rather have a trailer tip over and slide instead of a trailer freewheeling right at me.. A sliding trailer will slow down faster than one that is freewheeling on its wheels.
