Forum Discussion
- NanciLExplorer IIBrings up the question to me:
What if you are traveling with no trailer battery ?
And second question: what if you disconnect the battery and then pull it? just to make sure it will pull out easily
Jack L - Old-BiscuitExplorer III
GaryWT wrote:
Have never done it and have never thought of doing it.
Hopefully this thread has made you aware of why it should be tested. - GaryWTExplorerHave never done it and have never thought of doing it.
- oldtrojan66ExplorerI get it. The lesser of several evils. I just hope nothing EVER comes loose in my travels
- cbshoestringExplorer II
Gdetrailer wrote:
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.
Husband/father and two of the triplets he had on board. The 3rd of the triplets was in serious condition for awhile, but finally got to go home to mom.
Story goes that the older chipper did not have brakes, and was hitched improperly. Was debatable whether or not the chains where installed properly....State police had said that there was no damage to back of truck that would indicate it was chained.
DOT cracked down on every any anyone pulling a trailer in that area for several years after that accident. They still do ocassional spot checks of utility trailer/RVs, etc... Yes, they especially go after contractors with work trailers.
My buddy watched them do courtesy checks, in a polite fashion, near a home improvement store. They "taught" the weekend "haulers" about load securement, etc... When his turn came, their attitude changed, and they inspected him like they were looking to get him. He was fine, they lightened up, so he asked:
"You seemed helpful to all those people in front of me, but when it was my turn you got real serious. WHY?
"Because you have a CDL, they explained. You know better, if your load was not secure, we would have ticketed you. We lost a man and a couple kids on this road because of a careless contractor". - GdetrailerExplorer III
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. - wanderingbobExplorer IIcontinue , now that I am reaching middle age ??? we both do a walk around before driving off . After I screw up 6 or 8 times on sumptin I learn my lesson !
- wanderingbobExplorer IIHow have I lost 4 trailers ?
Twice I did not knock that lever on the top down , driver error .
Once I dropped the trailer on the wrong size ball .
Once my ' helper ' hooked it up wrong , he sit the trailer down on the latch .
Also once while picking up a fifth wheel the yard man at a retail RV place set the pin down on top of the blades that lock around the pin .
I have had a license for fifty some years and have toted trailers for several millions of miles and never had an accident but I have had a few brain fxxxts . - hohenwald48Explorer
wanderingbob wrote:
At speed when the trailer brakes lock it will still take a while for the whole rig to stop and the truck can steer VIA the chains . I have lost four trailers and never had any damage or injury to the equipment , except smokin tires . Also when pulling the brake pin while stopped nothing happens except that the magnets are turned on , it take movement to bring the brakes up !
How in the world have you lost 4 trailers? :E :h
I've been pulling one utility, boat, equipment and travel trailers for over 50 years and never lost a single one. - Old-BiscuitExplorer III
beemerphile1 wrote:
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 theory is that stopping a runaway trailer as soon as possible will result in less damage. Seems like a good, simple theory.
That and along with the idea that on a bumper pull trailer the 'safety chains' will keep trailer attached to tow vehicle vs careening off into the Mercedes/school bus or even into side ditch.
Emergency Brake Cable (E BRAKE CABLE) is suppose to be shorter than safety chains so that it gets pulled out should trailer become un- hitched.
5th wheel....no safety chains so careening of trailer off by itself is possible but hopefully truck fenders/tailgate will capture 5vr and if not king pin/nose of 5vr will dig into pavement should it come un-hitched.
Still E BRAKE CABLE will get pulled and brakes go full ONwanderingbob wrote:
I am confused , what is a 'E brake cable ' ? My trailer brakes are actuated by an electric current to a magnet .
Emergency Brake Cable.......cable attached to brake switch on trailer/5th wheel that gets pulled out in an emergency and allows full trailer battery voltage to be applied to trailer electric brakes causing them to go full on
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