towing near max weight. advice?
Hello all! I am new to the forums and was hoping for some much needed advice. My wife and I have been shopping for a new TT for almost 6 months and have finally fallen in love with one. We are get...
Forum Discussion
jmcgsd wrote:
Remember, towing is only 1/2 the problem, the other 1/2 is STOPPING!
All the air bags, WDH, heavier springs, etc mods won't do a darn thing for your brakes. A 1/2T truck is still built on a car chassis and has brakes to match.
Why is it that the guy driving the 1 ton dually always makes statements like this? Honestly, have you looked at late model 1/2 tons?
ah64id wrote:
I don't list brakes because it's a gray area. The TV brakes are designed to stop GVWR plus a 2000 trailer without brakes. As the TT will have brakes the TV is within it's brake design limits. Now in an emergency the TV brakes have the initial braking power, but the TT will kick in quick.
westend wrote:
I would agree with about half of this, mods don't help braking. A pickup truck is not built on a car chassis unless you equate car chassis with monocoque frame and body integration. That is only true for some smaller trucks.
The brake parts in a standard 1/2 ton or bigger truck are not the same as your car brake assemblies. Rotors, pads, and calipers are bigger and may have additional pistons within.
Beyond that, it's not the duty of the truck to brake the trailer. That chore is the role of trailer brakes. If you are having a lot of brake fade with your trailer and the tow vehicle is doing most of the work, you have a problem with the trailer brakes.
Now these are correct assessments of 1/2 ton trucks and brakes. The lack of braking ability for more than the 2000# beyond the GVWR is why most states have laws requiring trailer brakes at certain weights.
