TT Weight limits: theory and reality
There are a ton of threads here regarding the proper matching of TV and TT. Based on what I learned here, I made a very expensive decision to upgrade my brand new 1/2 ton to a 1 ton TV so that I would...
Forum Discussion
Some interesting points on braking.
I installed performance cross-drilled & slotted vented rotors and ceramic pads on our old F150. Made an amazing improvement in braking. Would it be worthwhile installing a set of quality performance ceramic pads and rotors on our F250, or are the stock F250 front brakes pretty decent? Since brake lines and fluid were mentioned, I think it would be a good idea to flush our brake lines and install some good brake fluid. Our F250 was pre-owned and I don't know what the current fluid is like.
My original question on the TT brakes is basically what happens to braking distance if the TT's brakes are compromised for any number of reasons. It just seems to me that most assume that their TT brakes are working at or near peak effectiveness and that they initially set the BC and just forget about it. During routine easy-going towing, you may not notice that the TT brakes aren't performing as well. What if say, you had E-Z lube axles and pumped too much grease in and it going on the shoes and drum? What if a wire to a brake failed? A number of possibilities. And then comes the moment when you really need your TT brakes to be there for you...
Or, what happens if someone didn't have their WDH set up properly and the front end of the TV was light and the TT brakes weren't working as they should?
I've experienced, read about and heard about enough TT brake problems that I don't feel comfortable assuming the brakes are always going to do what they should at all times. That's why one reason we're going to be taking our TT into a shop once a year to get the brakes and bearings looked at once a year by a professional.
I think it would be an interesting exercise to see what distance it takes to stop with TT brakes hooked up and and with them disconnected, and at different speeds.
I hate to admit this, but many, many years ago when I was young and ....., I towed a skidsteer loader I had just bought on a flatdeck trailer with combined wt. of maybe 8,000 lbs by an F150. I did not have the electric brakes hooked up. I knew it would be a handful on the way home and I stayed under 30 mph and stayed well back of anybody in front of me and it was a short distance home. No problem getting up to speed, but the first time I used the brake pedal, it kept going with barely slowing at all. It was as if I had no TV brakes at all, and it was very scary. I've never done that again since. I would have to think it would be pretty much the same thing if you had a TT of about the same weight and lost the TT brakes.
I installed performance cross-drilled & slotted vented rotors and ceramic pads on our old F150. Made an amazing improvement in braking. Would it be worthwhile installing a set of quality performance ceramic pads and rotors on our F250, or are the stock F250 front brakes pretty decent? Since brake lines and fluid were mentioned, I think it would be a good idea to flush our brake lines and install some good brake fluid. Our F250 was pre-owned and I don't know what the current fluid is like.
My original question on the TT brakes is basically what happens to braking distance if the TT's brakes are compromised for any number of reasons. It just seems to me that most assume that their TT brakes are working at or near peak effectiveness and that they initially set the BC and just forget about it. During routine easy-going towing, you may not notice that the TT brakes aren't performing as well. What if say, you had E-Z lube axles and pumped too much grease in and it going on the shoes and drum? What if a wire to a brake failed? A number of possibilities. And then comes the moment when you really need your TT brakes to be there for you...
Or, what happens if someone didn't have their WDH set up properly and the front end of the TV was light and the TT brakes weren't working as they should?
I've experienced, read about and heard about enough TT brake problems that I don't feel comfortable assuming the brakes are always going to do what they should at all times. That's why one reason we're going to be taking our TT into a shop once a year to get the brakes and bearings looked at once a year by a professional.
I think it would be an interesting exercise to see what distance it takes to stop with TT brakes hooked up and and with them disconnected, and at different speeds.
I hate to admit this, but many, many years ago when I was young and ....., I towed a skidsteer loader I had just bought on a flatdeck trailer with combined wt. of maybe 8,000 lbs by an F150. I did not have the electric brakes hooked up. I knew it would be a handful on the way home and I stayed under 30 mph and stayed well back of anybody in front of me and it was a short distance home. No problem getting up to speed, but the first time I used the brake pedal, it kept going with barely slowing at all. It was as if I had no TV brakes at all, and it was very scary. I've never done that again since. I would have to think it would be pretty much the same thing if you had a TT of about the same weight and lost the TT brakes.
