Does any not pull their emergency trailer brake cable?

[Guy_Roan]

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

[dodge_guy]

Yep once a year.

[beemerphile1]

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.

[oldtrojan66]

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!)

[rbpru]

It is a good idea, but I have never tried it. I suppose I never really thought about it. Another TT project for this summer.

Kind of like the airbags, we just assume they will work.

[Gdetrailer]

budwich wrote:
I think the OP's fear comes from the "experience" gained using the emergency brake in a vehicle... which if not "exercised" on a regular basis may result in the brakes remaining lockup as the e-brake cable and / or brake components are "seized" such that the system does not release especially with a "shoe based e-brake" system. Since the trailer system doesn't rely on a "long run" of potentially rusted cabling, it is unlikely that setup will stay locked up (spring failure maybe). Further of course, if a lock up occurs, your vehicle does not become "useless" and can still be driven to get assistance or otherwise where on vehicle brake lockup, you are pretty much toast.

As other have indicated, the trailer ebrake should be tested "regularly" and fear of lockup should be the least of your worries.

ELECTRIC E brake on a trailer and a mechanical/cable E brake on a vehicle ARE two different beasts mechanically..

OP would have somewhat of a "pass" if they are "fearful" due to a vehicle E brake cable rusting and jamming in the Brake ON mode..

There is no fear for a ELECTRICALLY operated trailer E brake to get jammed in the ON position.. And if it did get stuck on you would have OTHER problems which would have happened WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING.

As far as vehicle E brakes, it is ALWAYS in your best interest to USE THE E BRAKE. My vehicles I always set the E brake every time I park, EVEN IN THE WINTER.. Using them frequently is the only way to prevent the cables from rusting in place.

Modern day vehicles the E brake cables are pretty well protected from moisture, manufacturers HAVE come a long way in making those reliable even in winter and high salt usage areas.

I should know, I LIVE in the northern RUST BELT..

[budwich]

I think the OP's fear comes from the "experience" gained using the emergency brake in a vehicle... which if not "exercised" on a regular basis may result in the brakes remaining lockup as the e-brake cable and / or brake components are "seized" such that the system does not release especially with a "shoe based e-brake" system. Since the trailer system doesn't rely on a "long run" of potentially rusted cabling, it is unlikely that setup will stay locked up (spring failure maybe). Further of course, if a lock up occurs, your vehicle does not become "useless" and can still be driven to get assistance or otherwise where on vehicle brake lockup, you are pretty much toast.

As other have indicated, the trailer ebrake should be tested "regularly" and fear of lockup should be the least of your worries.

[wanderingbob]

On my trip to Maine last summer we spent the nite in a Wal-Mart lot in New Hampshire . Had words with a drug peddler . No big deal !!! Next morn about seven miles into the ride all heck broke lose ! Trailer brakes locked , trailer stopped in the middle of the road . Chains stopped me . Lucky that we were going slowly up a hill ,in a small town , no traffic , no damage . Chocked the trailer un-hitched all the wires and chains and put her back together again . My hitch pin was missing , it had been there for 5,000 miles . I guess my new friend at Wal-mart removed it for me . It took longer to type this than it did to correct the situation if ya do not count changing my underwear !

[Old-Biscuit]

YEP........at least once a year

[Gdetrailer]

Guy Roan wrote:
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

Hmm.. just how do you KNOW if the brakes and or the switch will work under an actual break away emergency if you NEVER "test" it by pulling the pin?

Yes, your brakes WILL lock up.. BUT ONLY AS LONG AS THE PIN IS PULLED OUT.

Put the pin back in and the brakes WILL go free.

It is a very important AND REQUIRED SAFETY DEVICE.

There IS a reason some states like mine FORCE folks to have state inspections on trailers with brakes.. My state WILL flunk the inspection if you cannot demonstrate WORKING BREAKAWAY SYSTEM.

I ALWAYS check mine EVERY TIME I HITCH UP.

I pull the pin and then try pulling forward.

Working breakaway system should lock the wheels.

Putting the pin back in should go free and I am able to drive on.

I will not take my trailer out on public roads without knowing if the system is working.

Those switches are out in the weather and DO go bad, wiring also can go bad and for heavens sake make sure you have a CHARGED 12V battery hooked up on your trailer..

[beemerphile1]

I pull as a test occasionally to verify operation.

Like anything else, if you don't test it occasionally how do you know it will work when needed?

[Oasisbob]

I check mine once a yer and lube the shaft. If it does not lock the brakes I adjust. One of my kids pulled the cable and I inly noticed it as my running lites came on in adition to the brakes.

[DutchmenSport]

Yes, pulling the cable will engage the emergency brakes in the trailer. The brakes will continue to remain engaged until the pin is put back in. The brakes, when engaged, are drawing from the trailer battery. So if you leave the pin pulled, there will be a constant draw from the battery to the brakes until the pin is replaced.

Unlike an automobile that has a manual parking brake that is engaged by a lever inside the cab of the vehicle to the vehicle wheels (all mechanical), in a trailer, it's all electric from the battery.

If you need a mechanical parking brake in a camper. They do make them. There call, "chocks".

[downtheroad]

Pull it to test then push it back in immediately...once a year.
Do not leave it out.

[3oaks]

That is just what the emergency trailer brake cable is supposed to do when pulled, lock up the wheels.

And yes I pull mine once a year for a test. I only leave the clip out long enough to see if the wheels drag when I try to pull the trailer.