RE: Adding Brakes

[TG1956]

 
I have a 1995 Viking 270sd. It s a biggy with (4ea.) 13"  wheels on tandem axles. The empty weight is just under 2,000# and the GVWR is up past 3,500#. I have the towing package on the truck (including brake controller hookups).
 
 The problem is that I m pulling it with a Dodge Dakota and the trailer doesn t have any brakes. The owners manual of the truck says that it recommends trailer brakes on anything over 1,000# and requires brakes on anything greater than 2,000#.
 
 We took it camping (4 hr drive one way) for the first time last month and didn t seem to have a problem, but we re taking it to Colorado in August and that s a whole different ball game.
 
 I have three questions:
 1) Should I have trailer brakes installed on the trailer?
 2) Is it difficult to do? (I know this is a relative question, but I do have mechanical skills).
 3) Proportional or surge brake controller?
 
 I m told that adding brakes is difficult and very expensive ($2,000+).
 
 What do you think??
 
 Thanks in advance for your help!

[Tim5055]

 TG1956
If you have the mechanical ability, yes - go for it.  Give [link=http://www.dexteraxle.com/]Dexter Axle [/link] a call and talk to one of their support engineers.
 
 It would hep if you had the information on your current axle system (crawl underneath and see if there is an ID plate on the current axle).
 
 Now you seem to be confused just a little:
 
 

3) Proportional or surge brake controller?

 Proportional is a type of controller as in a proportional controller or a time based controller.  Surge brakes are a type of brake system as in electric brakes or surge (hydraulic) brakes.
 
 Check out the bottom of [link=http://www.drivergetaways.homestead.com/OurCamper.html]THIS PAGE[/link] to see how someone did it.

[tlhdoc]

 TG1956
1.  Yes you should have brakes
 2.  Not if you are mechanically inclined
 3.  You want to add electric brakes and the best controller is the Tekonsha Prodigy
 
 Give Dexter a call as Tim suggested.  They will be able to help you out.

[Turn Key]

 TG1956
1) Add brakes.
 2) you should be able to do it.  Contact Dexter Axle.
 3) Get a " Prodigy" .
 4) Forget the surge brakes.
 
 Good luck and happy camping.

[Ab Diver]

 TG1956
Terry, I m surprised Viking would have made a tandem axle trailer without brakes, but that s a whole nudder thread. You said your first trip was an 8 hour (total) journey without a problem while towing with a Dakota. But to be honest, you were very, very lucky. Glad you have decided to make your rig safer for you and your family.
 
 1) Nah, you don t need trailer brakes. Just buy an F-450 crew-cab as a new tow rig and forget about adding brakes to that tiny little trailer.  Actually, to echo the voices of those who ve already said so : " YES! Add the brakes."  Even if you only make one trip a year for the rest of your life, the day *will* come when those brakes will save your family s lives. Cuz there s only two types of drivers: Those who ve had to make an emergency stop, and those who will. (and yes, those words ARE written in stone... somewhere. [] )
 
 2) Not that difficult, really. If you can repack the bearings on the trailer and add a set of fog lights to your truck, you ve gone about as far as this mod will test your mechanical skills.
 
 3) The correct term would be " electric"  or surge. Go with electric, and use an " inertial"  electric brake controller. As said already, go with a Tekonsha Prodigy, which will truly apply the trailer s brakes in proportion to how much you need them. (and shoot any salesman who tries to sell you a time-based brake controller[] )
 
 4) Cost: The Prodigy can be bought for under a hundred bucks if you shop around the net.  If your axles are made by Dexter, and have the mounting flanges already in place (a 4"  square piece of flat metal with four holes drilled into it, immediately behind the axle bearings), the cost of four complete 10"  drum and magnetic brake sets shouldn t be more than $300. If the flanges are not there, you ll need to purchase two axles from Dexter with the brakes already mounted in place.
 
 Still and all, it s the best money you ll ever spend on your trailer, safety-wise.
 
 

[TG1956]

 TG1956
Thanks to everyone for the help!! What a fantastic community when someone can post with a question like this and get so much excellent advise. Thanks again! I figured I needed them and driving in Kansas and Oklahoma isn t at all like driving in Colorado.
 
 Thanks, too, for setting me straight on the nomenclature and thanks for the link Tim.
 
 I was surprised, too, when the person I bought the trailer from said it didn t have brakes. I pulled the wheels recently and noticed a plate with four holes behind the hub and figured that was where the brakes go.
 
 When I wired the electrical line from the TV plug to the trailer plug, I went ahead and ran the brake line, just in case. Glad I did.
 
 Now, I m wondering....Do I need a brake for each wheel or just one brake for each side of the trailer? - I have tandem axles.

[AustinBoston]

 TG1956

ORIGINAL:  TG1956
 Now, I m wondering....Do I need a brake for each wheel or just one brake for each side of the trailer? - I have tandem axles.
 

 Take the weight of each vehicle, and divide by the number of wheels with brakes.  I ll bet that will help you decide.
 
 Our Astro comes in at about 4,000 lbs, or 1,000 lbs per wheel.  The trailer (single axle) weighs about 1,600 lbs per wheel.  Makes me wish it had disc brakes!
 
 If it were me, especially if I was towing in the mountains, I d go with brakes on both axles.
 
 And if you do decide to only put brakes on one axle, be sure both brakes are on the same axle!
 
 

We took it camping (4 hr drive one way) for the first time last month and didn t seem to have a problem, but we re taking it to Colorado in August and that s a whole different ball game.

 See the [link=http://www.title-3.com/Brakes.htm]Downhill Braking Techniques[/link] section partway down this page for more than you ever wanted to know about brakes in the mountains.
 
 Austin

[zoni]

 TG1956
after reading tg1956 about the brakes I am wondering if I need brakes. I have a Coleman Sun Valley 1999 with no brakes. I tow with a 1997 Expidition. I have never noticed a problem but then maybe I am just lucky. I noticed the new Coleman s at the dealership come with them standard.
 what do you think?

[birol]

 TG1956
I am hopefully getting a ~ 2,000 GVWR PU and will tow it with a windstar. I will get the brakes installed. It is a safety issue, I don t like a 2,000 Lbs getting stopped by the brakes my my windstar which were not really designed to do it continuously.
 
 When you really need them , you will be thankful that they are there ......

[woodthumb]

 TG1956
Read my reply to mtn braking under general forum.  I have no brakes either and we have been fine for three years... including our trip to Smokies..just a suggestion tho.. check the roads you plan to tow over for degrees of decline and length of decent. Plan easiest and flattest ( if possible ) route.  Much more than 8 degrees for more than mile or two might be a little dicey with more than 2500 lbs pushin  you.  But....... if you have a good strong tow vehicle and have had the brakes checkes recently, you should be fine...don t forget..use that transmission to slow and watch temp gauge.  One good thing is as hot as ther motor and tranny can get, its always a few degrees cooler a mile in the air.  I think aux. cooling fans with oversize rad. is more useful than aux. tran cooler.   Go slow

[mike4947]

 TG1956
Apx. 4000 pound tow vehicle pulling apx 3000 pound trailer; you re looking at increased stopping distances on the order of 75% to double what it would without the trailer.
 It s fine to say just watch out and you ll be safe, but you can t watch out for everything. Can your honestly say you can have stopping distances of upwards of 300 to 350 feet and be safe?
 Can you feel safe traveling any kind of down grade when tow vehicles towing loads like your s WITH brakes have problems?
 One panic stop with brakes will make you glad you had them. One panic stop without them and there s a good chance of an insurance claim and maybe hospital bills.
 What is your family worth?
 
 
 Electrics are the prefered braking systems on that size travel trailer.
 Yes cost could be $2000 if using elctrical over hydraulic, but straight electrical should run apx $300-$400 an axle plus the controller at most.

[TG1956]

 TG1956
Thanks to everyone for your help and advise!! If you re going to be in Estes Park the week of August 10th, stop by and see us. We re on the West lop (site #24, I think). We re across for the showers and are pulling a Viking 270sp Spirit.

[GNAPLUS2]

 zoni
Zoni, I have a 1996 sunvalley, It did not have brakes when i got it , But after a season of bringing it down the hill I live on I decided to add them on .It was pretty
 easy to do . Now that I have them it was the best thing I ve done for the trailer and my truck.