Which type of brakes?

[lwbfl]

I see alot of post about electric brakes, not many about hydraulic surge brakes. Please choose your type braking system and post any advantages, disadvantages, and if you had any choice in the matter. Thanks!

[lwbfl]

I'll begin. I have the surge brakes. I got my PUP from a family member and that

[brainpause]

I voted "None" because our popup doesn't have them. But I considered doing a whole axle change and such, just to get brakes. We decided not to spend that kind of money on an old popup.

However, I did add brakes (literally, added the brakes...shoes, drums, wiring) to my ATV trailer. It really pushes on my truck when loaded. I love having the brakes on that trailer now. I prefer the electric because I can set them to how heavy I want them to stop (yes, I know...the hydraulics essentially do that for you), and I have the benefit of pressing the manual brake button if needed. Plus, extra buttons and digital displays in the cab looks cool.

Points are well-taken on the hydraulics as well.

Larry

[AustinBoston]

3. Provide gentle braking on down hill grades without using the TV brakes.

Brakes that are used continuously (even gently) on a downhill are soon so hot they are worthless when you really need them.

Austin

[AustinBoston]

There are avantages and disadvantages to both.

Some advantages:

Hydraulic brakes are simple to set up and operate, and work correctly on every tow vehicle.

Hydraulic brakes have fewer things to go wrong, and are entirely mechanical.

Hydraulic brales can be submerged (think boat trailer).

Hyrdaulic brakes are complete; you don't have to buy a controller and add wiring to the TV.

Electric brakes allow for fine control of operation, and can even (depending on controller) over-brake and lead tow vehicle braking, if desired.

Electric brakes can be activated independently while driving using the controller.

Some disadvantages:

Hydraulic brakes have a reputation for not lasting in the mountains. (at least with heavy trailers).

Hydraulic brakes cannot be independently operated (this can be advantageous in a sway situation).

If you want more braking from hydraulic brakes, that's too bad.  There isn't much room for adjustment. (This is rather minor; hydraulics are pretty much self-adjusting).

In a few states, hydraulic brakes are (or were) illegal on comercial vehicles.  I have heard reports of improper enforcement of those rules onto non-comercial vehicles.

Electric brakes require a controller in every vehicle (with most better controllers, there are plug-in adapters and slide-in brakets, but the TV still needs to be wrired for the controller).

Electric brakes have more points of potential failure - the controller, the wiring, the connector.

I have and prefer electrics, and electrics are standard on most manufacturer's trailers now days, but hydraulics will do the job and I would not let hydraulic brakes stop me [uh, ok] from buying the trailer I wanted.

Austin

[lwbfl]

Good points on both sides.  I had electric brakes on my HD utility trialer and hated having to wait for the 3/4 ton to get back from another job to use it.  I only had one vehicle wired w/ the controller, but threee trucks that could actually use the trailer.  I don't go to the mountains much, but I'll keep that in mind if I do.

[flyfisherman]

I've had both and overall I like the surge brakes for their simplicity of operation; should note that these were on boat trailers. The idea that you can hook them up with any tow vehicle and hit the road and they work the same. But there's no denying that pulling the previous camper ('96 Coleman Yukon) in the mountains with the electrical brakes had a big advantage in that the camper had a yearing to sway (was just built into it's soul!) and would always do so on the downside of the mountain, and there's nothing like flicking that little trailer brake control lever to straighten that foolishness out right away!



Fly

[ARIZONA GUIDE]

MIne has the surge brakes.I hate surge brakes. I love true electric breaks. I hate going down steep grades and haveing the surge breaks run the whole way down. I like to touch my truck breaks and now the same is on the trailer. But with something as small as a pop up i could even do with out breaks on them.