trailer brakes

[Hazel in Sk]

I'm sure I read something on this forum about trailer brakes. Our Trillium doesn't have such things (as far as we know!). We have questions -

why would we need them?
how do we know if we have them?
how much do they cost to buy and install?
is installing them something to be done by professionals?

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Hazel in Sk

I'm sure I read something on this forum about trailer brakes. Our Trillium doesn't have such things (as far as we know!). We have questions -

why would we need them?

You will stop much faster with trailer brakes. Think of a kid running out in front of you or similar emergency. They also can stop a sway event.

how do we know if we have them?

They are mounted behind the wheel on the axle. Use Google Images to search for "trailer brake" and compare to what you see

how much do they cost to buy and install?

Depends. If you have a mounting flange on your axle, they just bolt right up. If you have no flange you may need a whole new axle. Some places will weld on the flange, others won't. Range for parts is $150 to $600. Labor would be extra.

is installing them something to be done by professionals?

Either a professional or a skilled do-it-yourselfer

[GMike A]

If you look behind the wheel and see two wires coming out there is a good chance you have them. The reason I say that is that I thought I had them but after I took the hub off everything was stripped out and the wires were just hanging. So you almost have to take them off and look and then its a good time to repack the bearings while they are out. I replaced my bearings while I was at it anyway.

I was able to buy a set of new ones from Northern tool for about 200+. As Tom indicates I had a square flange and it went fairly smoothly by myself.

[Francesca Knowles]

What year/model is your Trillium, Hazel?

Francesca

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Hazel in Sk

I'm sure I read something on this forum about trailer brakes. Our Trillium doesn't have such things (as far as we know!). We have questions -

why would we need them?

As mentioned they will indeed help stop you much faster but a few other reasons to have them are:

1) Your tugs owner manual may require them on a trailer over x so many pounds. My tug requires brakes on any trailer it pulls that weighs more than a 1000lbs as do many other smaller tugs. Although some like to think differently a fiberglass trailer that real does weigh less than a 1000lbs loaded up is a rare trailer .

2) May be a lot cheaper over a number of years of towing to put brakes on the trailer than it is to keep having to replace the brake pads on the tug due to their wearing out a lot faster than normal due to lack of brakes on the tug.

[Hazel in Sk]

Guess I'll have hubby read your responses and see if he has more questions.

[Carol H]

Hazel I seem to recall your pulling with a Subaru if thats correct you need brakes on anything over 1000lbs.