Thread: Towing braked trailers

Originally Posted by Mathias

Nup, your BJ trailer has brakes that I was referring to in an earlier post and its a whole different set up to electric. Its rated to 3.5T on mechanical 4 wheel braked drums, ECU approved.
Electric drum brakes are electromagnetic, which use varying voltage (0-12v) to apply the brake force via a magnet that tries to attach itself to a rotating drum face and cam on the brake shoes.

Wouldn't use the electromagnetic drums again personally - pain in the arse to clean out and get working again if you have to go anywhere near iron-rich sand with them. Just awful to be fair... Apparently they are meant to be sealed. Or something.

Originally Posted by No.3

Wouldn't use the electromagnetic drums again personally - pain in the arse to clean out and get working again if you have to go anywhere near iron-rich sand with them. Just awful to be fair... Apparently they are meant to be sealed. Or something.

They are a love / hate brake system. Suffer imbalance issues etc, but if you get a good set working, they feel like a dream system....until you leave the hand brake on!

Originally Posted by Mathias

They are a love / hate brake system. Suffer imbalance issues etc, but if you get a good set working, they feel like a dream system....until you leave the hand brake on!

We've had our brain James 3.5 tone for nearly 10 years, farm use through creeks, Mud etc haven't had any issues and have done nothing to it, certainly no complaints.
People that borrow the trailer always comment on how well the brakes work.

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Originally Posted by BRADS

We've had our brain James 3.5 tone for nearly 10 years, farm use through creeks, Mud etc haven't had any issues and have done nothing to it, certainly no complaints.
People that borrow the trailer always comment on how well the brakes work.
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I have a similar trailer (4 years young) and my trailer has no brake under normal driving/towing situation,
Unless I pull the mechanical break manually or carabiner over ride the mechanical brake,

So yeah, under normal driving/towing situation,
the whole braking system is depends on the car braking system itself.

Unless, there is more to it that I don't know.

Originally Posted by Mathias

They are a love / hate brake system. Suffer imbalance issues etc, but if you get a good set working, they feel like a dream system....until you leave the hand brake on!

I'd agree with that. Until it stopped working the first time it was great - it was only when we took it apart that we realised what the issue was. Filled itself up with magnetic crap. Apart from that issue, they do work well but a pain in the arse to strip, clean and get working again only to have to do it again not long after. Effectively that trailer stopped going to those sites and problem solved, but a pain in the arse to have to run multiple trailers etc etc.

Originally Posted by Snap 4T

I have a similar trailer (4 years young) and my trailer has no brake under normal driving/towing situation,
Unless I pull the mechanical break manually or carabiner over ride the mechanical brake,

So yeah, under normal driving/towing situation,
the whole braking system is depends on the car braking system itself.

Unless, there is more to it that I don't know.

Doesn't sound like it's set up right or working right. The mechanical brakes like the hydraulic override setups and the mechanicals like what is fitted to yours should operate better than and give a better ride and towing feel than the electric brakes, as if you are coasting with the brakes off the trailer can surge bump the tow vehicle with electric brakes same as an unbraked trailer. The override mechanical setup will gently apply the brakes if the trailer surges, bringing the surge under control so you don't even feel it. Also, on a downhill an override setup will lean on the tow vehicle assisting any available engine braking and require less driving input travelling down hill.

Originally Posted by Snap 4T

I have a similar trailer (4 years young) and my trailer has no brake under normal driving/towing situation,
Unless I pull the mechanical break manually or carabiner over ride the mechanical brake,

So yeah, under normal driving/towing situation,
the whole braking system is depends on the car braking system itself.

Unless, there is more to it that I don't know.

Definitely sounds like an adjustment issue. Look online how to adjust them. There will be plenty of info as all the pommy imported caravans have the same system.
I could explain but I'll still be one finger typing till tea time

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The only thing that I found with that system is setting up the reverse on them, otherwise you end up backing against your brakes the entire time... It's a pain that.

Originally Posted by No.3

The only thing that I found with that system is setting up the reverse on them, otherwise you end up backing against your brakes the entire time... It's a pain that.

When brakes are set correctly, when you reverse they over cam themselves & apply approx 10% braking. The only problem with this system, like any override, is reversing down hill with your load pulling you backwards get a bit scary.

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Originally Posted by Mathias

When brakes are set correctly, when you reverse they over cam themselves & apply approx 10% braking. The only problem with this system, like any override, is reversing down hill with your load pulling you backwards get a bit scary.

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We must of been lucky with two on purchase certainly no issues with reverse

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Originally Posted by Mathias

When brakes are set correctly, when you reverse they over cam themselves & apply approx 10% braking. The only problem with this system, like any override, is reversing down hill with your load pulling you backwards get a bit scary.

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Backing uphill is worse, that's where you have the issue trying to shove against the brakes... I haven't experienced a 10% braking thing, from what I've seen they seem to either not mind it or try to lock up on you.

Originally Posted by No.3

Backing uphill is worse, that's where you have the issue trying to shove against the brakes... I haven't experienced a 10% braking thing, from what I've seen they seem to either not mind it or try to lock up on you.

I actually thought should say (assumed) the brakes were inactivated when the reverse lights came on as we back ours up hill into a shed no issues.
I think I came to this conclusion one day after the wife ground the trailer plug off and i was doing a quick fix and didn't have the reverse wire in the right hole it wouldn't go backwards.

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Yep that's the electronic ones, some of them do that. The mechanical jobbies are supposed to have a cam arrangement that is meant to allow you to go backwards, but your mileage might vary on that. The ones I've had the pleasure of have been fine going frontwards not so good backwards...

I used to use an Ifor Williams trailer in the UK. Those mechanical override drums are awesome. The only issue is reversing the trailer after having come to a stop where the trailer brakes have engaged down a hill, they can’t disengage until the pressure is taken off of the drawbar.

Hardly ever an issue.

I looked at fitting them to my caravan but they were horrendously priced here as not the norm.

Ahh - that would make sense. That would explain a lot - the place where I was experiencing most of the issues required you to drive down a hill and then reverse into the worksite to get the pump the right way around. Not ideal haha