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Brakes on both axles

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jschauml
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 38 Ohio
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2004-12-05          101622


I have a 16'x6.5' tandem axle landscape trailer that I would like to add brakes to. The trailer weight is 1600 lbs. and I usually haul my Kubota with a MMM, or with brush hog, or tiller, depends on the job. Anyways the usual load is 2000-2500 lbs., as a quick guess maybe more? Obviously brakes on both axles would work the best, but if I were to put brakes on one axle which axle would it be. The front or rear? They are both 3500lb. axles with the backing plate flanges there already.



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Brakes on both axles

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-12-05          101623


I really wish someone would come up with a trailer brake system that would be more dependable than either electric or hydraulic surge systems. Yes you'll need brakes on both axles of one sort or the other. I think my problem is that I don't use the trailers often enough to keep things freed up plus half or more of my trailer miles are on dusty gravel roads. Trailer brakes have allways been a frustration to me. I could use some advice too. Frank. ....


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Brakes on both axles

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-12-05          101624


I really wish someone would come up with a trailer brake system that would be more dependable than either electric or hydraulic surge systems. Yes you'll need brakes on both axles of one sort or the other. I think my problem is that I don't use the trailers often enough to keep things freed up plus half or more of my trailer miles are on dusty gravel roads. Trailer brakes have allways been a frustration to me. I could use some advice too. Frank. ....


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Brakes on both axles

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-12-05          101625


I really wish someone would come up with a trailer brake system that would be more dependable than either electric or hydraulic surge systems. Yes you'll need brakes on both axles of one sort or the other. I think my problem is that I don't use the trailers often enough to keep things freed up plus half or more of my trailer miles are on dusty gravel roads. Trailer brakes have allways been a frustration to me. I could use some advice too. Frank. ....


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Brakes on both axles

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Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2004-12-05          101626


Frank, loosely speaking in most things in life they say if you don't use it you loose it! Brake drums have a lot of dust that collects on them and can cause higher wear as well as a great place for moisture to build up. For the additional 30 to sixty minutes for installation the extra 100 dollars put the brakes on both axles. It is a good idea to take them out and exersize them for trouble free operation regularly for trouble free operation in the northeast otherwise we are working on them anyway. To only use it every six months or so in wet weather could lead to rust being your main enemy. ....


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k9fletch
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 52 Whittemore, MI
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2004-12-05          101640


You should check with your DMV, as I understand Michighan law if you have a trailer that require brakes(based on weight and number of axles) you are required to have brakes on each axle, I don't know if Ohio is the same, but I think most states require brakes on each axle.
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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-12-05          101643


Sorry about the triple entry above. This gizmo kinda has it's little fits now and then. Your right Art I just don't use them often enough and when I do it's usually twenty miles or less. They sit in the shed with something on them most of the time kinda like a storage aerias with wheels on them. Frank. ....


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Brakes on both axles

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harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 1550 Moravia, NY
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2004-12-06          101676


Requirements are driven by the load plus the empty weight or gross weight. Brakes on both are desireable but front axle is where the weight shift goes.

As k9 said your best option is to check with the dot cops they have the best info out there. ....


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yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2004-12-06          101694


Hardwood: My triple axle flatbed has brakes on all 3 axles. I doubt if all of them hit equally but know for sure that four tires have locked up when braking real heavy. When my stuff sets around for a while, I manually squeeze and pulse the actuator gently to just slightly touch the brakes after leaving the driveway and for the first quarter mile or so on the country road. That gets them working, cleans out the rust and I never seem to have a problem after that. I then regulate and adjust the sensitivity depending upon the trailer and load. I also try to time my trips, so I'm not driving in wet snow and salted roads.

P.S. Sorry to hear about your Dad (Teacher). I was away from this site over the Thanksgiving Holidays and missed the thread and others that followed. I've been there also. Lost my dad almost three years ago now. Mine taught me so much at an early age. He built allot of stuff on the farm, think that is what got me into mechanical engineering. Cherrish the memories!!!

....


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Brakes on both axles

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AV8R
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 882 North Central Wisconsin
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2004-12-06          101696


I agree that the front axle is usually where the brakes go, but if you think about it the rear would be better.

When the brake activates, the whole axle will twist forward unloading the spring equalizer and lifting the axle which begins the bounce I explained on a different thread. If the brake was on the rear axle, the twist would unload the front axle which will load the rear axle holding it down during braking. ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2004-12-07          101780


Make sure your electronic brake controller and your vehicle's trailering circuits and fuse(s) are up to the task of adding another axle (more amperage). And you might have to upgrade to a 7-prong connector if you have a 4-way flat. ....


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